Posted by:
MJ
(
)
Date: April 19, 2014 10:12AM
Yes to both manalice and Stray Mutt.
It is also a way to make you wrong when you are not actually wrong. Rather than address the point you are making, change it from the point, to you.
Claiming "you have attitude" is a personal attack that has nothing to do with the validity of the point being made.
It is an attempt at control, it is also an attempt to discredit the person. It then becomes a rallying cry for those that disagree with you. Stand your ground long enough and many that disagree with you will all start clucking the same words, "Oh, (s)he just has attitude so ignore what they have to say".
Other words often used to the same affect:
Rude
argumentative
angry
disrespectful
impolite
anti <point>
obstinate
Closed minded
The list goes on and on.
The first few minutes of this video talks about this very issue in regards to atheists being critical of religion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ-xK_PEDgc