Okay, this has nothing to do with porn. I just couldn’t come up with a good title. Sorry.

Attention: Asshole

Let’s just put this ad hominem crap to bed for once and for all.

I launch ad hominem attacks all the time – on this website, on Facebook, and anywhere else I post.

So fucking what?

Warning: The next sentence begins with an ad hominem.

Idiots tend to argue that ad hominem attacks are a logical fallacy (i.e. attacking the person instead of the argument).

No. Not at all. Not even a little.

It’s neither a position nor refutation, and no one (who I have ever seen) has represented that it was. It’s just name-calling and/or calling a spade a spade. Sure, it may be childish and sophomoric at times, but that’s all that it is. And moreover, it doesn’t mean that the name-caller is necessarily wrong in any other thing they’ve said or written. In fact, I would go so far as to say that even if no counter-argument is tendered that an ad hominem attack isn’t necessarily unfair or unreasonable, as you’ll see in about 60 seconds.

So I called you an asshole and a douchebag. Again, so fucking what?

Warning: The next sentence begins with an ad hominem.

One douchebag asshole wrote in a Facebook thread:

“Wow, you guys are soooooo right! How could I have been so blind and not noticed your even tempered rational reactions. By saying that I dont [sic] agree with you, I was called and asshole, and told how stupid and clueless I am. Hey pot, meet kettle.”

He was also first told all of the reasons why I/we disagreed with him, and then, yes, he was called an asshole in addition to several other childish and unsavory labels including douchebag and, if my memory serves me right, fuckstick. Someone may have called his mother a whore. (Kidding.)

Warning: The next sentence contains an ad hominem.

Pay close attention [clearing throat]: Hitler was an asshole and a douchebag.

Hey pot and kettle, what say you now?

If Your Shit Doesn’t Stink

Finally, to those straw-graspers who are now inclined to wage some sort of moral high ground argument, I laud you for your dignity and superiority. Truly.

The ad hominem matter is settled. Give it a rest and be on your way.
 

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