I'm hereby laying claim to a piece of Internet lore and labeling is thusly:
When you engage in debate with someone and they get so frustrated that they abandon the topic entirely to start making degrading remarks about you and your character, you are to proclaim "Hobbesidan Victory! I have won this debate!"
Now that you've won the debate, you can walk away from it satisfied. After all, it's your opponent who admitted defeat when he changed the subject to indulge in petty personal attacks in an attempt to distract you and possible others from the fact that he was losing the argument anyway.
You crossed the finish line first. Bravo! To celebrate your Hobbesidian Victory, walk away from your computer, have some tea, and relax. You don't need to prove another thing. You are a winner.
So to be clear, here are the rules:
1. You are engaged in a debate on an issue.
2. Keep your contributions to this debate on the issues. As tempting as it is, don't indulge in personal attacks.
3. Once the other party makes a personal attack against you, you are hereby authorized to claim "Hobbesidian Victory!"
Then go outside and enjoy the fresh air. Also, as Professor Elemental laments, we all need to stop feeding the trolls:
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