debating is it necessary to insult people?
What does it say about the person who resorts to trying to insult someone rather than just trying to talk to them and persuade them why they believe in their statement
What does it say about the person who resorts to trying to insult someone rather than just trying to talk to them and persuade them why they believe in their statement
marys.momma
Favorite Answer
In formal debating, there's a term, "ad hominem", which means roughly "to the personal". It refers to the fallacious debating technique of attacking the other side with personal insults.
Here's a link to a Wikipedia article that describes it much more fully:
[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem ]
Maybe you can snow them by using that term in your response somehow. Anyway, just let them know that you're on to their game, and decline to argue any longer once they descend to that level.
?
That is not the meaning of a debate. It is to persuade people your opinion/knowledge of a subject is best. Political candidates get into some bad mouthing each other, but, people really want to hear the issues the differences in the sides.
teresathegreat
Insults mean the insulter has lost the argument. They have no more logic and reason or courtesy, so they resort to verbal force. Logical people can therefore ignore the insults.
Schuyler
People who resort to insults have run out of thoughts and valid arguments.
Bent Snowman
It is not necessary as you can tell from watching presidential/vice presidential debates. There were some ad hominem slips that happened this past election (bayonets, "ships that go underwater called submarines"), but mostly you can see that it is not wanted or necessary.