Yes because there are certain areas where paid actors, including bots, overwhelm any organic discussion. I have discussions about stuff like that in private chats with people I actually know.

The block button works for me

All the time.

Yeah, there's plenty of topics I avoid discussing on the internet. I'm not here for an argument.

Yeah, and the worst is when people are talking about something I know a lot about, getting virtually every detail wrong, and I have to resist saying anything because I know my input will either be ignored, or worse, straight up unwelcome.
Luckily the blessing of being dumb as bricks is that that doesn't happen a lot, but I sure hate when it does.

I have done this from time to time. Need to go back to it. There's too many Dwight Schrutes online. Thanks for the wisdom. OP.

I was typing something, was going to just delete. So yeah

I don't mind discussing politics or religion, even though I don't repeat myself in the same discussion and don't engage with trolls. However, I absolutely never discuss my family, my personal matters and my racist views.

I certainly do. Every internet community is a bubble and I do not appreciate getting into fights with a brigade of people who hate me just for having an opinion that does not align with their dogma.

Yeah. On my personal pages I either unfollowed or deleted so many people so I don't have to deal with it. On places like lemmy it's not worth the energy.

Sometimes I can't help myself though. I was taught to stand up for myself and for other people as well so it's hard for me to sit back on certain conversations. Somehow this week I actually changed someone's mind (Not on lemmy). It's confusing when that happens lol

Maybe try a more formal debate setting? I know there are some places like "the crucible" that facilitate that.

I doubt you will find anything on Lemmy unless you start up a highly moderated community. Even then, people can bring questions against the moderators.

Discussion and debate are pretty lawless in nature.

Several I never comment on or engage with, several I comment on and very few topics I engage with.