On civil debate

Richard Barlow writes: Re. “How to engage Malcolm Roberts in civil debate” (yesterday). I cannot agree with Michael Bradley’s ideas on ‘How to engage Malcolm Roberts in civil debate’.  I agree that you will never persuade someone like Roberts of the error of his ways, but you can shave off some of the 4% of voters who decided One Nation was a rational political choice. If we keep on calling bullshit on people like Roberts, things can only get better.

Roger Clifton writes: According to a New Scientist article, about half of US adults endorse at least one conspiracy theory. Unfortunately, we are excited by hearing of conspiracy. Eloquent speakers can gather followers and stampede them off a cliff or onto the bayonets or wherever. Consider that at beerhall rants, Hitler was able to blame the Jews for the miseries of 1930s Germany.

Having elected loonies into power, we have the privilege of throwing them out again at the next election. Hopefully, that is.