Flame — HabitableZone

Flame » in reply to I think it works this way Mark

No, it works this way: attention to pronouns, among other things.
Mary Anne — (archived)

If one says, "I disagree," and then proceeds to take apart the other individual's position with other arguments about the facts, opinions and speculations upon which the first position is based, that's not a personal attack.

When one says, "As usual you avoid the hard question," one has first, personalized the argument ("you avoid") and implied that the individual's behavior is a personal failing, and an habitual one ("as usual"). In one fell swoop, the subject is no longer "the hard question" (either rhetorically or grammatically), but "you". "What's wrong with 'you'?" "Why are 'you' doing this again, 'as usual'?" The issue is no longer the focus as soon as the argument becomes personalized.

If one chooses to do this, that's OK, if not always admirable. Judging from Mark's reply, I don't think he chose to do that, but he doesn't understand how to avoid it. As usual, he avoids the hard practice.

Language is a poor thing, but it's all we have.

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