Why must people insist on declaring a winner and loser, who's right and who's wrong, what's better and what's worse in all situations where there is a differing opinion? Differing opinions don't always mean an argument must ensue. A person's view on a particular subject should be listened to, and if possible, understood from the speaker's point of view. While you can never really understand another person's thinking, you can at least TRY to understand the reasoning behind a person's point of view, choice, or reason for being. If a person makes a choice that you don't agree with, and it is a choice that is worth talking about, it should not be an argument of your choice was wrong, my choice was right, it should be a discussion of why each person feels their choice is the right choice. There never has to be a 'winner' of this contest; the goal should be a general understanding of why each person has come to his or her own conclusion to make a certain choice.
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If he leaves, he did not win an argument, he just made a decision based on his feeling about the facts and opinions at hand. The differing opinions helped him to build an informed decision. In most cases where there is a differing opinion, there is no right or wrong answer. Two people are ALLOWED to have differing opinions, they can even argue about those opinions. Debates help inform people of different points of view on the same subject; there doesn't have to be a winner to these debates. There just needs to be an understanding and listening not an attack on the other person's opinion. Mutual respect and understanding is key for the survival of relationships and this must be based on listening and attempts at understanding the other individual's points of view. 99% of all conflicts, including wars, could be solved with this simple concept of understanding and listening. Indeed sometimes people still make bad decisions and cause true conflict, but time should always be spent trying to understand another's point of view, not trying to destroy the other's opinion to prove oneself selfishly correct.
