@mischievoustomato @feld @jiub yes, i do see this phenomenon too. Often it is used to stigmatize minorities who have been swept under the rug by our current policies and thus have nothing to lose.
There is something to be said for "finding things people have in common to bring them closer," for sure. But to be honest I used to be one of those people who distanced myself from the most radical/outspoken people. And eventually i started wondering what would lead someone to feel that way. And finding the answers to that radicalized me in turn.