What benefit is gained by attacking a person instead of addressing the ideas they hold?
2007-02-07 15:20:10 · 11 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You're a dookey-head. :-)
But seriously... I don't think anything's gained except a bit of drama and perhaps a second or two of amusement for those who point and laugh at the ad hominem attacker.
The ad hominem attack primarily appeals to those who don't have good debating skills in the first place. How does that saying go... "Harsh words mask weak arguments."
2007-02-07 15:24:23 · answer #1 · answered by prairiecrow 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Any Ad Hominem argument is fallacious, and thus not a good or valid argument. Also beware of Straw Man argument and the MANY other fallacies. Luckily, I am taking a Philosophy Class called Critical Thinking that allowed me to realize how common this phenomenon is in argumentation.
2007-02-07 23:24:02 · answer #2 · answered by onewhosubmits 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ad hominem fallacies divert the attention from the argument to the perosn sustaining the argument. One will say "You cannot be right because you are stupid". This leads to yet another argument in which the other one tries to prove that he is not stupid.
Unfortunatelly, I believe that no discourse is actually fallacy-free.
2007-02-07 23:29:28 · answer #3 · answered by Ana 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think ad hominems are used by people who need to vent frustration over not being able to articulate an honest, convincing argument.
2007-02-07 23:24:48 · answer #4 · answered by Aspurtaime Dog Sneeze 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is true. Ad hominem arguments aren't valid, but do get emotional.
2007-02-07 23:24:00 · answer #5 · answered by RB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes it makes people feel better, but that relief is only temporary.
(I say this as someone who should do this much less.)
2007-02-07 23:25:46 · answer #6 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no.
they are worthless.
no benefits are gained.
but one must consider the source, too. :-))
2007-02-07 23:26:07 · answer #7 · answered by Chef Bob 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your stupid what do you know.
Hahaha just kidding.
2007-02-07 23:24:35 · answer #8 · answered by secret frog 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
self-fulfillment.
(dont worry, i dont call people stupid unless its the truth)
2007-02-07 23:23:01 · answer #9 · answered by uhohspaghettiohohs 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
straw man
*crickets*
did i say that?
2007-02-07 23:24:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