How to respond to attacks

A reader told me about certain biased left-wing attacks to which she had been subjected in online discussions. When I asked if she would like the comment to be posted, she declined, giving a reason that may be useful as a general guide.

I’ve found that living well really is the best revenge. If you rebut any attacks that might seem to a reasonable third party to call for a rebuttal and simply ignore the rest, no matter how numerous and/or outrageous, you win. Even better, you win with honor—a concept that I need hardly add is foreign to many if not most of our leftwing compatriots (and I use the word advisedly).

Besides, such discussions tend to devolve into unprovable and even silly assertions, since they are so intrinsically subjective. I’m interested in traditionalism, reviving it, cultivating it and maintaining it. Personal attacks are of distinctly secondary interest to me as mere obstacles to be impersonally overcome.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at March 01, 2008 06:44 PM | Send