This site has many different brands of conservatives. Social conservatives, religious conservatives, social conservatives, Birchers, isolationists. I fail to see that anyone has made me drop the orientation that fuels my conservatism through a flame war. In point of fact, it tends to reinforce my own presuppositions. You are assuming that debate results in persuasion leading to refinement in a position. I find that most flame wars result in deeper entrenchment.
Second, many arguments are shot down not because they are weak but because another party engages in fallacious reasoning, ad hominem attack or engages in plan of attrition. That does not result in discerning the best approach on anything.
I fail to see that anyone has made me drop the orientation that fuels my conservatism through a flame war. In point of fact, it tends to reinforce my own presuppositions. You are assuming that debate results in persuasion leading to refinement in a position. I find that most flame wars result in deeper entrenchment. I find that if you feel that way, you're probably more prone to flame wars than the average FR bear, because you're unwilling to consider the points the other side is making.