He is counterattacking and defending himself, all right, Ebbie, but he isn't calling anyone a "racist", a "sexist", a "bigot", a "homophobe" or some other highly damning socio-political label like that which is impossible to disprove AND impossible to defend oneself against when accused of it (just like back when they were calling people "witches"...there was no possible defence against such a charge...any attempt you made to defend yourself was only taken to be proof of your guilt...and silence was likewise taken to be proof of your guilt).

He's saying that people have made stupid comments about him that aren't true. Fine. He has a right to say that if he wants to, and it's not the same thing as calling someone a racist, a bigot, a homophobe or some other such hate label. It's the hate labels I object to, because they are used as a single-word way of symbolically destroying and casting out another person, and they are used in far too glib and unsubstantiated a manner by people...mainly to satisfy the ill will of the person using them.

If, on the other hand, you say that you think something someone here said about you was "stupid" or incorrect...well, fine...that's your opinion, and I don't see anything wrong with stating it. That's just a matter of individual opinion, and it doesn't condemn the other person the way those hate labelling words do.

People here are quick to label someone else a "bigot" or a "racist" or a "sexist" or an "antisemite" or some other hate label like that because they figure it'll really hurt the other person, they know there's no possible way of defending oneself against it, and it satisfies their spiteful desire to immediately strike out and hurt the other person. I think it's a mean and shitty thing to do to someone you're talking to, and I wish people here would stop doing it. It's also a damned lazy way of conducting an argument. You'd think they could discuss the actual subject matter of the debate, rather than just falling back on their favorite damnation word...but they'd rather make hate-labeling character attacks that cannot be defended once the accusation is hurled. That's the way you got a witch burned in Salem. Fortunately, we aren't in Salem anymore, but the same Inquisition-style tactics are still being used by the "righteous" to silence their opposition.

And people get away with it. All the time. Providing they go after a target that has no practical way of defending itself against the charge.

If you disagree with a person..............DEBATE the points they have raised! Respond with reasoned points of your own. Do that instead of labelling them a "racist", a "bigot", a "homophobe", an "antisemite", or a "sexist". The hate labels don't lead anywhere. They bring communication between people to a full stop. They encourage nothing but hatred between people. They arouse fury in the person they are directed at, and you'd know that if YOU were that person. They are the tactics of the Inquisition and the High Executioner.    They shed no useful light whatsoever on any situation. And they are a symptom of mental laziness besides...not to mention, excessive pride.