Points And Counter Points

Question is it truly possible to disagree with someone's POV without belittling them or resulting to downright slander? I overheard two gentlemen having a conversation if you want to call it that on the bus a few days ago. The sad part of everything is that they were essentially saying the same thing though worded quite differently. I am sure that the stemmed from their socioeconomic status and background.

Both were hardworking men, one from the ever shrinking world of manual labor and the other one was definitely from the IT world. The point of dissension was, how to improve America's failing school system.

The conversation started off very mildly but slowly intensified to the point where I was no longer able to write some ideas that I had been brainstorming down in my journal. After while Mr. IT was calling Mr. Blue Collar a brute and very ignorant person which of course led to Mr. Blue Collar questioning the authenticity of Mr. IT's man hood. Of all days not to have MD player with me.

Again both of their ideas were basically the same and they were both fundamentally flawed that's what made their attacks against each other very boring. Perhaps the best idea came from an elderly lady who set up front," whatever it may take to fix our schools I am quite sure that name calling will have nothing do with it." It was at that point that both men realize how loud and obnoxious their conversation had become.

So again is it possible to disagree with someone and not resorting to name calling or personal attacks? One thing I know is this real opposing ideologies never clash with each other.