I cannot stand when people say "let's agree to disagree"

[arwalden]

What kind of bullshit is that? The only time people say that is when they can't think of an argument or counterpoint that will change their opponent's mind, that will prove them wrong, or that will rip the other person's logic to shreds. I've heard it from radio talk-show hosts and idjits on discussion forums. And then they act all superior because they are "big enough" to "agree-to-disagree" when it's really a position of weakness they are trying to disguise.

Next person who tells me "let's agree to disagree" may just get popped one!

[GOPisEvil]

1. What about when both parties in an argument are intractable?

At some point, there's no sense rehashing the same points repeatedly?

I suppose you may not think so, but we may to agree to disagree on the subject.

[Ravenseye]

38. Well I think then the argument is

that no argument is intractable. Lack of traction in an argument/discussion is caused generally by stubbornness or opinion. The same points get rehashed because of one or both sides being unwilling or unable to consider or understand them, usually when they think they do, but they don't.

So really it's a communication issue. Saying 'agree to disagree' tends to be like you say, when there is no point in rehashing the same points again and again. I would argue however, that when people say it, they're the ones who are wrong, because they aren't as passionate about it.

:evilgrin:

[democracyindanger]

2. But

"Let's stop talking because you're full of shit and not worth my time trying to educate" takes too long to say.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

3. Can't you just get sick of fighting?

I think it's a stronger person who just says, look, nobody's going to change anyone's mind here. Just let it go. Why is that bullshit?
Duckie

[Redstone]

4. OK, then we'll agree to disagree.

(Someone had to say that.)

Redstone

[wildhorses]

5. I used to not like it, but,,,what else can one say when

one atheist is trying to convince a believer?

[ContraBass Black]

9. Stop talking, and walk away.

It's much more polite.

[HughBeaumont]

6. The Repuke's Second Favorite Phrase

Next to, of course, "9/11 Changed Everything" (© 2001, Republican Party. All Rights Reserved).

[crim son]

7. I hate it when somebody says it to me,

but I've been known to use it, when I know the other person is absolutely, utterly wrong and can't be made to see the light. Especially if s/he's aggressively pursuing a crappy argument.

[Floogeldy]

12. Crappy arguments are the best kind.

Because nothing serious or meaningful rests on the outcome.

Will you agree to agree with me on this?

;)

[crim son]

16. Ah hell, why not?

I'm not up for a crappy argument tonight! Peace, baby.

[Floogeldy]

8. Really?

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[Dangerously Amused]

22. ~

:thumbsup:

[Wcross]

10. It certainly beats going around in circles...

I guess we can agree to disagree on this issue. Its the polite way to withdraw from an argument that can't be won by either side.
It sure beats a pistol duel at dawn to resolve the issue.

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

13. Pistols at dawn sound fun! . . .Sort of. . ..A little bit. . . .Not really

Okay, swords at dawn! That's more fun, right? Less lethal at least. . .

[Wcross]

40. One thing about a sword fight....your gonna get cut.

Even if you win you will likely get some nasty cuts.

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

49. Meh, that's more fun than some nasty bullet holes

[Wcross]

51. Shot in soft tissue or slashed in the groin????

It doesn't matter much but duels are finished when someone dies. Give me a bullet to the forehead over a slashed artery any day of the week!

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

52. A cup can stop a slash to a groin. It ain't stopping any bullets though

Where's your sense of sadistic adventure? A slashed artery would be much more fun than a bullet. Also, a duel of swords requires skill, where guns you only need to point and shoot. I for one want to have fun and show off as I slowly bleed to death :P

[Wcross]

53. I guess we can agree to disagree then.

Isn't that what this was coming to anyways?

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

11. It's for when neither party can change the other's mind. It's a way of

wrapping up the conversation, since neither of you will change your mind, and I'm not gonna waste my day arguing with you when it doesn't matter.

"The only time people say that is when they can't think of an argument or counterpoint that will change their opponent's mind," Some opponents WON'T change their mind, no matter what.

". . .that will prove them wrong," Not all issues can be classified 'right' and 'wrong', especially when it comes to opinions.

If you aren't willing to understand this, then we're just going to have to agree to disagree :P :hide:

[caty]

14. Can't you respect someone else's opinion?

"Agree to disagree" means that you are giving them the right to their ideas, while holding on to the right to have your ideas. Maybe if more people "agreed to disagree" there wouldn't be so many wars over whose religion is the one true religion and who has the right to land that is significant to many.

