EVEN the most cursory glance at Twitter right now is enough to make any Scot desirous of independence shudder. I’m not talking about attacks from the Unionist cabal, if only it were that simple. Any pile on and criticism from such quarters are par for the political course, and anyway such Unionist arguments against Scottish independence have an increasingly hollow ring to them right now and they know it.

No, the Unionist fraternity are not those that worry me most at the moment though there should never be room for complacency, no matter how upbeat the latest opinion polls make those among us feel that are itching to bring on another independence referendum.

Right now, the broadsides of criticism come from a much more dangerous fraternity. Some are what I call “shadow warriors” skulking anonymously around social media disguised with quixotic usernames and tags, pictures of Saltires and any assortment of Celtic-inspired imagery aimed at reinforcing their “Scottish credentials”.

So proud of being Scottish and pro-independence are they that they inexplicably feel the need to forego using their own names or have real, actual pictures of themselves. Instead, they prefer to insert shortbread tin images or other kailyard iconography just to make sure the viewer is left in no doubt as to the level of their passion, patriotism and commitment to the independence cause. Look, look, I’m the real deal, their profiles cry out.

Nine times out of 10 of course they are anything but the real deal. At best they are frequently deluded individuals whose definition of Scottish nationalism is about as far removed from the civic nationalism that many of us believe is one of, if not the greatest, asset the independence movement has.

Theirs is not a nationalism of inclusiveness, tolerance, equality and individual rights, for these are chest-beating nationalists, the kind for whom the cry “if you are not with us, you’re against us” was made. For them there is no room, no excuse, for deviation from the cult-like values they insist on espousing – which frankly are often more akin to fascism than anything else.

READ MORE: Only Scot on Boris Johnson's Union Unit is sacked over indyref2 dispute

Such is the fundamentalism of these shadow warriors that they are reminiscent of Trump supporters. Any perceived “revisionism” is stomped upon while perfectly valid criticisms are rounded on as treachery or “selling out”.

That the real agent provocateurs meanwhile find it easy to infiltrate, hide and masquerade within their ranks is beyond doubt, both after all revel in mischief-making and stoking division and it would be impossible to put a piece of tissue paper between the two, such is their mirror image likeness.

The ranks of the real provocateurs have of course grown exponentially lately as the alarm bells go off in their heads whenever another poll provides even more consistent evidence that Scots are ready to stand on their own feet unshackled from the crippling restraints that a Westminster Government imposes.

That all of these shadow warriors, pseudo-nationalists, imposters and agent provocateurs should be a cause for concern among the independence movement is obvious.

As the political stakes get higher so their efforts to undermine the cause of Scottish nationhood will not only accelerate but establish a degree of damaging traction.

In fact, I will go further and suggest that in some respects they have already made their mark and presence felt. How have they achieved this? Well, these shadow warriors only succeed in their malicious aims through the help of unwitting and blinkered independence supporters online right now who wilfully or innocently play right into their hands.

Currently never a day passes without people who are meant to be allies tearing strips off each other. Calling out or putting down those they disagree with whether it be over the treatment of Joanna Cherry, attacks on the First

Minister, arguing over trans issues or simply having a pop at fellow independence supporters after having got out of bed on the wrong side in the morning.

For some it has become a raison d’etre and in so being only helps reinforce the arguments of those who really are intent on doing down the movement.

Oh, and before anyone thinks this corrosive shit-stirring – for that’s what it is – is exclusively the preserve of rank-and-file activists, then let me say that some of the SNP’s senior officials have been as guilty as anyone.

BEFORE I go any further though, I’m as prone to spending too much time on Twitter as anyone, certainly more than it merits. But in so doing I can’t help being amazed by the daily damage being done to both the SNP and wider independence movement because of the name-calling, openly vitriolic attacks and witch hunts that seem now to have gripped so many.

That the most prolific culprits cannot see the way they are providing succour and clout for Unionists is truly worrying.

Sure, I get the argument that a few thousand people – or whatever the number is that indulges in this online bloodletting – does not an independence movement make. And equally for sure Twitter especially has become an echo chamber where the same players over and again enact out their differences with little meaning to many other Scots.

READ MORE: Would independence hit the Scottish economy harder than Brexit?

I for one don’t believe for a minute that the majority of Scots, whether independence-minded or not, sit around the dinner table debating half the stuff these online warriors do. For many Scots, the fate of Joanna Cherry, the outcome of the Alex Salmond/Nicola Sturgeon spat matters not a jot. In fact, I know many who are increasingly being put off the SNP by what they see as this obsessive infighting.

These are the only people I feel genuinely sorry for right now. My fellow Scots so desirous of independence who might have to watch their dream, so near to fulfilment, disappear like snow off a dyke because of bickering that has exposed the tactical naivety of many across the echelons of the SNP. The Tories and other Unionists must be loving it.

If there are three rules I’ve learned over many decades as a foreign correspondent, watching people across the world struggle for something better, it’s the following. Don’t mistake your ally for an enemy, don’t give the opposition political ammunition through division and don’t fight battles you can’t win or aren’t necessary. Time and energy would be far better spent right now putting these principles into practice than pulling each other apart online or anywhere else.