Replies

Some examples that come to mind are, fewer personal attacks.

Speaking only for myself, here is my "ad hominen" attack policy.

When Attacked:
1. Act Presidential. Follow Honest Abe's policy: write out a stinging rebuke. Enjoy
the superior logic and pointed replies. Put "the letter" into the drawer for
awhile (Lincoln always put them in a desk drawer overnight).
Then imitate Lincoln's example of throwing the hot letters into the trash can: delete it.

2. Fully consider the possiblity (no matter how remote!) that the attacker is right!
Or maybe partly right.

3. If your memory is good enough...recollect that the attacker is someone that you
agreed with 200% on some other thread.

4. Consider that you may be the victim of a mis-addressed missive, or your
adversary is responding to part of your post that was not really clear.

5. Craft a response that's lucid, debates the actual issue at hand, and just
ignore the heat that came your way as much as possible. Be the first to extend
the olive branch. If repulsed, at least you did what you could.

To reduce odds of launching the attack (come on, you know we all do it...or at least
contemplate it at times)
1. Don't do it.
2. If you want to do it, go to another thread. Let your subconsious use the
hot energy to craft a REALLY good repsonse that is right on-point on the issues.
3. Be gentle as possible...if you're like me, you might contemplate flaming on
a "bad day". Try to short-circuit the human impulse to shout at other posters...
when you really are frustrated because you can't shout at the boss, spouse, kids, friends,
jerky neighbor.

Peace on Earth in 2004.
Except for good-natured "rough-and-tumble" at www.freerepublic.com!

Oh, death and confusion to OBL and all his fellow travelers!