FR Creationist: You're a perverted atheist marxist liberal doodypants!
FR Evolutionist: You're a perverted Taliban marxist liberal doodypants!
FR Creationist: You're a perverted atheist marxist liberal doodypants! FR Evolutionist: You're a perverted Taliban marxist liberal doodypants!
:) OK, granted this is somewhat amusing, and I agree that that's often what it turns into - And certainly, if that's the sort of argument we have, on the internet or in person, it's pretty "retarded" and not worth having, because you won't get anywhere.
With that said, I still have some hope that even much-abused people (with regard to their beliefs, scientific, religious, or whatever you like), may still respond well to thoughtful, well-reasoned, and pleasant discussion, and that this exercise is not without merit, for, besides giving us practice with respect to critical thinking and expressing ourselves in a convincing and civil manner, we might actually learn something or change our minds, if we're sufficiently open-minded. That goes for any discussion, on the internet or not.
In short: It's when people stop talking and stop caring about things like this that they may truly be described as "retarded" :)
Thanks for reading,
DFS