First let me say that the following is not to be taken at all seriously, it is just more or less random thoughts inspired by this thread.<br><br>Mah or someone earlier mentioned something about the discussion descending into ad hominem attacks. I never read the original threads so I can't really comment on the specifics, but I do have some fairly broad views on the subject of personal insults, etc.<br><br>Personally I believe ad hominem to be a much disparaged form of argument. "Attack the policy, not the man" is a bit of a cop out, in my opinion. It falls into the 'polite discourse' that 'civilized gentlemen involve themselves with' kind of category, which I feel is elitist and alienating (and often downright dishonest). Close friends don't have time for such dishonesty, or as my fellow Aussies would say 'Beating Around the Bush'. You say what you feel in all it's ugly truth.<br><br>Basically, if you disagree with someone's political views, choice of computer hardware or preferred Armadillo subspecies, you should say, "Look, if you believe this way, you're an idiot. And this is why: Point 1, Point 2, etc."<br><br>It's not because you hate the guy, in truth you love him. You're doing a service to him if he's being a moron to call him on it. If you start out by saying "I understand where you're coming from, but maybe we can look at it from another point of view", you've distanced yourself from the person, and raised yourself to a 'higher' point from where you can't help but start to preach. If I'm being an idiot by saying something others find offensive or just plain wrong, I prefer not to be subjected to a barrage of condescension, but would rather someone tell straight out that I'm being a freaking noodle. We might have a bit of a spat, but in the end we're both better off for it.<br><br>Now all this does not have anything to do with irrational and hateful insults that have no arguments to back them up. That's just silly. But if someone takes offence at a nihilistic comment someone says out of temporary despair, let them have it out. Occasional tongue-in-cheek misanthropic discourse is really the only rational tack one can take in these topsy turvey times, especially as it seems to entertain Mah so much. I say have at it, anything goes, as long as you have some logical basis for the invective. Not to mention that it makes for vastly more entertaining reading if there's some raw emotion being cast about. I do tend to prefer open and honest ranting to thinly veiled hostility disguised as 'politeness'. See, I have a whole theory regarding 'manners' and 'civilization'.<br><br>Well, that's about it, feel free to call me all kinds of names. I probably deserve it, for the most part. <p></p><i></i>
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