I really don't understand the idea of "this person has aired their views to the world, actually self published them, but if you disagree with them you should contact them directly and personally in private." If someone has awful views and keeps them to themselves, no one will ever know. If someone tells you personally something awful, you'll probably take it up directly with them. If someone shouts to the whole world about what a cunt they are, you'll likely tell all those same people that they're being a cunt.
I really don't understand the idea of "this person has aired their views to the world, actually self published them, but if you disagree with them you should contact them directly and personally in private." If someone has awful views and keeps them to themselves, no one will ever know. If someone tells you personally something awful, you'll probably take it up directly with them. If someone shouts to the whole world about what a cunt they are, you'll likely tell all those same people that they're being a cunt.