HP does not better in the summer than Fall

[Carol]

Carol earlier:
> Carol, who would never, ever call another person's point "BS" regardless of how ridiculous I thought it

md:
> Guess that's just where you and I differ, I don't mince words and tact can be an afterthought when replying to something I find to be really off-base.  
> 
> Also, just like to point out, that I'm the first person to admit if I say something that's BS. I have no patience for it, especially when I do it. 

Carol responds:
Yes, we clearly differ. I was taught to be courteous even when I disagreed with someone, and I taught that to my composition students as well. Rudeness, after all, won't persuade others to agree with them--or with you.

Labeling a point that you disagree with as "BS" (or "crap" or even "ridiculous" or "absurd") is not an argument or a counterargument. It's merely your opinion stated in a way that the person addressed is likely to find offensive.

If I were to label a point of yours as ridiculous, would that convince you that the point was ridiculous? I seriously doubt it. You'd expect a logical counterargument and supporting evidence. After all, you're an English teacher, and you wouldn't, I hope, accept "that's BS" or "that's ridiculous" as a counterargument in a student essay.

Carol, who also finds some opinions ridiculous but either ignores them  or refutes them