Listen up, class. What GFNC55 is doing is using a diversionary rhetorical device called "red herring". Rather than respond to the substance of the argument, i.e., providing the requested definition of "fringe", s/he instead diverts attention to a lesser, irrelevant topic. In this case, that topic is my supposed fear and misunderstanding of middle America. Since GFNC55's red herring is also directed at me personally, this makes it "ad hominem". In the realm of logical fallacies, that's what we professors call a two-for-one! Yes, this will be on the exam.