In response to LJ's Nik Aziz's true stripes showing?, I believe that it needs to be said that there are certain rules and codes of conduct that should be adhered to when we are discussing others, especially, others with whom we do not agree with.

It's one thing to disagree with policies and ideas, but it is another thing altogether to attack the person that advocates those policies. For LJ to claim that Nik Aziz is a danger to Malaysians because he has "no qualms against using violence against tigers" is going too far. The accusation is baseless, unwarranted and, quite frankly, in very bad taste.

Freedom of speech is an important human right, possibly one of the most important rights that a human being can possess. Because it is important, it should be protected  there really is no place in a public forum to use that same freedom to put down another person whose ideas you disagree with.

In any public debate there should be rules. Let's focus on rebutting arguments, not personalities. Otherwise our efforts at constructive debate will be just a waste of time.