“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness… The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live…is…victory.” Howard Zinn

The narrative that anti-vaxxers or QAnon weirdos will come back from the brink if we're nice enough to them isn't tenable morally and doesn't hold up empirically. Ostracizing people whose beliefs harm others is a critical aspect of a functioning marketplace of ideas.

"they're gonna make us look bad"

go fucking make them look bad. they're fascists. how hard can this be.