Sorry I didn't get back you before your fuse blew; I was intending to, but my board time was pressurized by some personal shenanigans, and I do have a life you know. I did give you my best links, which could have helped while you were waiting. Patience...
ID politics can mean the hijacked, often trivial indulgent Guardian PC feminism. The strawman part is that opposing the most serious kind of abuses is often bracketed with ID politics, or is even called that, or equated with the trivial variety. Few distinctions are made when ID politics is criticized here. Would you agree with that? (Second question in reserve: where have you been? )
So, no amount of bashing of the trivial kind of ID politics sheds any light on the serious kind. But that's the usual level of discussion here. Kudos for trying to get to grips with the real issues. I really do recommend these links BTW.
Do you really think that the fracas you refer to was because the issue is a distraction? Well a few people standing up at a meeting and clubbing everyone disagreeing with the panel could be called a distraction - it wouldn't mean the subject was violent, would it? The issue is the behaviour of the transgressors.
It's maybe my fault as I said DON'T read those threads, they are was a disgrace to the board, it has to be said.