I had a discussion with someone today

[ancianita]

107. He and his ilk live in Wonderland, where Humpty Dumpty said to Alice, "The words mean

what I want them to mean when I say them."

“The question is, ” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.”
“The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty. “which is to be master—that’s all.”

Your someone doesn't care about honesty, agreement or acceptance -- least of all, win-win communication.
He believes what Limbaugh once wrote an article about 35 Undeniable Truths -- that "words mean things."

But words also DO things.
If your someone were honest about the idea that we are more what we say and do than what we believe ourselves to be, they'd know what you meant by 'irrational.'
Regardless, now YOU know that he projects his same "master of words" attitude onto liberals, as if they're not rational, either. Pretty Trumpy, isn't he. Where every discussion is about win-lose, not win-win.

Most of us rightly think that no matter what words are used, as long as the ideas conveyed by the individuals that use those words are understood by the individuals that receive them, then communication takes place and they have understanding (win-win). Doesn't mean they have agreement or acceptance, but they're understood and there's communication.
If one cares to use the same words their audience uses, they tend to be understood more easily, even if they don't accept or agree on the topic.

Rational or not, your Ivy league someone intends to be the Humpty Dumpty master of words he says, and so fails to communicate. It's a feature of narcissism. And a narcissist doesn't care if s/he communicates. Which breaks Communication Rule #1 I used to teach in my English classes.

You won't change him.

Glad to read your post, though.