I recently had an argument with a friend over my conduct on Xbox Live–the online video game service provided by Microsoft. He was angry that during an online game, I got pissed and switched my machine off.

Rather than go into the details of this incident, I'll just say my friends were not, in my opinion, displaying good sportsmanship, so I dropped out of the game. No different than walking off a ball court after a heated game.

Curiously, my friend didn't seem to think so. He used the comparison of an angry child stomping home with their ball. While it's true I'd love to be able to fit Microsoft's Xbox Live servers in my home, I think they actually take up more space than about one hundred houses the size of my own.

Upon reflecting on this argument, it occurred to me there are a lot of people against walking away. Road rage sure isn't walking away. An angry spouse isn't about walking away–although in my case, that's precisely what I do to avoid arguments.

No, it seems like there are a lot of you folks out there that would rather get the last word, arguing tooth and nail until they "win."  Allowing the other party to retreat just isn't in your playbook.

So I'd like to point a few things out to you last-worders.

First, you're all idiots.

I can prove it. Ever hear of a guy named "Ghandi"?

Ghandi didn't fight with anyone. He didn't argue. He just kind of sat there, passively resisting, without fighting. Not exactly walking away, but very similar.

Ghandi of course isn't the only person to advocate passivity. This really famous guy from Bethlehem was very big on not fighting. Perhaps you've heard of him? Jesus?

Somehow, I can't see Jesus playing basketball, getting madder and madder at the people he was playing with, but insisting on finishing the game. Maybe that's because he said "If your hand offends you, cut it off." Jesus wasn't trying to turn people into Captain Hook; his point was that you should go to some pretty extreme lengths to avoid conflict. Even if it meant changing your name to "stumpy."

Then there's that other bible verse about the meek inheriting the Earth. I'm glad the meek will inherit it; a bunch of arguing, last-worders would make for a really noisy place.

I think even Teddy Roosevelt was a fan of avoiding conflict. "Speak softly and carry a big stick." Surely that means, don't get angry and shout and yell, just talk quietly, but be prepared to protect yourself.

The point being, there is absolutely nothing wrong with walking away, especially when you're about ready to fly into a rage. Dr. David Bruce Banner sure tried to avoid getting there. Bill Bixby acted for what, five years, on a TV show preaching how letting your anger get the best of you was gamma-bad.

Then there's the trauma people put themselves through, when they do get all worked up, screaming and yelling. Ever heard someone remark on a quiet person walking away?: "He better be careful, he's going to have a heart attack avoiding conflict."

Never complain if someone walks away. It's better for them, and you.

I always try to walk away. Trust me, just like the Hulk, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry.