when they are respectful disagreements. Those minimize trolling with argumentative wording, instead only using implied sarcasm in the skilled fashion that our mutual friend Merlin did.

I can and do ignore most of that stuff when dished up by long time friends whom I know have good hearts behind their views. Sure, I may diametrically opposed those viewpoints, but still embrace the person believing them.

No need to pound the crap outa someone whose friendship one hopes to keep once it's clear that no change of opinion is likely in either side. Simply agreeing to disagree after one's attempts at persuasion are rebuffed is the better part of valor and the best way to show respect for the other, no matter how dumb one sees their argument.

I KNOW that you know that and that you once presented your arguments in exactly that fashion, agreeing to disagree once you met an impasse. So what's with the deliberate antagonism employed nowadays?