Some fundamental facts about threads in public forums (as opposed to online chats) are often not sufficiently taken into account:

• they can be read by everybody for decades;
• they will normally be read from the top to the bottom;
• readers will thus be more attentive at the top;
• many will lose interest midway.
• Therefore, there is no point in repeating one's statements in reply to malicious misrepresentation - attentive readers will have detected the discrepancy themselves, the others will be further bored;
• and it is largely irrelevant who has the last word and declares himself "winner" at the end.
• Even if a poster deserves an attack, the attackers must be very careful to avoid damaging their own reputation. Make sure that all readers know the reason for your moral judgment.

The best idea is to state one's opinion concisely and comprehensively in one's first post, and let the readers judge if other opinions follow. Only respond if new aspects arise, or if you fear serious misunderstandings. If you feel bad-tempered or otherwise impaired, just wait with your post for a couple of hours. Before posting anything, read it with the eyes of a stranger. Impossible? No, quite easy in 95% of all cases. Don't content yourself with 50%.