What is it?

This is a direct attack on the person's character, often involving name-calling or insults, in an attempt to discredit their argument without engaging with it.

Examples

How to Avoid This

Refrain from personal attacks. Criticize the argument, not the person. If you have concerns about a person's credibility, you can raise them, but you should still address the argument itself.

How to Counter This

Call out the personal attack and redirect the conversation back to the topic at hand. 'Instead of insulting me, can you please address the points I made in my argument?'