FOOL!

I see a lot of this on the SDMB. What do these words have in common?: idiot, imbecile, moron, retard.

They all, at one time, were used to label the mentally retarded. Fool was also used for the same thing. I think twice before using these words to insult another person’s arguments. Would it be so bad to just state “I disagree with the process by which you arrived at your conclusions”?

Just a thought.

Well, if you say that, you disagree withe process, but not the conclusion.

Furthermore, if you use that phrase in the pit, you’ll get an ass kicking, and rightly so.

Well, gee, we aren’t allowed to say “nigger” or “stupid bitch” anymore, even if we could see the poster to find out what ethnicity or gender he was, and we usually don’t know what kind of computer he has, so we can’t make snide remarks about Red Hat or Macs, so all that’s left is to insult his intelligence.

Well, I had just finished getting my kitchen all spic-and-span (as I had just dropped a ricer on the floor), and stepped outside to have a fag. There was a nip in the air and the cold breeze found a chink in my clothing. Shivering, I turned to go back inside and listen to some do-wop music when I saw a coon eating my last cracker.

I shrugged my shoulders and went back inside to comtemplate on the fact that all languages evolve over time, and that words are continuously defined and redefined. Yesterday’s mortal insult is tomorrow’s badge of honor, and vice versa. And I wondered how thin my dictionary would be if I expurgated all the words that had ever been found offensive by someone somethime.

For instance…

Did you know that awful once meant awe-inspiring
Or that artificial once meant a well constructed artifice.

Both words were used to describe St Pauls in London shortly after it’s construction.

[ul][li]idiotic[]imbecilic[]moronic[]foolish[]sophomoricasinine[/ul][/li]If any of these terms offend you, don’t post idiotic, imbecilic or moronic comments, and avoid sophomoric or asinine arguments.
And if you don’t want to be called a retard, don’t say “I disagree with the process by which you arrived at your conclusion…” unless you add “—jughead!”

I disagree with the process by which you arrived at your conclusion—jughead!

Woowee! it sure is great to be in the Pit!

Here’s my argument. I would hesitate to say to a person, “Yer fuckin’ ugly!” unless I were intent on getting clobbered with a fist. Consider this: “Your features are unevenly distributed, you may wish to consider a different hairstyle, or professional guidance in applying your makeup.” Both are insults. One might lead to a discussion on the legitimacy of my insight.

I might have come off as a politically-correct, pompous twink in my OP, but I am not a politically-correct, pompous twink. I contain multitudes. :slight_smile:

This is not to say that I exhibit characteristics of a person who has a multiple personality disorder, btw. I am only attempting to differentiate between an ad hominem attack, and one which may reasonably be defended.

Saying that a person is stupid; as in, “Your stupid!”, can only result in this response, “I am not! You’re stupid!”

“Am not!”

“Are too!”

Get my drift?

I really have got to start using the preview feature. In several instances, I did not correctly write “you’re”, but instead wrote “your”.

Geez, I must be an idiot!

Ah, but the rules are different in the Pit and in GD.

Here, I can call someone dimwitted for expressing their most closely held and cherished beliefs, and I will be within my rights (as well as within the local ethical framework). However, in GD I must respond to a cretinous assertion either by an attack on the underlying logic of the feebleminded comment, or by a withering logical progression or indisputable source which reduces the flatulent twit to a quivering mass of schmuck-o-plasm…

This differs from an ad hominem attack in that I’ve addressed the substance of the nitwit’s argument congruently with my scouring derision.
BTW, I never assumed you were Politically Impaired, I just think politeness has it’s place, but in any argument the weasles must be slapped!

Or you could just string 'em along. Lead them in circles, let them spout off a couple times until they’re leading with their chin, and then close in for the kill. Let the readers draw their own conclusions from the entrails.

Besides, calling someone an idiot is just lazy. There’s all kinds of things you could say about his hairy palms, his momma, his kid sister, his dog. Come on, put a little effort into it.

Kids these days, they want it all on a function key.