> Argumentation > Non-terminating Dispute > arghXiv:2511.06104
Periodicity in Extended Disputes: Estimation of the Return Interval
Abstract: Coding 214 long-running disputes by argumentative state reveals a stable cycle: the exchange returns to its opening configuration every 11.3 messages, with variance low enough to permit prediction of the next four turns. No participant reported noticing the recurrence. Nine reported, at points distributed uniformly across the cycle, that the discussion was beginning to make progress.