"academics [...] weren't scared off" isn't a claim that not a single person was scared off, but that as a group they were not scared off. If one of the worst members wasn't scared off, that's a good piece of evidence.
> This has absolutely nothing to do with the content of any of my comments.
I'm explaining why he's one of the most extreme members of that group, which is needed to support my main point.
"If one of the worst members wasn't scared off, that's a good piece of evidence." Yes, I think that him being one of the worst has zero bearing. You made the claim - why do you think it's good evidence?
> This has absolutely nothing to do with the content of any of my comments.
I'm explaining why he's one of the most extreme members of that group, which is needed to support my main point.