History Main / AgreeToDisagree

* Interesting variant in the ''Series/RedDwarf'' episode "Polymorph". Angerless Rimmer constantly says things like "Good point, let's take that on board" or "Well, let's put that on the back-burner for now", but really he's completely ignoring everyone else's opinions, until the discussion concludes with everyone else ignoring his. (To be fair, everyone's opinions at this point are ''completely insane'' because they're all missing an emotion.)

* Invoked in Music/PhilCollins' song "That's Just the Way it Is," from ''But Seriously (the song, for the record, is about the Troubles):
--> You see the dying, you feel the pain/What have you got to say?/If we agreed that we can disagree/We could stop all of this today.

* Invoked in Phil Collins' song "That's Just the Way it Is," from ''But Seriously (the song, for the record, is about the Troubles):

* In ''MaxPayne2'', during a discussion about bad decisions and predestination, Vlad invokes this when Max doesn't agree with his views.

* This is pretty much Boris the Animal's CatchPhrase in ''[[MenInBlack Men in Black 3]]''.

We all have different opinions and beliefs, and we all believe we are right and everyone else is wrong. However, that doesn't mean we have to be enemies. Instead, we can acknowledge that YourMileageMayVary and let each other do our own thing.

* Averted by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aumann%27s_agreement_theorem Aumann's agreement theorem]], which states that two rational people will always agree.

* Used in ''[[AnchormanTheLegendOfRonBurgundy Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy]]''

* Mentioned amid the legalese spouted by the "court-appointed theatrical agent" in ''TheRunningMan'' (movie); Richards and the government "have agreed to disagree."

* Interesting variant in the ''RedDwarf'' episode "Polymorph". Angerless Rimmer constantly says things like "Good point, let's take that on board" or "Well, let's put that on the back-burner for now", but really he's completely ignoring everyone else's opinions, until the discussion concludes with everyone else ignoring his. (To be fair, everyone's opinions at this point are ''completely insane'' because they're all missing an emotion.)

-->-- ''TheSimpsons'', "The [=PTA=] Disbands"

* A ''RedVsBlue'' {{PSA}} on the differences of the Internet and RealLife featured a variant in its showcase of arguments in RealLife vs. the internet.

* In {{Bakuman}}, several older manga artists attempt to make a comeback in Jump. Mashiro sympathizes with their efforts, as his uncle had tried to get serialized from when his contract expired to his death, but while Takagi understands why Mashiro thinks this, he believes that people who fail in Jump should not be given a second chance. Neither convinces the other of his perspective, and they decide to drop the argument.

* In ''[[MaxPayne Max Payne 2]]'', during a discussion about bad decisions and predestination, Vlad invokes this when Max doesn't agree with his views.

---> '''Cat:''' We can't agree on anything!
---> '''Dog:''' I disagree! I think we ''can'' agree.
---> '''Cat:''' See? We can't even agree to disagree on disagreeing!

'''Sarge:''' Well I disagree, but I respect your opinion.

* Played straight & discussed in ''TheSimpsons'', with people not agreeing to agree to disagree. "The PTA Disbands:"
-->'''Ned Flanders:''' Well, I guess this is a case where we'll have to agree to disagree.\\
'''Principal Skinner:''' I don't agree to that.\\

* Invoked by Paradox on ''{{Community}}'' during the second season finale.

* Averted by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aumann%27s_agreement_theorem Aumann's agreement theorem]], which states that two rational people will always agree.
* President Obama and the Republicans in Congress.

[[AC: Web Comics]]
* In ''TheOrderOfTheStick'', Elan and Tarquin do this, [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0818.html with these exact words]].

[[redirect:AgreeToDisagree]]

->'''Ned Flanders:''' Well, I guess this is a case where we'll have to agree to disagree.\\
'''Principal Skinner:''' I don't agree to that.\\
'''Ms. Krabappel:''' Neither do I!
-->-- ''TheSimpsons'', "The [=PTA=] Disbands"

We all have different opinions and beliefs, and we all believe we are right and everyone else is wrong. However, that doesn't mean we have to be enemies. Instead, we can acknowledge that YourMileageMayVary and let each other do our own thing.

This trope can either be invoked as a StockPhrase or used to resolve a conflict. Sometimes, it's a good point. Other times, it's [[GoldenMeanFallacy an excuse to avoid a fight without pointing out that one side's opinions are actually wrong]].

For an example to count, the exact phrase "agree to disagree" doesn't have to be invoked, but it has to be something with the same (literal or underlying) meaning. That most people actually simply agree to disagree on most things most of the time does not count, the trope only comes into play when it's invoked and/or actively used to try to resolve a conflict.

Compare BothSidesHaveAPoint.

