[MartinCron]

Most people start from the (ostensibly reasonable) assumption that you can't win an argument on the internet

I should be spending more time in whatever corners of the Internet where you are.

[EvanKelly]

Maybe not... his point is that this premise causes internet arguers to play to the crowd, rather than to engage in meaningful discourse with the person they are arguing with.

There are alternatives to winning an argument. A very positive one would be coming to an understanding of why your opponent holds their view, but continuing to disagree because what you value is different.