How to deal with fools?

Proverbs 26:4-5:
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Is there a contradiction in the bible in two consecutive verses no less? Is it just nonsense? Is it there to teach fools? What fool desires wisdom?

To be conceited means to love one's own self, one's words, thoughts and deeds. To glamorize and lionise oneself as a superhero, rock star, wise-cracking rocket scientist and not take shit from anyone. Conceited people are narcissistic, have an over-inflated ego and once you scratch the surface of their shining personality - its like opening a can of worms that they'll try to sell you as spaghetti.

"Come on, I got this bridge to sell you..."

The bible instructs us to not answer according to their folly, which means don't recognize their bullshit story as real. Don't play into it. Some are masters at the game and lure you in their narrow world view where they always sit on top and you're grovelling at their feet. Games are for fools - don't play their games, don't promise them anything. The best thing you can do is ignore the fool.

Sometimes we recognize a game before it starts, we played it ourselves or we got played, either way we know where it ends. This is where the part "Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit." comes in. If you know the story and how it ends - talk to the fool, expose his ways and see how he reacts. A man who listens is not a fool. Proverbs 9:8 "Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee."

In every game there is always a loser. You loose what you invest - time, money, work, trust or emotions. There is a game for everything. I've seen people become like slaves because they couldn't see how their own vices were being used against them.

Don't play with fools. Study the word of God.