The infinite paradox of debate?

The idea of debate is to present a argument that persuades people to join your cause. Unfortunately, the only people who tend to show up for debates are the people that are so in love with their idea or cause that they refuse to listen to the other side. That ends up making the paradox you described, they try to point out tiny flaws in the person's speech or grammar, or they dredge up an example that has very little to do with the current debate. As each party provides examples that move further and further from the core of the original argument, everyone loses.