In BM 35, Abaye and Rava have an argument whether a shomer has to pay if he let the animal out and the animal died of natural causes afterwards. They first disagree sharply. Then, they adjust, saying that they will accept the other position under certain circumstances.
This is what might be happening here. People don’t change their core positions but modulate them. Someone came saying that all yeshiva bochrim should go to the army. Then, he concludes that someone could learn. Someone is saying that one should not get involved with the medina. Then, he adds, one should at least daven for Yidden who live there.