The problem with the “Oh, do you want a cookie?” approach is that yes, people do want cookies. Their monkey brains have evolved to repeat behaviors which are rewarded and avoid repeating behaviors that are punished.

Hard to see how this doesn't massively escalate things, esp if any of the targets are actually killed

Yeah I agree. Not the biggest David Hogg fan, but booting him on a "diversity quota" basis after he suggests primarying ancient incumbents sounds like something a Daily Wire parody of the DNC would do.