Good piece, even though highlighting Walter was really shooting fish in a barrel - he's an easy target, but it's good that you engaged with him because you introduced some ideas he may not forget as easily as he blocked you. And that's the thing to remember with these types: They may get mad, they may throw a tantrum and call you a transracereligionculturespeciesvegetablephobe or something but you've introduced, or validated & perpetuated a message they've already heard before and rejected. You may or may not have planted the seed of critical thought, but you at least watered it and Walter may find himself one day resisting a stubborn little aster (a flower that symbolizes, among other things, *wisdom*) sprouting from his cranium, and yanking it out may only leave roots...to sprout again :)

We may not seemingly change others' minds, but we may contribute to it...and who needs the ego rub anyway that you did change a mind? :)