In attempting to quantify and demonstrate yearly upticks, Potok fears that advocacy groups may damage their credibility and, in doing so, obscure the fact that one hate crime is too many.

NPR: Fudging the Numbers on Hate Crimes

Problem is, too many hate chaos and will try to tame it, even if that clips growth.

FORBES: Digital Rules

But it says "too many" people suffer intolerance, quoting 48, 127 hate crimes across England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2010.

BBC: Editors urged to help tackle online hate crime

"Today we have too many people saying not only 'I disagree with you, ' but 'I hate your message and you shouldn't be allowed to say it, '" notes Mr. Smith, who now runs the Center for Competitive Politics.

WSJ: McGurn: The Chick-fil-A War Is Back On