Posted by Boje on September 19, 1999 at 02:42:00:
In Reply to: trout fishing in america posted by the admiral on September 17, 1999 at 19:22:41:
I think that both sides of this debate are equally informed of the status quo of the debate on the larger scale. What we are witnessing on this board is a restatement of elements of a larger debate, which has already occurred. Both sides of this particular exchange are well aware of that exchange.
Ad hominem “attacks”, are debaters’ techniques for redirecting the focus of the discussion from the issue at hand to other related topics, such as the motives for the assertions of one’s opponent.
Those motives are usually founded on the premises of the opponent’s arguments.
These “attacks” are undertaken as a last resort when an impasse is reached in the logical consideration of each successive point \ counterpoint exchange.
Those stalemates often occur as a result of incongruous logical principles, such as diametrically opposed premises, or incompatible logical progressions.
While that appears to be the case here, I think that it is only apparently so.
Boje