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?

Also, without sounding patronising, if you are new to mumsnet it does take a while to get used to. I think my face constantly looked like when i first joined too many years ago.

People do get very heated in their debates, it is often about something very close to their hearts and it can be emotive.

Sometimes "stop being a dick" can be a lot simpler than a whole intellectual diatribe about why said poster is, well, being a dick.

I also got deleted for calling someone a racist thicko, they were and I'm not sorry. People had tried to reason and explain why but they weren't listening.

Yes, I called somebody a dick the other day. They were being a dick, in fact a racist dick and deserved to be told so.

Joining MN and slagging it off always goes down like a lead balloon on AIBU. Fortunately, we are a nice bunch.

On behalf of my ds Ptolemy can I just tell you that you are a nameist and should take a long hard look at yourself, I'm so personally offended I will be reporting you and your bullying mates in mumsnet mafia royalty and blah blah blah (laffy disappears up her own arse with a flurry of biscuity odfoddery....)

laffy

I personally think that the joy of MN is the robust and strong responses people get when they being a bit of a twat. There are cosy (& glittery) and over-moderated other forums for those of a more coy nature.

If a Poster is unfairly attacked, other people will usually leap to their defence and personal attacks are deleted by MNHQ if reported. So I don't see it as a problem.

What I don't like is when everyone is being overly kind with a hive mentality and round on anyone who tries to give (politely) a different, less palatable perspective.

You are right TheoriginalLEM - I think I am a bit shell-shocked and a bit .

Some of it is funny, some of it is necessary (eg telling someone they are racist when they are), some of it is downright nasty.

I am no angel at all! I am just thinking about some of the times I have used personal insults in a debate/discussion/argument - I feel pissed off with myself for doing it and it ends up making the other person more angry.

I'm not a huge fan of a personal attack but sometimes someone does need told that they are being a twat

I actually very rarely see personal attacks nowerdays. Tis a shame :(

Mn is going downhill, i remember when this was all fields, etc...

Today I thought it was Monday so clearly I don't have the wit or wherewithal to launch a blistering attack