Rather than

''Like the person who gets in a verbal altercation because someone called him a name rather than realizing they'd be much better off to just let it go.''

''I ignored her question rather than lie.''

I don't know if these sentences are the best examples to compare the usage of rather than, but I have seen it being followed by the v+ing and the infinitive form. I am confused about the form the verb following rather than should take. Is there a general rule I can apply?