• swlabr@awful.systems
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    6 hours ago

    It’s only ad-hominem if they discredit your points by insulting you. If they read your points and use them to make statements about your character, that’s not ad hominem, that’s valid inference.

    You probably need an example. Let’s say Alice and Beelice are having a conversation.

    Alice: “I think seed oils are bad for you because RFK Jr. said so! MAGA!”

    If Beelice says: “Alice, you are a real sack of potatoes, and therefore you are wrong,” that’s ad hominem.

    If Beelice says: “Alice, if you’re going to parrot RFK Jr, then the worms deserve to eat the rotten flesh in your skull,” that’s plain inference.

    Understand now, dear?