Isn't your view of Tom's "world view" itself "black and white"?
Maybe this presumption of "black and white" on some people's part blinds them to any nuance or complexity in Tom's arguments and it becomes a self-reaffirming meme? People will see what they want to see.
Y'know, we're all "guilty" of being black and white on at least some issues, so saying this about someone else is lame. It's like judging someone for being judgmental, or claiming something absolutist like there are no absolutes.
At the end of the day, it's best not to stereotype or mischaraterise someone's entire belief system, just attack the argument itself if you think it's flawed or misleading - probably silly advice here, this being the Flame Board.