Winning the argument

Amit Varma reposts Arthur Schopenhauer’s “38 Ways to Win an Argument.” However bold these strategies might seem, they are extremely reliant on rhetoric and pull with the audience, and less reliant on actual argumentation. Schopenhauer is most likely using this as a “what not to do.”

#38 Sums up the list best. Emphasis added.

38. Become personal, insulting and rude as soon as you perceive that your opponent has the upper hand.
In becoming personal you leave the subject altogether, and turn your attack on the person by remarks of an offensive and spiteful character.
This is a very popular technique, because it takes so little skill to put it into effect.