sticks and stones

Ad homonim attacks are standard today. This occurs when you don’t want to support your position or you can’t logically support your position. Then you call the other person names and question their character or their intelligence. Loaded words are usually good to try to stop debate before it even starts.

You are a: bigot, Nazi, Ku Klux Klan, Hitler, fascist, racist, sexist, fundamentalist, leftist

You are being: intolerant, close-minded, bigoted, simplistic, extremist

In almost all cases, when ad homonim attack is used the person has surrendered their logic. Almost always this name calling is a substitute for a weak position that is difficult to support using logic and clear thought.

If someone uses an ad homonim attack on you for simply stating a point of view, then you are probably striking a nerve in the other person. They probably think your viewpoint is too persuasive to carefully explore together. Better to lash out quickly and get it over with.

The old saying goes, “You get the most flack when you are right over the target.”