At what point does a discussion/disagreement technically turn into an argument?

Probably when it stops being about sharing ideas and views, and starts being about forcing those views through nastiness, fallacies, and personal attacks.

I’m nervous to answer this.

Here, as well as in the outside world, I think it can happen when one party participating in the discussion takes something too literally, or considers it a direct attack on themselves as a person (takes it personally), or when it strongly compromises their beliefs and/or morals (and they feel as if they need to defend as opposed to discuss them). There’s a difference between fighting and discussing. I think it’s possible to discuss something and not let it get to the point of fighting. No one says you have to agree, but you should be polite. Just keep in mind that if you debate respectfully, others are likely to do the same.

Great Answer Allie, I try like hell to be cordial, but when someone gets ugly and personal, I have a bad habit of jumping on board that ” shit wagon ”, thats my sin, anyway.

When it starts being about the people “discussing” instead of the actual topic of discussion, it’s turned into an argument.

It’s a discussion when both sides are listening to each other and using reason. People are using their brains.

It’s an argument when neither side is using reason or listening any more. People are using clichés and soundbites.

I hate when people say “your view is wrong, mine is right.” End of story, pull a couple of examples out of google, ignore everything else and revel in your righteous indignation!
That makes me feel like arguing. I have difficulty peacefully coexisting with the people who don’t see gray (or grey), only the black and white so it is easier to just vanish into the time difference!

They don’t turn into arguments.

We could all take a lesson from Mary Matalin and James Carville.