One of those little nuggets of wisdom that I like to pass on to my children is that just having the last word does not mean you win an argument – although I suspect that I usually say this in an attempt to have the last word.
However, understanding that winning an argument is actually about being the one who says something that is true is much more important. I have found that so often it is the desire to have the last word that causes arguments to deteriorate to pettiness and name calling. Sometimes when people have actually said something that wins an argument they end up destroying their logic by saying something really silly just to make sure they have the last word.
I am also hopeful that in the end the truth will win and it is far better to leave friends with someone and then let the inescapable logic of your argument sink in and make a change later than to leave enemies with your truth in tatters.
Of course alongside all this has to be the understanding that it could just be your thinking that was flawed and by insisting you keep arguing so you can win by having the last word you end up demonstrating just how silly you actually are.
Don’t always try to have the final word – it means nothing anyway.