As an Australian, when the former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard got up on stage a repeated the mantra "I am deeply offended by the leader of the opposition", referring to various things Tony Abbott had said, I suggested this was exactly the wrong approach for her to take and that she should have just rolled her eyes and laughed at him if she truly thought Tony is out of touch with the average Australia.

Not unpredictably I was shouted down by everyone in the room. Maybe this says something about the people I associate with. Perhaps.

If we disagree with someone why should we be offended? Wouldn't it be better to just say "I think that is a silly idea, lets move on", rather than heaping yet more attention on the opposing views.

I would possibly make an exception to my theorising above. When the marauding hordes are coming over the hill it might be time to dispense with the eye-rolling. It may be prudent to act prior to this occurring. I'm not convinced I know where we go from here.

You're right. Julia played the victim too much. If you're the elected leader of a country, even if you are the victim, you take the higher stance.

Being offended by Abbott, while a normal response, isn't something she should have mentioned. It makes the argument personal, and derails any possible logical argument.

Agreed. It's worth noting she wasn't elected Prime Minister, I mean not by the people. She got to that position via a leadership challenge, party politics.