You seem awfully eager to defend nazis.

I'm not defending Nazis, I'm attacking hypocrisy, and a particular type of which that is known to HELP Nazis (and any other extremists of the same type) in the long term. Experts on extremist movements agree on this, and even former members of such groups say it's true. I've detailed all of this in a previous comment of mine, look under the break/line.

Also you keep talking about "the left" as if you're not a member

I'm not. Most of my positions are left-wing, but I have no interest in considering myself a "member" of any political collective, and it's precisely because of bullshit like this. I can espouse the values I believe in without having to be on a 'team'. And doing so insulates me from being associated with the stupid shit my would-be 'team' does. It becomes an especially prudent tactic as collectives grow more radicalized, while I don't.

I also hate stereotyping and generalizing, so collectivism in general puts me off.

Wearing a nazi uniform or otherwise espousing their ideals is announcing a desire to commit crimes.

The proper response is still arrest, not vigilante violence from randoms.

Vigilantism by random citizens is appropriate in response to "yo i want to kill a whole lot of people" declarations.

Hard disagree. The evidence is clear--doing this is equivalent to prioritizing the dopamine rush that comes with feeling like you're the hero beating up the villain, over the actual reduction of harmful ideologies. You feeling good is not more valuable than eliminating Nazism, sorry.

It's not unprovoked.

Then neither is it when someone beats you up for advocating beating others up. You provoked them by saying you're willing to attack them.

Look at the comment I linked. Read the account of the former white supremacist, especially. You are playing right into their hands. Stop being so gullible.

thoroughly savaged

Sticking fingers in ears and deciding I must be a Nazi, because you don't like the facts, is only "savaged" in a deeply deluded mind.