And, if you don't agree with me---that's o.k. You have the right to disagree with me anytime you want.

[Susang]

15. I would never say that

I prefer a hearty "fuck you". :evilgrin:

[riderinthestorm]

19. LOL. Yup, that's me too.

I wish I was so polite as to end a conversation with "agree to disagree" but usually the dialogue has gone in so many circles with absolutely no end in sight it's much more satisfying to just say "fuck you!" and walk away.

:evilgrin: back atcha.

Of course, those conversations are usually held late at night, stoned or drunk. I'm usually much better at spotting an idiot before I've even gotten this far when I don't drink, and will walk away before it gets anywhere near "agree to disagree" OR "fuck you!"

[Susang]

20. Do I know you?

Have we gotten drunk and argued before? That scenario sounds awfully familiar. :evilgrin:

[riderinthestorm]

24. But you are a DUer!!!

We're all in lockstep right? Same opinions and all that shit??

:7

I mean, disagree with a DUer??!! (gasp!) Especially late at night while drunk?

[dorktv]

17. My congressman says that to me.

[idgiehkt]

18. this reminds me of something.

That list of '40 things I'd love to say at work' that Mr. Scorpio posted a while back. There are some really good things to say on that. The first one in particular is nice: "I understand your point but I think you are full of shit." That beats "let's agree to disagree" hands down, doesn't it.

[Gormy Cuss]

21. I understand the sentiment but always have the urge to pop the person

because the phrase is said in a condescending tone more often than not. The sole purpose is to shut down discussion before the intractable person is forced to acknowledge that there is some merit to the other position.

[arwalden]

26. Thank You!!

I feel that way too... a good smack on top of the head might do some of these folks some good!!

[Kajsa]

23. Arwalden, my family is 50/50 Democrats-Republicans.

If we didn't agree to disagree there would be no family gatherings.

[catbert836]

25. We'll have to agree to disagree on that.

:rofl:

But seriously. There are sometimes when two truly irreconcilable points of view meet each other, and using the cliche is better, in my view, than continuing a pointless argument.

[last_texas_dem]

27. Yeah; that one pisses me off, too

Mainly because the primary times I've heard it, it came from the person who started the argument in the first place. It used to happen quite a bit with my Re:puke: friends. They'd start mouthing off about something to try to get me angry and argumentative, when I really would have preferred to not discuss the issue anyway with a friend who was an unconvinceable dumbass. Whenever I finally started arguing with them and they felt over their heads they'd always throw out the "let's agree to disagree" life preserver. I think there should be an unwritten rule that the person who initiated the argument shouldn't be able to use the "let's agree to disagree" line, especially if they started the argument just to be obnoxious, 'cause that's really just an overall pathetic thing to do.

[arwalden]

28. Excellent Observations!

:thumbsup:

[ProfessorGAC]

29. We'll Agree To Not Pop Each Other

That's ridiculous, Allen. Your picque is rooted in a belief that there is only one right answer to every situation. That's simply wrong.

Sometimes BOTH people are essentially right, erring only in analysis, or conclusion, or perhaps making no errors, but reaching different solutions.

There is, under those circumstance, NO WAY to change the other person's mind. To suggest, as you have, that it's a cop out is only true if everything is black & white. I know you can deal with shades of gray.
The Professor

[xmas74]

30. I say it to idiots who refuse to listen to anything I say

but I usually end it with "you fuckin' b*tch." Then I simply stroll along.

[LostinVA]

31. That's not what it means when I say it

When I post it, it means that I totally disagree with the other poster and vice versa, and no matter what we say, we won't change each other's opinion.... especially if it's about something really subjective, like a movie... or something really controversial.

Sometimes, it also means that I think they are being a jerk, and I don't have the energy to argue with their jerkiness.

But. it's usually the former. It has nothing to do with no being about to Field a valid argument.

[ScreamingMeemie]

32. I don't think so. I use it when I'm just not going to change the other

person's mind... no matter how many links I post or how valid my argument is. It's a way to keep it from devolving into a namecalling contest, IMO. I don't find myself weak for using it. :hi:

[anarch]

33. Me either. I prefer a nice, old fashioned fight to the death.

Pfft. "Agree to disagree" my ass. When somebody says this to me, I say, "admit you're wrong, or prepare to die!"

