Why can't people just agree to disagree?

mostly because people like to be RIGHT! actually this is something I'm working toward in my life, to just accept that even when I think someone is a complete imbecile to think something that it doesn't make me responsible for making them change their mind. learning to pick my battles I guess. but oh yes it is most annoying

I do that nearly all the time. None of my friends are vegan and I have to just accept the fact that they eat meat and not keep bringing it up or else they wouldn't be my friends any more. Also a lot of them are religious which I don't agree with either, but I don't start arguments about it as it won't achieve anything. Sometimes I will have discussions but I don't like to argue too much as it will just make them cross.

I have found that with some people, even stating that I don't agree will just continue it. And even if I want to agree to disagree...that person will just continue to try to convince me. Often, I find that I will just say, "OK", and then walk away. I do not give that person satisfaction on feelings as if he or she changed my mind. And I do not give the person the satisfaction of continuing to harass me with their persuasive comments that I feel is totally off base! I don't know how many times I have to do this with my partner. And he even knows that he has not changed my mind. But he knows that I will not continue to argue with him. And with time, he will either blow it off as if it didn't happen..and to me, that is the same as agreeing to disagree. Or, he will come back to me later and realize that I had valid points also. Again...agreeing to disagree. I wish more people were like this too. It sure would be a far calmer place to be if this were common practice.

Even thou I don't agree with others. It does not mean I do not want to hear their veiw even thou there is no changing my mind about whatever we are discussing. I like to hear all sides of the discussion. Before I change my mind. If not it is just someone telling me how to think. Instead of letting me decide for myself. Does that make any sense?

I don't know, but I totally agree with you. We can't change each others' minds or beliefs, so why bother trying? Maybe some people actually think they'd be convincing enough to change someone, but in reality, most people usually aren't. Fortunately, there's people like you and I who know that there will always be someone who will disagree with us and aren't so stubborn and imposing and realize that there's really no point and just accept the fact that someone disagrees with us. Know what I mean?

Because some people have always to be right. I wonder if some people have any idea how ignorant they appear when they keep hammering away trying to force their opinion on you and their opinion is usually quite obviously wrong. My ex used to throw a phrase at me which irritated the heck out me it was "Du hast deine Recht und ich habe meine Ruhe" loosly translated means 'You are right and I have peace'.

There are some discussions that go back and forth forever. I've gotten stuck in a couple temporarily, but try to avoid it. I decided to stop after being in a couple or discussions where I was going to articles the other person cited, etc., and realized that my 20 minutes of reading, researching, and arguing was only going to earn me one or two pennies. People who get involved in these discussions tend to be very set in their beliefs, so you could argue till you're blue in the face and it won't change a thing.