Sometimes the most telling examples of flawed reasoning don’t come from articles but from real conversations. Below is a recent exchange I had online that illustrates common patterns of deflection, tokenism and rhetorical flaws that let risky ideas appear harmless. I’ve changed the names to protect identities, but the dialogue remains unchanged
Me: I’m always amazed by how some people from ethnic minorities who support the far right seem to assume that the movement will never turn on them—once their role as propaganda tools has reassured others that the far right isn’t racist, they could easily be discarded or deported at that point.
Onion: Oh behave!!! The point is they are supporters because they know the far right isn't racist. Stop stirring up trouble that doesn't exist. I have 3 black children and we have many friends of colour/race. Time will tell.
Me: I pray that you and your family won't be affected by any of this. I really do. I mean that sincerely. But I think if the far right did get elected in the UK, more extreme elements in the movement will feel empowered to call for total repatriation.
Onion: If the right tried to turn on the people I love and know of colour we will rise against that too. That just won't happen. But the Islamic takeover is a real threat to the west I'm afraid and we need to resist this now before it's too late and the country is lost.
Me: You say "if the right tried then to turn on the people I love and know of colour we will rise against that too" but it will be too late then, as by then the far right will be the government.
Onion: Stop scaremongering!
Me: I’m not trying to scare anyone, just thinking about the potential consequences. I hope we can both agree that protecting people from harm, regardless of background, is something worth caring about. My concern is about the broader movement and the patterns history has shown. Sometimes individuals or groups think they’ll be exempt, and it doesn’t turn out that way.
Carrot: Shut up you fool!!! I have black, Sikh, Chinese, Japanese, Polish and Russian friends and many of us are the same. It's about the illegals and Islamists that want to take our country, it's nothing about race and never has been.
This exchange shows how easily talking points, personal anecdotes and appeals to loyalty can be used to deflect scrutiny, shut down debate and make risky ideas seem harmless. Sometimes, simply letting the conversation speak for itself is enough to expose the gaps between what people say, what they mean and the real-world consequences of their beliefs.
