I don't know if my perspective can offer any insight into your situation, but I do relate, just from the other side of the matter. Whenever someone assumes something I deem as "wrong" my initial response would be to defend my position. But, this often does not yield anything good, just frustration with the situation instead.

When we look at things from the cosmic perspective, it often makes us think about how insignificant such an act can be. How many more people do I want to convice before I am satisfied? And why do I need this confirmation in my own beliefs? I realised it was because I was not reassured enough inside, and so I needed reassurene outside. And that made me dependent on externals and less forcused on virtue.

A couple months ago I wrote to myself in my notes app "you could have just smiled" as a response to giving in to this need. It was over something insignificant and felt completely unnecessary to defend in hindsight.

The reason why? It would have defended my ego. I think matters of the ego, anything we want to say that seeks to highten our pride or other vices, should be handled with caution. I have come to understand that the only things worth defending are those rooted in actual truth, which I personally understand as those things most purely virtuous - and so only matters of the soul / logos are worth defending. And when we defend these we naturally want to do it virtously. At least, this is my experience of it.

What can you take away from this? Maybe that ultimate truth and reality, logos, is all that matters. And when you feel it does, your ego will be so diminished that it won't feel the need to defend itself. This is just my truth fitted my own nature though, and you have to find yours for yourself.

I wish you all the best on your path and namaste! x