> 'Scott has been called alt-right and anti feminist online'
Who hasn't? I mean, I see your point and it would be correct in many cases but if people can use this so easily to score points against the NYT, they aren't going to be deterred by that. The online culture that likes to label anything and everything as "racist and toxic" would only make their point stronger.
I think you misunderstood. The NYT could use it to silence support for Scott Alexander because anyone saying "no, he's a reasonable person that writes about the beliefs of people without holding it themselves" will hang next to him as somebody that is supporting Scott Alexander "who many say is prominent alt-right figure and who has lead a hate campaign against feminists on his blog".
Who hasn't? I mean, I see your point and it would be correct in many cases but if people can use this so easily to score points against the NYT, they aren't going to be deterred by that. The online culture that likes to label anything and everything as "racist and toxic" would only make their point stronger.