The Question and Answer Board

[Big Mur]

There's a world of difference between debating a comment, and talking about a poster's credibility.

The credibility and veracity is to be left up to the reader to discern and decide. If one wants to refute a post, that's one thing, but if one wants to discuss motives or intent of the poster, that's simply not on-topic. The TOU is quite clear about keeping things about the message, not the messenger.

If you entered into a formal debate, and all you talked about was the debator, then there is no debate. Nothing is accomplished, and nothing of use is available for one to decide a stance on the subject. The subject matter of the debate goes undebated. Such debate is designed to be civil, polite, focused on the topic... focus on anything else is meaningless in that context. If we had a topic about the merits of a red car vs. the merits of a blue car, what difference does it make to the discussion if I only ride the bus?

What that has to do with your "Kool Aide" is beyond me. That's nothing more than a cliche thrown out there in an attempt to dodge an actual discussion, or use of evidence and facts to make a point, and is intended more as in insult...IMO.