Public debates are necessary to get new ideas out there, but individuals and groups would rather be horrible than change their minds after an argument.

Attempting to argue with people, in good faith or otherwise, to change their mind is a philosophical trap.

Persuasion is just getting people to come around to your way of thinking without direct argumentation. It gets manipulative, psyopy and evil when fear, envy, lust, guilt, etc nudges are applied.