Does anyone know of a browser plugin that will automatically eliminate from view any Hacker News comment containing the phrase "ad hominem?" Ad-Hom Block Pro or some such?
Few things grate as much as the self-satisfied "strawman" police.
Your post raises an interesting point, how did all these 'strawman police' become such a bunch of self-satisfied nazis in the first place?
And instead of issuing snide remarks about categories of bad arguments, why not tell me why you don't think the label fits, and if it does why you don't feel compelled to address it?
Debating is good and fine - but (imo) sometimes, concentrating on the minutia isn't as worthwhile as expressing an idea.
Discussion can exist without this constant battle to score 'points'.
I meant what I said about emailing if you'd like some tips about CSS - I had few 'a-ha' moments that really made my life easier.
I find this far better than responding to arguments that deliberately attempt to obfuscate avenues of attack by couching everything in terms of "opinion" or "I have opinion X, but".