But the whole point of the process is to force anyone with an unpopular opinion to tug more and more gently, until finally they cease to tug at all.

"Point"?

Then the PC hive mind can move the goalposts forward a bit, and start silencing a more moderate group of critics, and then another, and another, until ultimately the keepers of the received wisdom can say or do anything they like and no one dares to question them.

Or what? Are you worried that disagreeing with these "keepers of the received wisdom" will be criminalized? Bearing in mind that Fred Phelps is a real person and his actions are, as yet, legal.

So no, I'll continue on with my ironclad opposition to such transparent ploys.

Transparent. Right. Because anyone who disagrees with you simply must have an ulterior motive.

Anyone who whines about how their delicate sensibilities can't stand an open, honest discussion of the facts of an issue has given up the right to have anyone care what they think.

Indeed. Those toddlers are just trying to hide away from the truth about where babies come from.