to ask what do you do when you get into a heated discussion online?

[AteRiri]

Mumsnet or elsewhere.

Do you keep explaining your point which the other party does not seem to get, or do you let it go?

[WorraLiberty]

It depends on how I feel at the time, what the subject is and whether or not I've got something better to be getting on with.

[EastMidsMummy]

Keep going. Forever.

[HerOtherHalf]

Let it go usually. A lot depends on whether it is a reasonable debate, with both sides willing to listen to and consider each other's opinion, or if it is just an argument. Arguing, especially with strangers, is a pointless waste of time.

[Ohdearducks]

I'm too lazy to gather my thoughts and form an argument most of the time, I'll sometimes just 'meh' them or just not reply and carry on posting on the thread as if they're not there. Just can't be arsed in general.

[Worksy]

I can be quite persistent but other times walk away to annoy them!

[MistressMerryWeather]

If it's dragging on forever it's best to just call them a wanker agree to disagree and move on.

There are some people on MN who seem to make a hobby out of getting into long, drawn-out arguments.

I can't be arsed with that.

[mambono5]

it's pointless to try to convince someone and to try to change their mind, but I do try to explain my point of view. It's hard, because people don't read properly: take a sentence out of the context of your short paragraph, changing the meaning.

For example, some people took huge offense of an anecdote I mentioned recently, but completely made up a story about the circumstance without ever asking me to clarify the details, it was hilarious. It went on and on for pages! It was a bit like me saying I was having a coffee (in actual fact in a little cafe) to them picturing the scene in an airport, for no reason whatsoever, it was incredible. not the actual story obviously

I also do a screenshot of the most heated arguments and whatsap my sisters and best friends so we have a laugh about it together. I censor most of the replies that come to our mind

[FutureMrsRanj]

Get distracted and forget to go back to it usually

[WellErrr]

I think 'would I be arsed arguing with this person in real life? No, I'd just think 'what a thicko/how obtuse/what a weirdo/how sad' and move on.

[llangennith]

I usually have a wry chuckle and leave it. It's not real life it's a MN thread.

[OverAndAbove]

These days I assume there's no point in carrying on. In older times (like three years ago, say) there were many worthy opponents that I used to love having an intelligent "debate" with. These days, it seems to always be a DM journalist looking for material or some Tory agitator, which is worse...

[drinkyourmilk]

I generally say my piece and then let them get on with it. It's only when I feel particularly strongly about something will I keep arguing. Even then after 3-4 posts I just give up. There's usually something else to read

[ChocolateFuzz]

I like to calmly give evidence to back up my point but tend to quickly drop it because I know I can't change their mind and I hate being in arguments.

[PidgeyfinderGeneral]

I usually CBA to argue in the first place. Getting into spats online about whether or not someone is deliberately misinterpreting your post to suit their own agenda is an excercise in futility as far as I'm concerned.

I've been using forums for 15+ years and my days of spending ages creating well-crafted posts backed up with research are well past, especially when their response is 9/10 'I don't agree and you're just a cunt'.

[babychamcherryb]

I don't. I don't let it get that far. I usually think to myself what a dullard and do something else.

[allchattedout]

I get really annoyed, but sometimes will resort to just hiding the thread and I then find that my anger evaporates. I only have heated debates on here now (I name change a lot). I used to try to engage with DM readers in the past but they made my blood boil that I had to stop for health reasons. My posts were always massively red-arrowed for daring to object to overt racism, torture, ant-immigrant rhetoric and general bullshitty and misogynistic lies. I know, I know, I should ignore it, but sometimes I figure I need to know my enemy...

[BillyDaveysDaughter]

After bitter experience if being grossly misinterpreted online and roundly given a kicking I did not deserve - not here - I actively avoid getting drawn into heated discussion now.

I only post if I have an amusing or helpful contribution, or a well rounded and non controversial opinion...

[BillyDaveysDaughter]

*of

[GodSaveFuManchu]

I used to love a good debate and would happily battle on 'til the bitter end. But I think I must have 'grown up' or something as I tend to just state my point and walk away now.

I can't force someone to change their mind and thinking I'm right doesn't necessarily mean I am. Or I know I'm right and I walk away feeling smug and superior, one or the other.

[Scrounged]

Say ODFO and accept my deletion. Alternatively I just troll the poster for everymore even if they name change .

I'm probably joking 😬

[Mrsmadevans]

I leave the thread but remember them forever and change my name and go after them at a later date mwah hahaha

[DJBaggySmalls]

I cant be bothered with nasty people and dont waste any energy on them. these days I find it hard to believe they aren't trolling.

[KurriKurri]

Certain things wind me up enormously - I tend to avoid commenting on them now. (Anything to do with psychics, ghosts, etc. and anything which insults my cultural heritage)

Other stuff I try to be polite and get my point across and usually people cans till manage to be polite even if they disagree, if they are rude (and someone was once extremely rude to me on here in a personal way) then I leave the argument. I'm not interested in someone throwing insults at me from behind a key board.

I find many of the threads that get me upset and wound up get pulled quite quickly. I am the worlds' worst troll spotter.

[Boogers]

Life is too short to correct someone who's wrong on the internet.