The "because you don't like the guy..." bit is one that used to set me off pretty reliably. There's a reason I don't like the guy (whatever guy [or gal, or nonb

The "because you don't like the guy..." bit is one that used to set me off pretty reliably. There's a reason I don't like the guy (whatever guy [or gal, or nonbinary pal, etc] is under discussion at the time). It's hard to remember in these discussions that other people have thoughts and feelings and perspectives and fall back on assuming they're just being irrational, or trying to obfuscate their true motives. This is why I'm a fan of this particular guideline: >> "Please respond to the strongest plausible interpretation of what someone says, not a weaker one that's easier to criticize. Assume good faith." Maybe my interlocutor is a sniveling suck-up to power driven entirely by fantasies of becoming the next boot on my neck, but we sure aren't going to go anywhere in a discussion if I launch off with that assumption. Especially if I'm wrong.