We agree!
I guess I'm more into debate than you are. I'll put it this way, if you want to be a good fighter, you fight. You spar with your fellow marital artists in your dojo. It makes you stronger. The blows you take from your sparring partners make you a better fighter and readies you for the big competition. Politics is the same way.
Everyone who praises you is not necessarily your friend and everyone who criticizes you is not necessarily your enemy.
For twenty four years, I taught Kali, Penjak Silat and Escrima.