Lincoln Discussion Symposium

Kate, I think it is absolutely evitable. We are all capable of not being the one who takes a discussion to the level of personal insults.
As long as you express your opinion as an (your) opinion and a fact as a fact (and don't declare an opinion as a fact), a discussion is "mature", educational, and makes sense. Personal insults simply are no arguments and won't help any bit to change a mind - the least a close mind. As Galileo Galilei said: "You cannot teach a man anything, you can only help him to find it within himself." You can provide arguments and facts, but (verbal) violence is usually not convincing and IMO offends hospitality.

With all respect to different opinions even on this matter, the least I intended was to start a discussion on this thread, and I simply hope it won't happen.

No, no, no! You misunderstood what I said. Maybe I didn't make it clear enough. I agree there is no excuse for personal insults, but that some stress may be inevitable when one's beliefs have been shook up. Just because one feels stress does not mean that one must resort to personal insults.

Kate, I apologize if I misunderstood.

No need to apologize. It's easy to be misunderstood over the internet.