"In the interests of economy and my sanity, I rarely bother with links that are posted without supporting remarks, or links to the Daily Express, Daily Mail or Guido Fawkes. I've generally found that these "sources" fail to distinguish between fact and opinion..."

Amen to that, with bells on, Steve! ;-)

On the subject of agreement with the views of those with whom one usually disagrees, or disagreement with those with whom one usually agrees, IMHO doing either of those things is not in any way a sign of 'weakness' or that one has 'lost' the argument. In fact, acknowledging worth in something your opponent in discussion has said, is a sign of one's own strength of character and strength of confidence. I've had strong disagreements occasionally with Big Al, Jim, Steve, and Musket(s), all of whom I'm generally in alignment with as far as our respective viewpoints go, and I've agreed with Teribus/Iains, whom I usually regard as being positioned slightly to the Right of Attila the Hun but who, in his more rational, lucid moments, is very capable of making balanced, thoughtful contributions.

Perhaps if we all tried to acknowledge the good, as well as challenge the bad, in others' posts, and respond to the entire content of posts rather than selective isolation of one individual point amongst a number being made in those posts, the level of heat might be kept within acceptable limits?