Today, I was rather violently accosted by a rather intriguing gentleman

[johnhughthom]

I do wonder if the intriguing gentleman thought you were mocking him? Perhaps what you thought to be a reasoned argument came across as you making fun of him, certainly the way you describe the situation makes me think that is a possibility. If someone takes something as personally as he appeared, often there is little that you can say that will make him see your side of the debate.

In no way am I saying that you behaved badly, but sometimes the only way to handle a situation is to tell someone to go away unpleasantly.