转贴网友对A personal attack 的看法

"A personal attack occurs when someone changes the focus of his or her argument and begins focusing on the other person's individual characteristics (his competence, intelligence, etc.) instead of his actual arguments and ideas.

If I were to say "You're an idiot" to someone I disagreed with, I would be making a personal attack. It would not be an attack to say that the person's idea was irrational, and to support my reasons for believing so.

So to say "You are a twisted individual who will probably just twist my words around" or "You are a moron who will probably just say something stupid," would be an attack."

source: http://personalitycafe.com/debate-forum/464-what-personal-attack.html