In your "pseudo real world example" who is to say that allowing tens of thousands of "immigrants" into the country is not the "extremist" position?
Maybe, just maybe, the one who says "that's a bad idea" is actually the "reasonable participant".
Maybe, just maybe, the one who says "that's a bad idea" is actually the "reasonable participant".
Have you ever been in a discussion where someone is clearly the outlier and it's accepted beyond reasonable doubt that his ideas are extreme?
Another example, imagine you're discussing religion acceptance and a extremist say whoever doesn't follow his religion should die since their are infidels. How do you avoid that completely stupid idea from dominating everything?
Perhaps I shouldn't have given any examples, as it seems I have only drawn the attention of those who care about the examples and not my underlying point.