It doesn't need to be sympathetic vs antagonistic. I think the better dichotomy is scout mindset vs soldier mindset. Are they actively trying to change their beliefs or are they defending some notion? If the person you're talking to is in a scout mindset an analogy would be helpful, but to a soldier an analogy is like red meat. It's the perfect fodder for both sides to dig in and assail each other which is what they really want whether they realize it or not.