[chesley]

The key is to state your position without being insulting, but stop and drop out of the discussion when it starts to get out. Also, you can build up a lot of innocuous posts in the Lounge. Once you're over a thousand you have a little more liberty.

[Dashing Dasher]

I've been doing very much what you prescribe. Hanging in the lounge and when I get into a thread, I "dump and dash" on the conversation. I did get caught up with one person - who I argued with - and now I have her on IGNORE so I don't do it again. I'm learning....