It really depends on whether the other person actually knows HOW to argue properly.

Depends on who is doing the arguing and how important it is to me to defend my position on an issue. I choose my battles carefully. If someone is just arguing for the sake of being argumentative, I ignore them.

I use my leadership skills: I listen, identify the problem, and work on resolving the issue. No matter how little the problem. Or I'll try my best.

I keep asking why until they get tired of talking. lol

I leave them in the dust.

No one can keep an argument going by themselves... I refuse to be on the other side of their volley net !

Also - it's good to be clear whether it's a pointless argument, or a civil, and potentially useful debate.

I don't. I turn around and walk away.

Well I'm someone who likes to argue, so if you don't want to argue with me I'd suggest just not responding. It would piss me off personally but eventually I would wander off to yell at someone on the internet or to grumble to myself while cleaning dishes.

I believe what I believe and I do not have to justify myself to anyone...

Mostly I avoid them. With a personal relationship, family or friend I like to keep it as a conversation/ discussion but sometimes it can escalate to an argument, in that case, I just try to end it and if necessary walk away. If I feel responsible for the escalation, I will apologize. But there are some hot topics that I will just plain avoid.

I avoid them

Wait outside and run over them with my truck.

It takes two(or more) to argue, so if you don't want to argue then don't argue.

It depends on the topic and how well the other side's argument is constructed. I hate arguing with stupid people. But with someone reasonably intelligent, making a reasonable argument, I often enjoy them.

P.S. I think I am one of those. People who like to argue. But I want to argue well, not make declaratory statements and dumb personal attacks (but I do have to admit that I have done them too....)

I walk away. Through online dating, I met a man who loved to argue. He thought it was fun. I dumped his combative, contrary ass.

I want a kind, respectful man, not someone who enjoys upsetting me.

I listen to what they have to say, refute any misinformation they may have and find common ground with them on the parts that we do agree on. Lather, rinse, repeat until either they and I are on the same page, they exhaust themselves, or they walk away frustrated that they couldn't get the typical reaction that they expected, which is that they will browbeat someone into walking away so they can feel like they "won" the argument. It's really nice when you can turn an argument into a discussion and it makes dealing with them much more reasonable in the future because they know you won't just blow them off and disrespect their views by shutting down or trying to shut them down. In other words, sometimes they just need to be heard. What many take as argumentative is usually frustration from not being given the respect of being heard, as if their opinions are somehow less valid than everyone else's. Nothing like water to take the heat out of fire.

Lol I have a really good friend like this, and I usually just feed wood to the fire. He gets super into it and I just laugh, watch and enjoy our shit show ?

Walk away. There is nothing that they hate more. Shut off their oxygen, the longer you engage with them the more they like it...so don’t give them that satisfaction.

I try to win as many arguments with them that I can. That sometimes discourages them.

First actually understand and identify what the argument is. Then establish the facts to see the truth and then use those to create points to argue for the reallity of the situation!

Shut down and avoid. I get zero pleasure from arguing.

Argue about what? Is there any validity to their argument? Or are they like the paid contrarian in the old Monty Python sketch?

I won't indulge arguers. I used to be one and it is just exhausting trying to be right all the time. ? I came across a saying that I try to live by "I would rather be happy than right?

I usually give my palm for them to talk with. LOL

Walk away. I don't like argue