There is a blunt but brilliant Malay saying that goes: “Jangan buang masa berdebat dengan orang bangang, sebab mereka akan heret kita ke level dan logik bangang mereka.”

Translated, it means: “Don’t waste time arguing with stupid people, because they will drag us down to their level and their stupid logic.”

It echoes the famous sentiment often attributed to Mark Twain: “Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.”

We have all been there. You see a comment on social media that is factually wrong, or you get into a conversation with a relative who refuses to listen to reason. Your heart rate spikes. You prepare a well-researched counter-argument. You bring facts, data, and logic to the table.

And what happens? You lose. Not because you were wrong, but because you entered a game you could never win.

Here is why you need to stop arguing with irrational people, and how to reclaim your peace.

1. The Logic Vacuum

The biggest mistake smart people make is assuming that everyone values logic.

When you argue with a rational person, it is like a game of chess. There are rules. If you checkmate them with a fact, they concede.

But arguing with an irrational person (or the “orang bangang” mentioned in the quote) is not chess. It is pigeon chess. You can be the best chess player in the world, but if you play against a pigeon, it knocks over the pieces, craps on the board, and struts around like it won.

Irrational people do not care about your facts. They care about their ego, their narrative, or simply getting a rise out of you. By trying to use logic, you are speaking a language they have refused to learn.

2. The “Leveling Down” Effect

The quote warns that they will “drag us down to their level.” This is the most dangerous part.

To argue with someone who yells, insults, or twists reality, you often have to get in the mud with them. You start typing in all caps. You start getting sarcastic. You lose your composure.

Suddenly, you are no longer the calm, rational person you pride yourself on being. You have become exactly what you hate. You haven’t elevated them to your level of understanding; they have successfully lowered you to their level of chaos.

3. The Cost of Your Energy

Time is a non-renewable resource. Every minute you spend typing a paragraph to a stranger who won’t read it, or arguing with a colleague who won’t listen, is a minute of your life gone.

Ask yourself:

• Is this argument going to change their mind? (Likely not).
• Is this argument improving my life? (Definitely not).
• What could I be doing instead? (Reading, working, sleeping, being happy).

Your peace of mind is expensive. Don’t spend it on cheap arguments.

4. How to Walk Away (The Real Win)

Walking away doesn’t mean you are weak. It doesn’t mean you “lost” the argument. It means you are disciplined enough to know what deserves your energy.

Here is how to master the art of not engaging:

• The Pause: When you feel the urge to correct someone, take a deep breath. Wait 10 seconds. Usually, the urge passes.
• The Smile and Nod: In real life, sometimes a simple “That’s an interesting perspective” is enough to end the conversation without feeding the fire.
• The Mute Button: On social media, the block and mute buttons are the greatest tools for mental health ever invented. Use them liberally.

Conclusion

The next time you encounter that specific kind of irrational logic—whether it’s in a boardroom, at a dinner table, or in a Facebook comment section—remember the quote.

Don’t let them drag you down. The only way to win a fight with a fool is not to play.