For the third and final time, the piece I quoted was NOT FROM A POLL - unlike some who harp on constantly about them, I’m not in the least bit interested in polls, I listen to experienced political commentators in press and media outlets I have trust in. The piece was a vox-pop conducted by a BBC employee. Were the black gentlemen they interviewed representative of black men in general? No-one can truly know (to quote SRS’s stating-the-blindingly-obvious comment), but they surely do represent at least some of their demographic.

There is nothing in the least bit ‘ridiculous’ about listening to all sides and trying to weigh the various viewpoints. There is something very ridiculous, however, in attempting to silence those who are on your side but who perceive a danger from the other side, or who hold opinions which don’t tally perfectly with your own. That isn’t ‘keeping your eye on the ball’, it’s burying your head in the sand.