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Ad hominem. We don't need to do a background check on every author of an article, we can just focus on and discuss the contents

We can, but if a person announces to the world that they are an asshole we can also choose to spend our valuable attention somewhere else.

"If you disagree with me on one topic, you are an asshole and I will not listen to anything you have to say on any other topic."

Yes, he's the asshole here.

This is a very specific topic. There are plenty of topics where disagreeing with me doesn't mean anything.

Still, I prefer not to give the person additional exposure.