[Miss Marple]

Well, you have a point about Michael Schiavo. However, calling fellow Freeper's "Members of a death cult" or "simple minded twits who want to ignore the law" is not helpful for either side.

I personally disagree with the removal of the feeding tube. I will even discuss my reasons with people who disagree. But I am not going to attack people because of their opinions, and I am certainly in opposition to mob rule. Once that is accepted as the norm, we will have all sorts of problems in this country.

[mewzilla]

Well, you have a point about Michael Schiavo. However, calling fellow Freeper's "Members of a death cult" or "simple minded twits who want to ignore the law" is not helpful for either side.

I agree. Besides which, I think ad hominems don't do much to convince anyone of anything. But I'm just fine with showing some emotion, some anger, some disgust, some love. As long as it's channelled in a constructive and healthy fashion, emotion can and should be put to good use. It can be a heck of a motivator.

[B Knotts]

But this isn't a game. It's about life and death, and that's why it's so emotionally charged.

We are reenacting 1930s Germany; it's not reasonable to expect people to remain completely calm.