How to have an open discussion when there are people determined to shut it down?

[Believerinbiology]

I'm sure many will recognised the many tactics for shutting down discussions on these boards e.g. the ploppers posting for screenshots or deletions, targeted mass reporting of particular posters who speak sense, derailing etc. I, like many here, don't generally report posts as prefer to leave posts stand for sunlight and so what was deleted cannot be misrepresented. I'm struggling with what is the best way to deal with derailers or those who superficially seem to be engaging in the discussion but actually are shutting it down. As one poster said when it becomes a back and forth between a couple of posters most will leave the discussion. If nobody refutes their points it can be spun that we agree/ don't have an argument against it/ are an echo chamber that won't engage with other viewpoints but if they are refuted the derailing back and forth occurs. What is the best way to handle this (other than screaming in frustration)?

The poster who prompted me to write this thread does not usually post on trans issues unless the thread is linked to his topic of interest. He posts on the topic across the site so it's not possible to avoid him unless you avoid the topic which is likely his aim unfortunately.

There's a difference between a natural progression of a discussion and a derailer. It usually becomes clear after a few posts.
A discussion takes points and replies, a derailer never gives anything useful to the debate.
I report posters who seem to be posting in bad faith and let MN decide.

I have a suspicion that the type of poster the OP is referring to was very prolific on a previous, deleted thread who posted post after post about collecting posts as 'evidence/receipts' of 'transphobia' while referring to an unspecified 'we'. It wasn't a discussion or a case of dissenting opinions, it was clearly a trawl for screenshots. It definitely wasn't you @Dreamwhisper - if it's the poster I'm thinking of.

Ah, I think I know which one you mean. There's a recent thread which started off very interestingly but I've now stopped watching/taking part in because it has become so derailed.

Ah this makes sense, so literal trolling. I think the only way to deal is to ignore as any reaction, positive, negative, good faith, bad faith is what they get off on.

It is infuriating because they often will write something designed to get you to snap back and draw you into conversation. Reddit is absolutely rife with people like that, I can't believe the amount of time and dedication they are willing to spend just being completely disingenuous and incendiary.

Sorry if I wasn't clear, I didn't think the thread was like that, I think it stayed pretty much on topic.

What got my hackles up was thinking this thread was about me, as someone commented something that sounded very much like it was aimed at me, but it's not about me so it's all good.