Comment by YeGoblynQueenne

Another point to consider is the old "don't feed the troll". Even if the other person is not really a troll (which I agree they usually aren't, they're just not thinking like you do) if you keep coming back for more you're just giving them the chance to argue their case for longer. So sometimes, if you want to promote your view, the best strategy is to let it drop and pick it up in another thread.

That's... not 100% honest, I guess, but at least it makes for easier to read and easier to handle conversations.

Conversely, arguing on HN has definitely helped me find the words to explain my own thinking to myself, so there's something in flogging a dead horse, sometimes.