A wrong assumption becomes less damaging when curiosity replaces a long defense of it.

Being wrong is small; defending it is what costs. The assumption takes a moment to correct, while a long defence builds arguments, allies and a reputation you then have to protect, each of which makes retreat more expensive. Curiosity ends the process early by turning the mistake back into a question. Damage here is mostly a function of how long you stayed.

When you feel the urge to argue harder, ask what would have to be true for the other account to hold. Say plainly that you had assumed otherwise. Correcting early costs a sentence, while correcting late costs a story about yourself.