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!!!Examples

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* ''Out Of Step'': "We'll just have to agree or disagree about this, but thanks for coming Jenny."
* Invoked in ''Chameleon Street'', not as a way to resolve a a conflict but simply as a way to appear less obtrusive.
* Used in ''[[AnchormanTheLegendOfRonBurgundy Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy]]''
* Eliot Ness says it in the movie ''TheUntouchables''.
* Mentioned amid the legalese spouted by the "court-appointed theatrical agent" in ''TheRunningMan'' (movie); Richards and the government "have agreed to disagree."

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* In ''ThePhantomTollbooth'', this is how Milo getes King Azaz and the Mathemagician to agree.
-->'''Milo:''' [[LogicBomb So each one of you agrees to disagree with whatever the other one agrees with, but if you both disagree with the same thing, aren't you really in agreement?]]
* Inverted in Charles Ardai's ''The Last Story'': James Drake, an organic chemist, feels that schools should emphasize science more, and Roger Halsted, a math teacher, passionately agrees, but they aren't going to let a little thing like ''that'' stop them from arguing about it.
* Invoked in ''ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'' When the heroes are captured by Count Olaf and interrogated by the man with hooks for hands, Fiona, [[spoiler: his sister]], points out he's on the wrong side. He quickly says this, only for the narrator to point out that it's basically being used to say, "I'm wrong and you're right, but I'm not going to admit it."
* In HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince Dumbledore says this regarding whether or not Snape is a traitor.

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]
* Invoked in the ''TrueBlood'' episode "Release Me".
* Interesting variant in the ''RedDwarf'' episode "Polymorph". Angerless Rimmer constantly says things like "Good point, let's take that on board" or "Well, let's put that on the back-burner for now", but really he's completely ignoring everyone else's opinions, until the discussion concludes with everyone else ignoring his. (To be fair, everyone's opinions at this point are ''completely insane'' because they're all missing an emotion.)
* Invoked by Paradox on ''{{Community}}'' during the second season finale.

[[AC:{{Music}}]]
* Invoked in Phil Collins' song "That's Just the Way it Is," from ''But Seriously (the song, for the record, is about the Troubles):
--> You see the dying, you feel the pain/What have you got to say?/If we agreed that we can disagree/We could stop all of this today.

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* In ''[[MaxPayne Max Payne 2]]'', during a discussion about bad decisions and predestination, Vlad invokes this when Max doesn't agree with his views.

[[AC: Web Original]]
* ImAMarvelAndImADC has Lex Luthor and Green Goblin agree to disagree on which version of The Hulk is better, [[TalkingIsAFreeAction while being attacked by The Hulk]].
--->'''Lex Luthor''': Can we agree to disagree?
--->'''Green Goblin''': Totally.
--->'''Both''': AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
* A ''RedVsBlue'' {{PSA}} on the differences of the Internet and RealLife featured a variant in its showcase of arguments in RealLife vs. the internet.
-->**RealLife**:\\
'''Tucker:''' Look, that's just the way I feel about it.\\
'''Sarge:''' Well I disagree, but I respect your opinion.

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* Played straight & discussed in ''TheSimpsons'', with people not agreeing to agree to disagree. "The PTA Disbands:"
-->'''Ned Flanders:''' Well, I guess this is a case where we'll have to agree to disagree.\\
'''Principal Skinner:''' I don't agree to that.\\
'''Ms. Krabappel:''' Neither do I!
* Played with on ''CatDog'':
---> '''Cat:''' We can't agree on anything!
---> '''Dog:''' I disagree! I think we ''can'' agree.
---> '''Cat:''' See? We can't even agree to disagree on disagreeing!
* In [[Film/GreenLanternEmeraldKnights Green Lantern: Emerald Knights,]] {{Sinestro}} and Abin Sur agree to disagree on whether or not a GreenLanternRing works off of fate or science.

[[AC:RealLife]]
* Averted by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aumann%27s_agreement_theorem Aumann's agreement theorem]], which states that two rational people will always agree.
* President Obama and the Republicans in Congress.

* Invoked in ''ASeriesofUnfortunateEvents'' When the heroes are captured by Count Olaf and interrogated by the man with hooks for hands, Fiona, [[spoiler: his sister]], points out he's on the wrong side. He quickly says this, only for the narrator to point out that it's basically being used to say, "I'm wrong and you're right, but I'm not going to admit it."

* Averted by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aumann%27s_agreement_theorem Aumann's agreement theorem]], which states that two rational people will always agree.

For a example to count, the exact phrase "agree to disagree" doesn't have to be invoked, but it has to be something with the same (literal or underlying) meaning. That most people actually simply agree to disagree on most things most of the time does not count, the trope only comes into play when it's invoked and/or actively used to try to resolve a conflict.

---> '''Cat:''' The two of us can never agree on anything!
---> '''Dog:''' I disagree! I think we ''can'' agree on things.
---> '''Cat:''' You see? We can't even agree to disagree on disagreeing!

* ''OutOfStep'': "We'll just have to agree or disagree about this, but thanks for coming Jenny."
* Invoked in ''ChameleonStreet'', not as a way to resolve a a conflict but simply as a way to appear less obtrusive.