I like friendly debates

I study in the faculty where discussions and debates are common and encouraged (theoretically, anyway).

I like it when people would objectively argue with me, especially when they can logically point out the flaws in my arguments. The problem is, on one hand, that many tends to shy away from doing so, even when they have a very good point, because they confuse friendly debates with conflicts. On the other hand, many who actually engaged in the debate sometimes took the arguments as a personal attack even though it is not.

What is the point in discussions, then?