The aim is not only to live a pleasant life, but, if possible to participate in the creation of a counterculture that gives you a pleasant life, as un-stressful as possible. This process has to be ongoing because of the corruption of society.  We live in a consumerist society where empty desires and values are constantly celebrated in the media.  Epicurus advised his followers to concentrate on being with people of like mind, with whom they can have a constructive exchange of views and offer mutual support (and I would add: with humour and light-heartedness. Why is so much philosophic thought so serious and grim?). If friendship is impossible, and all you are doing is constantly defending your point of view, or engaged in agitated point-scoring, then you should avoid the person in question.