Do you ever get bored of this place?

I don't know.... Lately I've been really disinterested in arguing over the same points for the millionth time.Does you interest at EvC ever wane? If and when it does, how long does it usually last for you?I notice some people take a little hiatus from EvC... Some days, some take months, some even over a year. They come back intermittently, but they never seem to have the same intensity when they do.I'm starting to feel like I just don't really care all that much anymore. In one sense, I like it, because I make myself available for more important things. At the same time, I kind of miss that intensity.Your thoughts and feelings on the matter?

---

“This life’s dim windows of the soul, distorts the heavens from pole to pole, and goads you to believe a lie, when you see with and not through the eye.” -William Blake

Maybe people realise they are extremely unlikely to persuade anyone here of their views? The format here is debate rather than chat, so in a way a battle is always being waged. Some people understandably get sick of war.I'm still feeling my way around. Trying to work out what to do when I get piled on for the upteenth time because so many people here disagree with what I'm saying. I was pretty discouraged last time and I only ended up back here because I was cribbing info for a debate with creationists. I slipped into posting again, and inevitably have ended up in convoluted arguments with the exact same people I was seeing on thread after thread last time.Things really do go in circles here don't they. At least the people here have brains, so they tend to be interesting to talk to.

People are often hard-headed. I'm used to that part. I'm just not as interested as used to be in the debate. And like I said, in some ways I like it, but in others I don't. As the undisputed master of the pile-on by riling them up in to a seething frenzy, I am more than used to it. Take it as a compliment. People aren't generally bothered by things that don't present a threat. If they can't let it go, it might be an indication that you have a solid argument and they hate you for it. Sometimes its a sign of desperation. Take it as a compliment. Oh, don't get me wrong. I've enjoyed my time immensely here. I'm just not feeling it as much lately. I thought it was a funk or a fluke, but its not subsiding. Eh, I'll give it time. I probably need a vacation anyway to focus on more pertinent matters.

---

“This life’s dim windows of the soul, distorts the heavens from pole to pole, and goads you to believe a lie, when you see with and not through the eye.” -William Blake

I usually just sort of look in during the few minutes of down time between tasks at work -- just one of many websites I "surf" during these times. There's usually a thread or two or three that I find interesting enough to keep up with, even if I don't contribute very much myself. Some weeks there's nothing I find interesting. Some days there's a thread or two I find interesting enough to become a major contributor.I know the feeling. My first year here I was all over the place. Now I don't even look at most threads, and even most of the posts I do read I'll read mostly because I'm interested in the particular person, not because of the subject of the thread.

Keep thinking that, Ray. I sometimes lack the energy to explain the same point yet again to yet another fundie who can't be bothered to read the thread.... But more often, I get frustrated by people who repeat the same nonsense even after it has been repeatedly explained to them (not naming any names, Nemesis_Juggernaut).Bored? No. As long as some people don't get bored with being wrong, there's always a reason to keep shooting.

---

Disclaimer: The above statement is without a doubt, the most LUDICROUS, IDIOTIC AND PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WILLFUL STUPIDITY, THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN OR HEARD.

Hi NJI know what you mean. Frankly I came here to learn, with my interest being primarily to try and understand things of a scientific nature, as I have an interest but no background. As a Christian I am also obviously interested in learning more about my faith.On the positive side the opinions expressed on this forum have helped me to rethink and either reinforce or modify my thinking in regards to my Christianity as well as getting a bit of a scientific education. (Particularly from cavediver, who in spite of his impressive experience doesn't seem to be deterred by my ignorance.)On the other hand, I have trouble with some of the threads, as it all boils down, or so it seems, to be about scoring debating points. This just frustrates me as I'm then not even sure that the poster really believes what he/she is saying or if they are just trying to win the debate.I do find that the Thesits are greatly outnumbered here. As a result I find that one post gets about 3 responses and it becomes very time consuming.All that being said, it is a great forum.

---

Everybody is entitled to my opinion.

And we must not be the only ones. Archer is all but gone. Modulous's activity has seriously declined. Arach is almost never here anymore. Same with Asgara. Heh... Even Percy isn't all that active. The list goes on.And then you look at the oldies who used to live here... All gone. Sylas, Pink Sasquatch... Gone. They lost interest, apparently.I guess everyone eventually outgrows this place... well, except for Jar and Crashfrog. They've made a career out of a hobby.I'm starting to wonder if I'm next. In fact, this is the most exciting thread on the board, and one that actually interests me.

