I want to be clear to other posters - I am strongly opposed to...

I want to be clear to other posters - I am strongly opposed to the ticking of ad hominem when its pure ad hominem. So I increasing note it when I observe it.

Sometimes posts contain things that are more than just attacks on other posters - they contain some analysis or commentary that is on topic as well so I can give the tickers of those posts the benefit of the doubt - but posts that are only attacks on other posters almost regardless of who those posters are are in my opinion morally wrong ticks.

I will observe ticks on pure ad hominem when I get the chance from time to time and will make a moral judgement on those grounds against people that do that just as would make a moral judgement if I saw someone applauding or cheering on as a bully beat up a smaller person or torturing an animal for their own amusement.

If you do want to tick a post that is nothing but ad hominem aimed at me personally - rather than reply or object to me personally - then I will request that you do please just add your name to a list like this one once and for all so I'm clear where you stand and have the courage to own your choices if you aren't too cowardly.

Perhaps I'll meet some of you in a meeting sometime. Or not. I will admit some interest to putting a face to the sector nick I think I'd attend an annual general meeting to do so. What is absolutely clear to me though is that ticking pure ad hominem is hurtful to quality discourse. Its like hurting the forum. Any forum except perhaps a forum in which fights are themselves the entertainment - which I never thought this one was intended to be.

I see what happens with respect to myself because I happen to be in the location I am in, but I'm not particularly thin skinned, without humor, or thinking I am better than other people in being deserving of treatment that is respectful - ad hominem at anyone is wrong and harmful to the discover of truth. And I think we should all oppose it on moral grounds.