Because thats just the way they are... i guess if they run out of argument, but don't want to back down it's the only option left. I kind of understand that, but it's always better to admit if you're wrong or agree to disagree... lifes to short to fight with strangers over the internet... It's about friendly debate anyway right?

I think some people can't make the distinction between a debate and an argument. Presenting opposing views doesn't automatically put you at odds and it's not personal. It's merely an exchange of ideas. Some people take debate as an attack and they get defensive. That's when you usually see the insults start.

People who do that are resorting to something known as the "ad hominem argument" In short, a frustrated attacker will use a personal attack (ad hominem argument) to divert attention from the real issue when they're losing the argument. I see this frequently on AB. Remarks like, "You can all just go die" and "You're full of it" signify that the writer has no substantive point left. Personal attacks are the last refuge of someone who's lost a debate. From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem "An ad hominem argument "consists of replying to an argument or factual claim by attacking or appealing to a characteristic or belief of the person making the argument or claim, rather than by addressing the substance of the argument or producing evidence against the claim. The process of proving or disproving the claim is thereby subverted, and the ad hominem works to change the subject. It is most commonly used to refer specifically to the ad hominem abusive, or argumentum ad personam, which consists of criticizing or personally attacking an argument's proponent in an attempt to discredit that argument. It is also used when an opponent is unable to find fault with an argument, yet for various reasons, the opponent disagrees with it. Many times, an opponent's use of an ad hominem attack is an indication that the opponent realizes that the argument itself is correct and cannot be refuted."

Because if they can't be right or convince you that they are right, they have to insult you and bring you down so they look better in their eyes. How clever they are! We're so impressed:-)

They are immature and result to juvenile behavior.

Some people just can't stand it when they are proved wrong, because they don't believe they are (and even think they are "better" than others). So, when they are proved wrong, they get pissy and juvenile and start calling names. Thus proving they are no better than trolls...

I think after you've been here awhile you realize that everything doesn't always have to have a winner/loser conclusion. Sometimes both sides have good points..it's good to engage in friendly disagreement..the only way to really know how intelligent one is would be to have a controlled environment intelligence test..no one knows who the smartest person on AB is..it could be someone who is not very good at expressing him/herself..it could be a newbie..it could be an oldtimer..discussing issues of intellect is ridiculous because there is no objective way of making that assessment..someone doesn't agree with you..that someone is clearly stupid! Come on! No one who thinks things through could possibly believe that! :(