Agreed.

That's just, like, your opinion, man.

"The Duderino's" quotes aside, I've been thinking about this lately. What if "meaningful discussion" isn't the goal? What if polite disagreement isn't the goal? What if you've decided you are right, and therefore can lie, cheat, and steal in service of your righteousness because the ends justify the means? And what if those on the other side (who are obviously wrong) deserve whatever sneaky, underhanded knife you slip in their back because, you know, they aren't you and thus aren't right? What if intellectual honesty is not valued? What if honor is for suckers, humility is for losers, lies are true, and morality is just a bat you use to smash over your neighbor's head because it feels so good?

On the other hand, disagreeable disagreement may be healthy in small doses. Maybe we just need to vent at each other once in a while, with no meaningful discussion. Then as we get old and the young people get sick of our arguing, they will have meaningful discussions as we slowly die off.

Heartily agree!

I disagree!

Not always--if someone has a very unkind opinion of you, your racial group, your gender or profession, that is an attack.

i hate you