"It seems....acting as if you are insulted is just.. ?sometimes? used as an impolite way of conceding. "

No, that's just something people assume so that they don't have to face the possibility that they might actually have offended somebody. If somebody appears offended by your words, they probably are. I advise you to reflect on why that might be.

As for actually dishing out insults, it appears to me that they arise in the following situations:

1) The insulter considers your point of view offensive, such as in the abortion debate.

2) The insulter feels you are being narrow-minded and not considering other perspectives (or not acknowledging the limitations of your own).

3) The insulter is frustrated because you aren't understanding their argument.

4) The insulter is frustrated because they do not understand your argument. Perhaps they think you are being intentionally confusing.

5) The insulter is trying to win by ad hominem. That is, they think if they say enough bad things about you, it will invalidate your argument. This is used primarily by politicians and Mike. This is why I don't respond to him or even read his posts. (Here's a good example: http://www.astronomy.net/forums/blackholes/messages/5689.shtml)

I'm sure there are more, but those are the first that come to mind. Whenever I insult somebody on this board, it's usually because of #2. It probably isn't justified, but sometimes I can't help myself. I apologize if I have said anything insulting to you, but if I have, consider the context in which it occurred.

• Now that was a logical response. - duordi - November 26, 2002 - 01:03 UTC
  • And so is this - kantolfir2 - November 26, 2002 - 03:59 UTC
• Now that was a logical response. - duordi - November 26, 2002 - 01:03 UTC
• 6 ) The insulter has been insulted - yaniru - November 26, 2002 - 02:46 UTC
  • Nicholas could not use that one - theloopypath - November 26, 2002 - 04:57 UTC
    • Please be quiet - yaniru - November 26, 2002 - 13:18 UTC
      • Please answer this question about your own field - theloopypath - November 26, 2002 - 17:51 UTC
        • Singulatities - yaniru - November 26, 2002 - 18:41 UTC
          • Twit - carefuluniverse - November 26, 2002 - 19:30 UTC
            • And apparently you don't approve of reading books. - yaniru - November 27, 2002 - 03:10 UTC
              • nt - quiet - November 27, 2002 - 04:46 UTC
          • Its the same sign that Einstein suggested... - bruce - November 27, 2002 - 01:34 UTC
            • His theory does not predict that - yaniru - November 27, 2002 - 03:12 UTC
              • Sorry Bruce - yaniru - November 27, 2002 - 03:15 UTC
            • I think it's negative - yaniru - November 27, 2002 - 12:31 UTC
      • g - theloopypath - November 26, 2002 - 17:52 UTC
        • I see you are still a fruit - yaniru - November 26, 2002 - 18:44 UTC
          • I was given the name "Applemoon" by Gita Sampath in 1974 - carefuluniverse - November 26, 2002 - 19:27 UTC
            • I bet you do not know what it means - yaniru - November 26, 2002 - 23:32 UTC
              • I think you are an idiot - quiet - November 27, 2002 - 01:17 UTC
                • Hail the fruit - yaniru - November 27, 2002 - 03:13 UTC
                  • . - quiet - November 27, 2002 - 04:47 UTC
          • Hail Mary Full of Grace Blessed Art Thou Among Women - carefuluniverse - November 26, 2002 - 19:41 UTC