There are some that will engage in such discussions and some that won't. It is the ones that profess to be technical and yet can't hang with it that irk me.
What Bob said is right though, you can be polite and pointed or inflammatory and guise it with data. I think you must respect those you engage in debate with or else it is just a fight, and will be called as such.
(I didn't read Scotty's post before he edited, so I don't know what started this thread off, just adding my $.02.)
What equally irks me is people who hide behind "science". I won't name names, but if you are willing to offer up the science your basing your conclusions on, no matter how obvious it might be to you, and the assumptions it is based on, then it is of little support.