I, personally, consider questions and opinions should be considered on their own merits, and NOT by who authored them.

I may indeed be suspicious of the motives of someone I already have reservations about, but I don't (usually) make that part of my public responses. As I have said, I have debated several folks at length.. on various issues... but I **tried** to argue the issue and not to call their character into question... even when I had issues with it.

I struggled with Shambles.. and Pete.. and several others... without directly insulting them... and as far as I remember, the only direct insult I got was a half-hearted one from Martin Gibson.

I am quite aware of the tendency of some to "call a spade a spade" and not mince words-- but when several of those are on the same thread, things just simply escalate as each defends his 'right' to free speech.
I'm reminded of this... stretch the metaphor to fit...

"Here lies the body of Henry Grey,
Who died defending his right-of-way.
He was right, dead right as he sped along,
But he's just as dead as if he'd been dead wrong."