(01-09-2021, 12:41 PM)homebiscuit Wrote: I agree with Marty. Name calling is an expression of frustration. Take a minute to organize your thoughts and then return with a rebuttal. Making it personal is exactly what translates to the violence we see on TV.
We're fortunate to have this forum to discuss politics. There's no sense in having it if it devolves into personal attacks. Then nothing constructive is being achieved. Technology has created a whole generation of keyboard commandos who feel they are not accountable for their words. My tact has always been to not post things online I wouldn't say to someone's face. Political discourse before the advent of the internet was more polite because that's exactly what people had to do. Treat your written words as such.

Most people avoid face to face political discussions as a rule, at least people my age, and I'm in my 30s.

So, "say that to my face" isn't a helpful rubric.

My suggestion is, don't say, "you're a jerk".  
If you ever want to say that,
Try, "you're acting like a jerk."
Or, "You're coming across as a jerk right now."
Even better, "even if you're right about this, you're saying it in a rude way".

Each of these are more accurate to the situation than a dismissive "you're a jerk."

But name calling extends beyond actual rude names.  When you label someone, that is just as unproductive.
Calling someone "socialist" when you've previously said, "socialists are scum" is literally calling a person "scum".

Try, "that's something a socialist would say," or, even better "how is that different from what a socialist would do?" instead of short-circuiting all the way to "you're a socialist" or "I would never be a socialist like you."

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