Calling people "alarmist" is usually just a way of trying to discredit them, demonstrated by the fact that it goes on even after they've been proven correct.
When they cannot answer your arguments or refute the facts, they attack your tone and tactics. But that's not what they really want. They want you to stop, to shut up, to be ignored.
If you weren't right, they wouldn't care. When I joined others in Russia in 2005 to warn that Putin was creating a dictatorship, I was called hysterical, alarmist, etc. Instead of stopping as it all came true, the attacks continued.
This includes the supposed allies who warn that yes, you might be right, but your tone is scary, your words too harsh, you might alienate people. No. Going to sleep in the snow of diplomatic blather is the real danger.
The problem isn't people being scared. The problem is people not being scared enough. I wish deep concerns were enough to inspire the bold action often required in today's besieged world. The fear comes when it's too late for the easy path.
I go on TV and shout about the murders of my friends, the slaughter of innocents in war, and am told to calm down. Why am I angry? No, why aren't you? Now America is fighting to save its democracy, its soul, and it's not time to calm down. Sound the alarms.
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