Let’s say a house is on fire. I say we should put water on it, and Steve says we should put gasoline on it. We disagree, obviously. But why we disagree is important.
Steve might say we should put gas on the fire because he’s unfamiliar with the substance or incorrect about how it will react, in which case I might need to explain things to him and help him understand the chemistry before he’ll help me with the firehose.
Or, Steve might say we should put gas on the fire because Steve wants the house to burn down.
If Steve wants the house to burn down, I’m wasting my time explaining to him that water is the correct substance to use to extinguish the fire; he already knows. But likewise, if Steve is just confused about what gasoline will do, I don’t get anywhere by accusing Steve of being an arsonist.
Being able to identify why someone disagrees with you and acting accordingly is a crucial skill. Don’t ignore developing it.
The Opportunity Machine 