There’s a certain wisdom in knowing when to engage in a discussion and when to step back. A healthy conversation is built on curiosity, a willingness to listen, and a shared interest in understanding—even when opinions differ. But when a discussion turns into a contest, where one or both parties are more interested in scoring points than learning, it becomes something else entirely.
You can often tell the shift has happened when responses become reactive instead of thoughtful, when facts are ignored in favor of talking points, or when there’s more effort spent dismissing than engaging. If someone isn’t open to the possibility that they might learn something new, then the conversation isn’t really a conversation anymore—it’s just two people talking past each other.
That’s when the question becomes: What’s the goal here? If it’s about making progress, then keep going. But if it’s just about proving someone wrong—especially when they’ve already decided they won’t be convinced—then maybe the stronger move is to redirect your energy to something more productive.
Sometimes, the best response is simply to walk away—not in surrender, but in recognition that not every argument is worth the cost.
