Agreed. If the arguments seem sound and well supported, then all we can do is attack the tone.

You can disagree. Sarcastically, or otherwise. But I think you may be reading more into my comment than I put there.

I’m not attacking the piece. I’m not saying it’s right. I’m not saying it’s wrong.

What I’m saying is, the tone made it hard for me to judge the arguments fairly, despite finding some of them convincing. And as much as I dislike it, persuasion does partly depend on how an argument is made.