I realize I did not say why I found them so scary. What was so scary to me was their absolute certainty. I and others could understand and respect their point of view. Even though we did not share their view we understood it as valid. But they could not acknowledge the validity of our/my points-of-view as also valid, and were absolutely and rationally, though not reasonably, closed to compromise. Arrogant and paternalistic. Absolute.