From: "Lance Muir" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
My point: YOU CAN'T NOT GET PERSONAL. ONE OUGHT NOT SEPARATE THE TRUTH
SPOKEN
FROM THE TRUTH SPEAKER....OUGHT ONE?
Lance, I do not agree with you.
There are really two levels of ad hominem that occur on TT. One with the
intent to sway an argument, the other being to disparage another in the
absence of an argument. Discussions can easily move from the former to the
latter.
The former is a a fallacy used in a debtate, rooted in the desiree to win
an argument that may have reached an impasse, or may have come from weak
position. The latter is plain cruelty, intended to hurt another.
It is entirely possible to argue a point strictly from the Bible, and
even from other external sources, without referring to anyone on a personal
level. It takes discipline and training in debate to NOT bring in ad hominem
arguments (especially when we see the argumentum ad hominem demonstrated
frequently during ANY political race. As a side note).
The bottom line is that I don't think anyone on TT has demonstrated that
they are a trained debater, although some are very good debaters.
Furthermore, we all can become emotional about our positions and often
cannot avoid emotional outbursts in the form of attacks at those that hurt
us, or malign us, especially when we feel that "the other person started
it".
Perry the Moderator
----------
"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you
ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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