"Great minds discuss ideas; 

average minds discuss events; 

small minds discuss people."

— Eleanor Roosevelt

A personal attack is committed when a person substitutes abusive remarks for evidence when attacking another person's claim or claims. This line of "reasoning" is fallacious because the attack is directed at the person making the claim and not the claim itself. The truth value of a claim is independent of the person making the claim. After all, no matter how repugnant an individual might be, he or she can still make true claims.

There is no rule that is objective and not open to interpretation on what constitutes a personal attack as opposed to constructive discussion, but some types of comments are never acceptable:

• -Racial, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ageist, religious, political, ethnic, national, sexual, or other epithets (such as against people with disabilities) directed against another person.
  
• 
  
• -Disagreement over what constitutes a religion, race, sexual orientation, or ethnicity is not a legitimate excuse
  
• 
  
• -Using someone's affiliations as an ad hominem means of dismissing or discrediting their views—regardless of whether said affiliations are mainstream. 

• -Linking to external attacks, harassment, or other material, for the purpose of attacking another person.
• 
  
• -Comparing the person to Nazis, dictators, or other infamous persons. 
• 
  
• -Accusations about personal behavior that lack evidence. Serious accusations require serious evidence. 
• 
  
• -Threats, including, but not limited to:
  • Threats of legal action
  • Threats of violence 
  • Threats of vandalism 

• • 
    
  • Threats or actions which deliberately expose the person to political, religious or other persecution by government, their employer or any others. 
  • 
    
  • Threats to give out personal details about a person 

These examples are not exhaustive. Insulting or disparaging a person is a personal attack regardless of the manner in which it is done.