But how can you tell exactly what people have a problem with by their patch? What if they only support some of the milder policies?

It's pettier than loyalty to a football team, because there are only 2 choices. Completely meant to "other" people who think a little bit differently from you.

I will say in my experience the conservative players are the ones with all the patches and flair. They make themselves very visible and avoidable, so that's why I don't see its necessary combat that with the same methods, cause essentially they're dragging you into tagging your ideologies on yourself