Trevor said, "I wonder if being
disagreeable is always wrong? In academic debate it almost
certainly is, but what if your opponent is a fascist or a fanatic? Perhaps
it would still be pointless and inappropriate, but this is not
obvious."
I think disagreeableness
is an obstacle to progression of an argument -- it generates more heat than
light. That said, wouldn't it be pointless to argue with someone who
thinks s/he is absolutely right?
June