---

“This life’s dim windows of the soul, distorts the heavens from pole to pole, and goads you to believe a lie, when you see with and not through the eye.” -William Blake

I've also grown tired of people picking fights only because they are intellectual masochists. (not naming any names, Ringo).

---

“This life’s dim windows of the soul, distorts the heavens from pole to pole, and goads you to believe a lie, when you see with and not through the eye.” -William Blake

Yes, and that really is the purpose of these forums, though we sometimes lose sight of that, myself included. I know for sure that some people here really do just want to fight. That's how they get their rocks off, I guess. I have purposely snuck in views counter to what I would ordinarily object to just to see if they weren't actually arguing the point, but were rather so focused on hating me, that they didn't bother to listen to what I was saying.Its very intriguing.... And disturbing. I stopped trying to keep up a long time ago. For every 1 post I make, on average I have anywhere from 2-15 responses waiting for me. It just keeps adding up as I go along in any given thread. On a thread that has reached 4 or 5 pages long, I have upwards of 20-40 responses waiting for me. That's why in my profile, on almost every thread I've ever debated on, I have replies waiting for me. Can't argue with that. I've met some really neat people here. Smart people. Caring people.

---

“This life’s dim windows of the soul, distorts the heavens from pole to pole, and goads you to believe a lie, when you see with and not through the eye.” -William Blake

Don't confuse masochism with sadism. Some of us may be here to learn, and that's getting harder with so many of the old teachers gone. Some are clearly here to teach (preach), but many of them know nothing.Realistically, a lot of us are here to fight. The fight against ignorance is a noble one but the ignorant seem to be a never-ending supply of cannon-fodder. It can be tiring.Sadly, we seldom get a shot at those who wilfully produce ignorance - the Hovinds and the Hams - the ones who are afraid to fight.

---

Disclaimer: The above statement is without a doubt, the most LUDICROUS, IDIOTIC AND PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WILLFUL STUPIDITY, THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN OR HEARD.

I see you as one of them. If you ever get to Vancouver Island I'd love to have lunch or a beer with you.

---

Everybody is entitled to my opinion.

I think it all depends on how you view EvC and its purpose. From my perspective, EvC is not just about debate; in fact, debate is the last thing I think of about EvC.I see EvC as more of a learning-teaching experience. As we go about our day-to-day lives, we learn many new things; EvC is the place where we can get together and share those things with people who did not have the opportunity to learn them.Perhaps, people who find EvC non-rewarding simply do not have their minds open enough to the great information floating all around on these wires. It is important that we recognise that EvC is about "Discussion and Controversy". And if we do accept that that is its nature, then we can move away from the old post-and-defend style so common on lower-grade Internet forums covering the same topics as EvC and to a higher plane, one atop of which we give and take freely and without offence within the context of the discussion to help everyone grow. Even when the same topics are brought up over and over again, there is always someone who is going to put a new light on them”someone who is bringing new information to the table that previously had not been seen. Of course, I generally avoid discussions with the usual hard-headed, since they are not willing to offer anything new to teach nor willing to take away anything newly learned.Jon

---

Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

That's pretty much what keeps me interested. Heck, sometimes I come up with a new twist on an old argument!

---

It has become fashionable on the left and in Western Europe to compare the Bush administration to the Nazis. The comparison is not without some superficial merit. In both cases the government is run by a small gang of snickering, stupid thugs whose vision of paradise is full of explosions and beautifully designed prisons. -- Matt Taibbi

You're a good man, GDR. I would love to.

---

“This life’s dim windows of the soul, distorts the heavens from pole to pole, and goads you to believe a lie, when you see with and not through the eye.” -William Blake

I think repetition and hostility can really be a mechanism for burning out at EvC.They say as soon as your hobby becomes like work, its time to get a new hobby. I think you've done a great job holding up your end, even when we disagree, so you don't have to feel bad about taking a breather.I know for me I've taken breaks and then come back before (this last break was for a whole other thing of course). I guess I feel like Chiro said, browse through, find a few things, sometimes nothing. Sometimes I feel animated and start threads. Or a thread gets me thinking of something new and I want to see how it gets handled.In the end what I really like is when there are some very interesting permutations of an argument I haven't seen before. New angles. That or interesting information on a topic I'd likely not get anywhere else.Since coming back I've gotten some great resource links I did not know of before, a re-introduction to a great scientist which made me very happy, and Chiro personally added three new elements to my personal philosophy. That's on top of enjoying what people have to say.So it was worth it. I'm likely to be getting busier and busier with the new year and may fade out again. Post less anyway.I do miss many of the past great posters. What happened with Archer anyway?

---

h
"Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." - Robert E. Howard