Here’s an example in the wild of what I too often see, in a thread about the electoral college:
I’d offered several paragraphs of reasons why I hold my views. Some folks in the thread were debating those reasons, and that sort of debate is productive. I don’t hold some sort of objective proof that I’m right, all I can do is try to make coherent arguments and evaluate the claims others make.
Then this charge came in, suggesting that I don’t even believe the arguments that I’m making, that the real reason I make these arguments is that I want an advantage.
Do you really believe that sort of thing advances the thread?
(Note that SA’s post is reproduced entirely, although he was quoting just one sentence of mine).