AIBU to think that using personal attacks in a debate is a sign of weakness?

[PickaPengy]

I am recently new to Mumsnet and have noticed a large amount of personal attacks used on some threads. I always think that it is a sign of losing the debate if a person has to resort to this. Surely arguing the point in an intelligent, articulate way is more productive?

YABU to think this is a debate board...

ad hominem: (of an argument or reaction) directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining.

I is logical fallacy

Spoilsport.

There's a 'Report' button next to all posts that you should click on if you see personal attacks on here. Use it.

Anyway - can you give some examples OP or are you just feeling a bit - errr - goady fucker today?

You're a poopoo head.

I haven't noticed any personal attacks on here - or hardly any. There are general complaints eg "Everyone on here tells everyone else to LTB" or "Everyone on here sends their children to private school" or "Everyone on here makes a chicken last a family for five weeks" but a personal attack would surely involve knowing someone?

Actually I've never understood people who announce themselves as 'New' or 'Recently New' to a forum and then start bloody questioning the way things are. Spend a bit of time, find out how it works, what goes on where etc etc. Then if you don't like it you could always piss off - but starting a whiny thread based on nothing but your misunderstanding is just ridiculous really.

With all due respect, I wish to offer the opinion you are a smelly poo face, based on article 2, paragraph 6, of the published scientific research by Cambridge university on playground humour.
I have some sympathy with the opinions offered by far and mrsgrinch, but I feel they only skimmed the surface and it was my duty to put forward the harsh realities.

Well to be honest Lurked, you should know. EVERYBODY knows you smell of poo and not just on hot days when you've not had a shower!

Is this referring to the three about asylum seekers where those who've made racist comments have taken it as a "personal attack" when they've been called racist?

*thread, not three.

You see that little 'x' in the top corner of the screen?

That's your signature that is

Agree

There was one the other day where the op drip fed some info, was called out on it and got the response "No I didn't you stupid twat" That kind of thing?

Ah I feel like your warm up act lurked it's a fabulous feeling.

I am thinking about several threads I have seen. One really stuck in my mind about a lady who asked whether the dress she was wearing was ok for the school run. I was shocked how bitchy it was.

I didn't see that but when people post that kind of thing usually what they're saying is
Please tell me how wonderful and attractive I am.

Oh I remember that. It was a silly thread but some of the comments did get a bit bitchy.

As an aside, I will never for the life of me understand the MN obsession with the school run and what to wear for it and who speaks to who at the school gate etc etc. DS is at nursery and all I have time to do is say a quick goodbye to him before I head to work. I smile if I see another parent but certainly don't have time to notice their outfit!

far let me close you right there with my superior debating skills. Twinkle twinkle little star, what you say is what you are

The one I hate most is "I feel sorry for your dcs op", even if I thought that I would never write it.

Yeah, but laffy, I do feel sorry for your DCs. laffy is the sort of person who'd call a child Ptolemy

Well, i rarely resort to personal insults despite thinking it, often however the past few days HAS resulted in me making personal comments and being deleted. But im sorry, if someone is being a racist twat then i am going to call them a racist twat and if they wish to take that personally, well they shouldnt have been a racist twat should they?

but generally yes, i agree with you OP.

I guess it really depends on one's definition of a personal attack.

Planning a thread entitled Jezebel and Toth for my twins, is this ok? You will really see what MN is made of..