I think that's just an extension of his inability, or unwillingness, to understand other people in the first place. Every time I've seen him "debate," he never actually attempts to understand the other person's position, and instead just immediately assumes the absolute worst about them--which I imagine is why he turns to the insult so quickly.
While it could be mental illness, I honestly doubt it. I suspect it's just your ordinary, run-of-the-mill asshattery.
And, you know, I have more than a bit of that in myself, so I sympathize. If, as Inverarity said, he had a sense of humor about himself, he'd be a far more pleasant person all around.
But that's the way it goes sometimes, for better or (usually) for worse.
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Date: 2011-09-18 10:03 pm (UTC)While it could be mental illness, I honestly doubt it. I suspect it's just your ordinary, run-of-the-mill asshattery.
And, you know, I have more than a bit of that in myself, so I sympathize. If, as Inverarity said, he had a sense of humor about himself, he'd be a far more pleasant person all around.
But that's the way it goes sometimes, for better or (usually) for worse.