Some disputes continue because nobody agrees on what question is being answered.

Two people can argue for an hour about entirely different propositions without noticing. One is discussing whether it was fair; the other is discussing whether it was practical. Both are making sense and neither is engaging, which is why the thing never resolves.

Stop and ask what question you are each answering. Write it down if it helps. Half the time the disagreement dissolves on contact with that question, because you were never actually disagreeing about the same thing.