In one sense, they _are_ synonyms. But, in a completely different sense, "arguing" and "quarreling" are also synonyms. Since you say that "arguing" cannot be used, then by your logic you must agree that "quarreling" cannot be used, as it is a synonym.
You stated that quarreling is a better choice than arguing _because_ debating is a synonym of arguing. This _implies_ that arguing cannot be accepted as meaning the same thing as quarreling, which is the sense dire_lobo wanted to convey and which every normal English speaker can understand.
Since we understand that dire_lobo was choosing different operational definitions of arguing and debating, and his operational definitions are valid, your statement was incorrect.
Your mistake was in assuming that the property of being synonymous in one context automatically invalidates the different contexts being used. |
