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When Some People Can't Win An Argument, They Resort To Personal Attacks Against Their "Opponent"
We should just stick to the subject of the debate at hand, and if we can't win, maybe we can learn from our opponent's superior viewpoint. Or maybe we should just shut the duck up.
 grokit  01 Sep 2008 20:57
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When people become frustrated, they often resort to insults.
 
 SlyOne  06 Mar 2009 16:43
 3 Comments
 
 Well, then it would appear that jsg is one really frustrated guy.
by  Evileye
 06 Mar 2009 16:47
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Yes and no.

The ignorant are the first to resort to ad hominem attacks because they're not educated enough to argue from evidence.

On the other hand, pointing out that same person's ignorance and abject stupidity is fair game.

A good example is an idiot I endured recently who said, "islamic nations will never be democratic no matter how much the US helps". He refused to check a history book when I pointed out that it was the US that destroyed the Iranian democracy in 1953.

Ignorance is forgivable provided the person is willing to listen and learn. Wilful stupidity isn't, and deserves to be called out.
 
 K9  27 Feb 2009 20:27
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This is so true. If I didn't agree with my dad, he would insist that my teachers had brain washed me or that I have been brain washed by the media.
It really doesn't bother me though if someone tells me I am stupid. It is true. There are so many things in this world I couldn't possibly know everything about. Only a fool thinks they can be all knowing and all seeing and believes they are always right. I have no such misconceptions about myself.
Some times it is important to just agree to disagree without resorting to name calling or insults.
 
 Golfelda  27 Feb 2009 20:00
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That's what i like to call.... Using the "poopoo head argument".

When they have no further points they just call you a poopoo head.
 
 created  08 Jan 2009 04:02
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If you cant back up your opinion with facts rather than insults, you really shouldnt get into a debate. If your point holds any weight you shouldnt have to resort to insults.
 
 mordsith  14 Dec 2008 06:16
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Nothing productive every comes from those debates.
 
 Specter87  04 Sep 2008 20:58
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Aye. I know a couple of people like that in the end it's just laughably pathetic
 
 maugatar  01 Sep 2008 23:58
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Ya like telling someone to leave this sight because no one cares what they say. I see the person who gave such a rude comment is on the other side. Go figure.
 
 verum  01 Sep 2008 22:51
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Well said I can add something to that, and it is he who looses it first looses the fight.
I think it is really when it isn't done with anger it is cool.

Or A-blow for a-blow until someone packs it in.
 
 keepmindok  01 Sep 2008 22:26
 1 Comment
 
 Good one. And I agree that it is entertaining, to some extent.
by  grokit
 01 Sep 2008 22:33
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Yeah, they do. I do it too, but only when someone attacks me first.
 
 Andromeda  01 Sep 2008 21:19
 1 Comment
 
 Very well put, Andromeda. I also have been known to "defend" myself.
by  grokit
 01 Sep 2008 21:21
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The worst personal insults on this site are not name calling. They often appear in debate titles.

1. Saying that homosexuals are sub-human on the secular level or abominations to God on the religious level. This is a personal attack on who they are. The life they live.

2. Saying that women who have abortions are murderers. Accusing people of murder makes calling people names look like high praise.

3. Saying people who do not believe a certain way, whether it is in God or not in God, live sub-par lives by default.

4. Saying people believe the way they do (in God or not in God) because of being a sub-par person.

5. Saying people are going to hell. Worse when this is said in conjunction with how someone is living their life for the same reasons as above.

These type insults are directed at who the people are and the lives they live.

Calling people names who cast such insults is nothing compared to these type insults.

Name calling that is directed at people who are insulting the nature or lives of other people is not necessarily done out of frustration due to not being able to change these people's mind. It is done for the sheer enjoyment of it.
 
 justsumguy  06 Mar 2009 18:02
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I agree with the conception of freedom of speech.
I therefore disagree with this debate topic, thank you :-)
 
 Scorpion  01 Sep 2008 22:56
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 Don't see how I was attacking freedom of speech; I'm just talking about the narrow concept of how to have a proper debate.
by  grokit
 01 Sep 2008 23:02
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While it happens sometimes, generally I do it because I'm tired of the same stupid person spouting their stupid rubbish that nobody really cares about. Ideally the personal attack makes them either:

Feel Bad ( rarely happens )
Spend 15 minutes of their life replying to my one liner ( generally happens)

However, I would say that I am not in the "some" group, and therefore disagree.
 
 Snipex  01 Sep 2008 22:13
 8 Comments
 
 Interesting that you thought I was talking about you. Since I wasn't, it looks like you agree.
by  grokit
 01 Sep 2008 22:17
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