what's the difference between a personal attack, an insult, and a true statement

Re: what's the difference between a personal attack, an insult, and a true statement

I don't usually post in Critical Thinking but here we go.

Insults can be both true and false, but whether it's classified as a personal attack, an insult, or truth in my opinion depends on how informatively or derogatorily it is delivered. It also depends on how insecure someone is to receive such information as well. Some people can shrug it off as "Yes, I know I'm fat. Can't do much about it because of xxxxx/not number one on my list as of right now" or take it offensively as "BMI is a myth, how dare you say I'm morbidly obese I'm going to live another 50 years I aint dying anytime soon you are off your rockers mate".

Personally, I draw the line at when it goes from informative information from an outside perspective, to intentionally derogative to either inflict mental harm, or to damage reputation/character and the opinion of you from others. I would be okay with people acting in a derogative manner towards me, as long as it stays informative and there's some level of acknowledgment prior, or after that they didn't have the best choice of words.

Re: what's the difference between a personal attack, an insult, and a true statement

The former is relevant because you ask for personal, subjective content.

The latter isn't because you're basically asking people to define "insult" the way they want, which leads to nothing unless you actually want to redefine the word.

Re: what's the difference between a personal attack, an insult, and a true statement

To be receptive to insults implies that one has an emotional soft spot. Insults cause people to try harder, either to change or assert themselves. At the moment of insult there's a reaction that is usually kinda uncomfortable.
Theoretically, the insult and the reaction could be independent of each other and coincidental, which is what I like to believe, because I hold being different in the highest regard.
Often to give an insult implies that you are, in fact, insecure, even if your heart's in the right place.
Even the maddest situation, when one deserves insult and is a problem or nuisance, can be attributed to coincidence. A buildup of brain chemicals in this increasingly kooky world. An example would be, let's say, if someone bogarted all your Doritos when you left the room and now you seek vengeance. Why my friend? Flesher's theorum clearly states that the social world is purely divine and the Dorito's aren't actually Doritos.
I hope you found this interesting and remember that all things good and evil are real.

Re: what's the difference between a personal attack, an insult, and a true statement

A personal attack is to criticize without reason. an insult is to take offense.
Truth follows reason.

Re: what's the difference between a personal attack, an insult, and a true statement

When you're offered both from a random person on the street who intends to make you feel bad/guilty/negative about your weight? There is no difference. They are both insults, and they are both personal attacks because the insults are about something to do with the person themselves.

When you're offered both from a doctor that you went to see to evaluate your overall physical health including your weight? The former is certainly delivered without tact, and they are maybe being insensitive, but since you -asked for information on that subject- from somebody -qualified to give it- it stops being insulting.

Re: what's the difference between a personal attack, an insult, and a true statement

I think something like "you're an ass" would be an insult.

"You stopped emotionally developing in middle school" rides the line between insult and informative.

And "get a therapist" is just good advice.

Re: what's the difference between a personal attack, an insult, and a true statement

Not if 0 legit reasoning can be brought up.

Get a life

Vs

Get a life, you dont work, you're in good shape and not mentally ill. Do something productive.

Re: what's the difference between a personal attack, an insult, and a true statement

Here's a personal attack fuk u archowl more like barn owl cuz u STINK

Re: what's the difference between a personal attack, an insult, and a true statement

Also most people know they're fat as fuck u don't gotta rub it in

Edit: in serious it's simply the motive - insulting someone is just taking an aspect of them you find negative and using it to cause guilt, so ya

Re: what's the difference between a personal attack, an insult, and a true statement

read: denotation vs connotation

Re: what's the difference between a personal attack, an insult, and a true statement

In early cultures, being fat was a sign of nobility. A show that one could afford more food than they needed was expressive of the status quo

Re: what's the difference between a personal attack, an insult, and a true statement

We may have better technology and medicine, but we're no more or less human now than we were then.

Re: what's the difference between a personal attack, an insult, and a true statement

I'm surprised no one just said: "the intentions".

Re: what's the difference between a personal attack, an insult, and a true statement

This topic of discussion is inane. An insult can be an untrue statement and furthermore can even be totally irrelevant to truth. Example: "fuck you" is an insult which is totally unconcerned with truth. "You're fat" or "you're a piece of shit" still counts as an insult even if it's untrue.

Also, "You're fat" vs "your BMI etc" are really different if you spend even one second barely thinking about it. The second statement includes a step in logic, uses BMI, and morbidly obese is a different concept from being fat. However they can both be either insulting or not, it depends on the purpose.

Come on, if you gave this even one second of thought you would have realized this. The differences are very obvious.