Are you smart enough to know when to walk away?

By
Real Estate Agent with Wayne M Martin

In March of 2012 I wrote the following post:

Sometimes it does not pay to argue. No matter what you say or how solid your position, people are unwilling to hear what you have to say, absorb it or see the error of their way. It may aggravate you but it does not pay to argue with the opponent! Walking away is not easy but it is the best alternative. Why?

Let me offer this bit of advice: "Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience."

When the temptation arises to argue for a position I know is right, I strive to assess the competition. Sometimes they have made up their mind before they formed their position. No use in arguing with an idiot. Instead, I try to understand that I have been in their position many times.

Enjoy your day.

Comments (19)

Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Wayne Martin  what great advice, sometimes it is hard to take good advice:)Endre

Mar 19, 2023 03:06 PM
Wayne Martin

The hardest part is to know the premise and not follow your own advice.

Mar 20, 2023 04:13 AM
faye schubert
Retired - Branson, MO
Living the Branson Lake Life

Yes I have walked away, with no regrets. I did it for all the right reasons.

Mar 19, 2023 04:01 PM
Wayne Martin

That is called common sense!

Mar 20, 2023 04:14 AM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day.  No point in arguing with an idiot

Mar 19, 2023 05:36 PM
Wayne Martin

They truly will drag you down to their level and clobber you with their experience.

Mar 20, 2023 04:15 AM
Ed Silva
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Sometimes it is the best recourse as it is impossible to win an argument with someone that just can't see the answer.

Mar 19, 2023 06:24 PM
Wayne Martin

Bingo! Why don't we do it all the time?

Mar 20, 2023 04:15 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Love t his Wayne- It's best not to argue with an idiot. Wise words. You could never stoop low enough to reach their level and if you did, you sure wouldn't like where you ended up. 

Mar 19, 2023 06:34 PM
Wayne Martin

As I grow older and the limbs are not as limber, I am learning more about not stooping.

Mar 20, 2023 04:16 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Wayne Martin - arguing with someone who doesn't listen is pointless. They only hear their own voice and aren't listening to a word you say. 

Thanks, Wayne for the wise advice.

Mar 20, 2023 05:06 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Los Angeles Pasadena 818.516.4393

Hello Wayne - on any scale, I am not smart.  However, I try to measure my options.  Sometimes, it happens later rather than sooner.  Unfortunately.  

Mar 20, 2023 05:22 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Absolutely, Wayne. You've got to know when to hold them and when to fold them!

Mar 20, 2023 05:26 AM
Kat Palmiotti
406-270-3667, kat@thehousekat.com, Broker/REALTOR® - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Good point, even 11 years later. It's not easy to walk away when we believe we are right, but sometimes it's necessary.

Mar 20, 2023 05:33 AM
Brian England
Arizona Focus Realty - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Your words were wise even back in the day, haha.  I hope that you will have an amazing day, my friend!

Mar 20, 2023 06:12 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thank you very much, Wayne, for sharing your experience and advice.

Mar 20, 2023 08:12 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

There's no point in arguing with someone who has made up their mind. And - you can't fix stupid.

Mar 20, 2023 08:44 PM
Paddy Deighan MBA JD PhD
http://irstaxdebt.pro - Vail, CO
Paddy Deighan J.D. Ph.D

This is a true gift - knowing when to walk away … seldom know when to do it

Mar 20, 2023 09:24 PM
Kimo Jarrett
Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA
Pro Lifestyle Solutions

Basically, there are 3 types of consumers, uninformed, misinformed and informed. I discovered the uninformed and misinformed are capable of making good decisions after getting all the facts, however, it's generally the informed that are stupid and those are the types you run away from. 

Mar 21, 2023 12:07 AM
Carol Tunis
Florida Homes Realty & Mortgage - Saint Augustine, FL
Carol Tunis...a "HouseSold" name!

The days of expressing one’s views and listening to the opposing side to come to an agreement, are lessening daily!  When this happens, you are right to not engage! 

Mar 21, 2023 07:18 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Good advice, Wayne. Sometimes making the decision to walk away IS the right one. Life is too short to waste time trying to win an argument that you can't.

Jeff

Mar 21, 2023 07:37 AM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, however misguided. Black still is not white last I checked.

Mar 23, 2023 04:55 PM
Gloria Todor
Premier Property Sales & Rentals - Media, PA
& Doug Durren (484) 431-3686 in SE PA

Wayne, Sometimes running away is the best thing to do!!

Mar 24, 2023 02:14 PM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Do not waste good things on people who will not appreciate them.  

This proverb is adapted from a saying of Jesus from the Gospels, "Cast not pearls before swine." Jesus appears to be warning his disciples to preach only before receptive audiences.

Apr 15, 2023 08:40 AM