Swimming against the tide is a dangerous pastime, whether it be real or metaphorical.

That’s a lesson I’m sure Aneel Karnani learned earlier this month when he argued The Case Against Corporate Social Responsibility in The Wall Street Journal and the MIT Sloan Management Review.

How dare this associate professor challenge the weight of public opinion!

Many of the comments he attracted in response to his article were patronising, sarcastic, insulting or downright nasty.

We all think we’re professional, we all think we’re collaborative, but this real-life example shows that clearly we’re not.

Don’t get me wrong: I don’t actually agree with Karnani’s position. However, I’m mature enough to recognise the truths in his argument – even if I don’t like them.

So I salute Aneel Karnani for speaking his mind and provoking thought and debate. Perhaps the case for corporate social responsibility will be bolstered as a result.

In the meantime, I think we should all take a deep breath and remember that if we all bow to popular opinion, we’ll never evolve our ideas.

Let’s welcome contrarian views and discuss their merits – minus the agro.