In Reply to: Re: political spectrum posted by Perry on June 29, 2004 at 13:40:20:
Good points, Perry, and thanks for bringing them up, especially your statment that we need to debate the issues rather than launch ad hominem attacks. As I understand it 'ad homimem' attacks are when someone focuses on personal attacks instead of the issues, either putting the person down or making cutting remarks about their views.
I don't feel that it is quite fair to make the blanket statment, however, that "those on the right tend to respond with ad hominem arguments whenever someone on the left challenges their views, rather than really debating the issues." I have noticed some comments like that but would not say it is a "tendency" of ALL posters who lean to the right.
Being neither right or left myself, I have also noticed somewhat pointed comments being made from the left side of the spectrum as well. It's hard to remain entirely dispassionate about subjects like this, which is why we've often steered away from political discussions in the past, focusing on cult-related issues instead. Nevertheless, readers are probably helped by a healthy discussion of these important issues.
Thanks for raising good points, Perry, and here's hoping posters can agree to disagree.