arguing versus debating

There is a fundamental difference between arguing and debating.
In a debate, two sides present facts and theories; opposing viewpoints on a common topic. The goal is to convince the other side and/or third parties that one's viewpoint is correct and one's opponent's is not.
In a debate, you listen intently to what the other guy says, so that you can rebut and rebuke what he presents, with your own barrage of facts and theories and ideas and counters.

In an argument, you stick you fingers in your ears and shout as loudly as possible. You have to shout because, with your fingers in your ears, it's very hard to hear your own voice, and since the words coming out of your own mouth are the only thing you care to listen to, the volume goes way up.

Some people, even supposedly intelligent people who work at "think tanks", are in fact blathering idiots, as Andy Tanenbaum proves.