Depends on your definition of "starts". Is it "starting it" to bring up facts?

Then the messenger is attacked, not the facts.

That's the thing with "discussions", they become personal when one side has nothing left and WON'T change their position based on the facts. When one side is wrong and won't change and doggedly holds onto their myths, that's when it gets personal. That's why nobody attacks WHAT the "racist" says, they attack him personally for being a "racist" when the facts made him a "racist".