For some people, debating is personal, an attack on the person itself rather than the argument. So losing the argument is kind of akin to losing face yourself.

For some people, debating is personal, an attack on the person itself rather than the argument. So losing the argument is kind of akin to losing face yourself. People become emotional in such a setting. It’s a sign of over investing in a belief system with (ad hoc) rationales attached to it.