[philosophie_en_rose]

34. I agree. It's Barbara Bush-speak.

"Let's agree to disagree."


Translation:

"Why should I worry my beautiful mind?"

or

"I'm through with you."

[merh]

35. I respectfully disagree

and could care less if we ever agree to disagree on this or anything else.

It appears from you stance that you must always be right or there must always be a winner. That is silly and nothing I can say or do will change that silly mindset of yours, you own it and from this post one would think you proudly own it. IMHO, that mindset clearly shows that you don't respect others and that is sad.

Recognizing that not everyone thinks as you think, that their minds don't work as your's works is the first step to appreciating the differences in this world and in respecting others. Of course, to garner respect, one must offer it and/or give it freely to others despite differences. There are times I will never see things as you see them, my life experiences and my education (formal or informal) combine to form the basis of my opinions and as hard as you might try, there are some things you cannot change my mind on. Agreeing to disagree is a mature stance, is a way to show respect to another human being. Popping someone is neither.

:hi:

[mvd]

45. It's awfully hard to have winners on message boards,

when you are not face to face and where some people are just better writers than others.

[merh]

48. That's true

That's why the phrase "I agree to disagree" has validity on a message board unless someone really likes pounding their head against the cyber wall or their computer screen.

:shrug: Sometimes you just have to walk away.

.

[Reciprocity]

36. If the shoe fits.

From The Flame Warriors
http://redwing.hutman.net/%7Emreed/warriorshtm/tirelessrebutter.htm
Tireless Rebutter
For Tireless Rebutter there is no such thing as a trivial dispute. He regards all challenges as barbarians at the gates. His unflagging tenacity in making his points numbs and eventually wears down the opposition. Confident that his arguments are sound, Tireless Rebutter can't understand why he is universally loathed.

[Katina]

37. it's better than "whatever"

that one drives me nuts

[Joe Fields]

39. It's ultimately better than them stabbing you in the eye with a pencil.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

41. Well, what do YOU do when you have an intractable argument or difference

of position with someone, where it's clear there will be no convincing of them? Follow them all the way to their house, shouting your argument all the while?

Fisticuffs? Gunplay?

:shrug:

[Skittles]

42. I agree

coward's way out

[Lisa0825]

43. That phrase can save a friendship.

I have a former friend who used to fight with me about just about everything (except politics, upon which we agreed). I used to beg her to just let us change the subject or agree to disagree. When I am POSITIVE I am right, I won't let someone sway me, but I will happily end in a truce. SHE, on the other hand, MUST ALWAYS WIN. I don't have to WIN. I'm fine with someone refusing to believe me, as long as they allow me to move on.

Nothing seemed to infuriate her more than me asking her to agree to disagree or change the subject, because it meant I wouldn't give in, and she couldn't win. Now, if I am not certain, I will admit that, or I will say, "Hmm, I'll have to look into that," and often I will come back and say, "You know, you were right about that." But I will NOT be bullied into accepting someone else's argument as truth when I strongly believe it is not.

I finally got sick of her shit and put a lot of distance between us. It wasn't easy, because I'd made the mistake of bringing her into my close cirlce of friends, so our disintegrating friendship caused a lot of strain with our mutual friends.

If she could just accept a "draw" now and then, maybe we'd still be friends.

[arwalden]

47. Yeah... Reminds Me Of A Woman I Know.

She always has to be right... no matter what. -- I'm not friends with her anymore either. She's a real, uh... witch!

[mvd]

44. Well, on discussions such as music, movies, books, etc..

it sometimes is the best thing to say. No one's going to make me dislike a singer I like or like a singer I dislike. On political matters, I try to avoid it - but even then, sometimes it's best when the arguments have been regurgitated over and over.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

46. Yes, when everyone has made the SAME POINT/ARGUMENT 3 times in a row,

(with your opponent obviously being in the wrong), with no prospect of anyone's mind changing, where do you really have to go, aside from agree to a truce (even though your opponent is clearly wrong), or to bash their head in with the jawbone of an ass?! :shrug:

[Iniquitous Bunny]

50. "Let's agree to kiss my bootie"

is more preferable I think when I find people in the wrong. 'Cause I'm almost always right.