If something is really valid and useful, it will survive and sustain itself on the face of any opposition

When someone makes a point, which he may think as absolutely right, that may be contradicted by other for bona fide reasons..

In fact most subjects are capbale of interpreted with genuine conviction in more than one way..

Adishankaraachaya in his great Bhashyams would presume that there are contrary views existing against his own version, he will himself pose the possible counter-query and will attempt to answer that too.. This is the crux of Indian logic..

And it is the noble tradition among decent human beings over time and terrain to respect the opposition..

Something like "I do not agree with what you say, but I am prepared to lay down my life to defend your right to say what you want to say" is attributed to Voltaire.. I believe this should be the guiding mantra in transactions between cultured human beings.

If something is really valid and useful, it will survive and sustain itself on the face of any opposition.. like gold thrown into nitric acid mixed with hydrochloric acid (aqua regia) in the shape of alloy... the gold will remain in tact while other metals in the alloy will dissolve and disappear..

The test as to whether a proposition is true or not is not in the way it is presented, but in the way it survives test of criticism and comes out flying colours..

Knowledge starts with reading books but it is only a start..

The knowledge gets processed in the laboratory that is human mind and brain, it undergoes the acid test of criticism and evaluation.. If it passes the test, then alone it is presentable..

It again gets tested in debates and discussion..

Of course, everyone feels parental affection to his posts, but there is always a blind area in the vision of the parent.. The real merit shines forth only when the ideas get tested and vindicated by criticism..

But personal attacks, on the basis of allegiance and prejudices are unhealthy, but how many can face truth without acid on their faces and their fingers?

No stuff is really light or serious..

Like a piece of stone which shapes itself into a piece of art in the hands of a sculptor with soaring imagination, words gain wings and soar to immortality when they pass through the mind, vocal chords or fingers of a person with vision..