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Author | Topic: Is it odd that I've spent like 100 hours here, but have only 13 posts? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
nlerd Member (Idle past 3633 days) Posts: 48 From: Minnesota Joined: |
I really find most every thread to be interesting as hell and read most of the ones I start all the way through. But I haven't really contributed much because I find all the knowledge here to be somewhat daunting. And I'm not just talking about scientific or biblical knowledge, I'd never heard the terms "ad hoc" or "strawman" before coming to this forum. I am still somewhat unclear on ad hoc even after looking it up.
I mean I have no problems with being wrong but if I'm not adding anything thats worthwhile to the conversation I may as well just sit on the sidelines.
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AZPaul3 Member Posts: 8563 From: Phoenix Joined: Member Rating: 4.7 |
If you have a compelling interest or a burning question you will participate. Until then, lurk and learn.
There are nuggets of gold in almost every thread scattered among the stupidity and dictionary-definition squabbles into which most threads degenerate. Little bits and pieces of knowledge I did not know before. And, God help you, but if you are like me you will enjoy watching the personalities and egos as well. No, it is not odd that your participation has been, what you seem to consider, light. There are better reasons to be here then just wasting electrons in a half-hearted attempt to feel "in". Almost forgot: As for "ad hoc". In this neighborhood it is generally used in its negative connotation meaning some item made up (pulled out of one's ass) in an attempt to counter an objection to an argument being made. Think "water canopy" as the ad hoc explanation for where all the water for the creationists' beloved flud came from. Edited by AZPaul3, : No reason given.
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Straggler Member (Idle past 94 days) Posts: 10333 From: London England Joined: |
nlerd writes: But I haven't really contributed much because I find all the knowledge here to be somewhat daunting. There is a lot of knoweldge here. Considerably more than you will find on the average internet debate forum. But as well as it's resident experts EvC has it's fair share of brazen blaggers, articulate wannabe's, post-it-and-see hopefuls, pet theory pretenders and outright loons. With everything in-between. Furthermore different participants swap roles depending on the topic in question. So you might find yourself marvelling at the profound insight and clarity of expression of someone you agree with on a social issue and then find yourself confronted by that same person in a thread where they are seriously advocating the actual existence of Daleks or some such (I exaggerate only mildly).
nlerd writes: I mean I have no problems with being wrong but if I'm not adding anything thats worthwhile to the conversation I may as well just sit on the sidelines. My advice is to get stuck in if you are at all tempted to. I personally think I have learnt much more from participation thatn I ever could have just from observation.
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ringo Member (Idle past 440 days) Posts: 20940 From: frozen wasteland Joined: |
I had a teacher once who said that if you can't explain something to an eight-year-old, you don't really understand it. Science is about testing, after all, not just observation. So speak up. If you don't know what you're talking about, somebody is sure to point it out.
If you have nothing to say, you could have done so much more concisely. -- Dr Adequate
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Rahvin Member Posts: 4046 Joined: Member Rating: 7.4 |
I used to be a heavy lurker, too. I still don;t post as often as some of our more prolific members. But seriously, don't be scared. Posting here can be very rewarding.
It's actually great when someone can prove you wrong - you learn a lot, about debating, about the way you think, about what your beliefs are based on, and of course about the topic itself. The experience is different from just reading a book or lurking. Don't worry about looking foolish or feeling overwhelmed. It's okay to ask questions. It's okay to be wrong, even. We don't exactly bite, and there's a lot to gain. I give partial credit to EvC for some of the most significant changes in my life - I approach the world differently after coming here (and a few other sites, including youarenotsosmart.com, LessWrong.com, CreationTheory.org, and others), and the changes were all extremely positive.
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fearandloathing Member (Idle past 4173 days) Posts: 990 From: Burlington, NC, USA Joined: |
This is a great site, I have learned many things, and I am always pleased when someone makes me think. I am also less-formally educated than most on here, but I dont let that stop me, as I came here to learn.
"I hate to advocate the use of drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they always worked for me." - Hunter S. Thompson |
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subbie Member (Idle past 1283 days) Posts: 3509 Joined: |
Jump on in, the water's fine.
Let me echo a few others here. Nothing wrong with joining in even if you don't feel you have anything to add. We're all learning something, and the best way to learn is to ask questions. Just because nobody else has asked a certain question doesn't mean nobody else wants it answered. And I can assure you there have been plenty of times when someone asked me a question that I thought I knew the answer to, then learned something new in preparing the answer. Questions are always welcome here. Even errors are welcomed here. The only thing we really get upset about is those who don't learn from errors or from the answers they get to their questions. And we even still let them hang around. I could name names, but that kinda wouldn't be in the general spirit of this thread, so for once I will take the high road. Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. -- Thomas Jefferson We see monsters where science shows us windmills. -- Phat It has always struck me as odd that fundies devote so much time and effort into trying to find a naturalistic explanation for their mythical flood, while looking for magical explanations for things that actually happened. -- Dr. Adequate ...creationists have a great way to detect fraud and it doesn't take 8 or 40 years or even a scientific degree to spot the fraud--'if it disagrees with the bible then it is wrong'.... -- archaeologist
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Nunquam Junior Member (Idle past 4746 days) Posts: 8 From: New Jersey, USA Joined: |
You're not the only one. I've been reading this forum for years, but only recently registered. I only have 7 posts (this should make it 8). The reason I'm so quiet is because I find everyone to be much more knowledgeable than I am and feel my contributions here would be insignificant.
Still, I've learned a lot and attribute this forum (and a few other websites) to my religious deconversion. A sideline view is perfect for me. Edited by Nunquam, : minor change
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Modulous Member Posts: 7801 From: Manchester, UK Joined:
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*waves*
But I haven't really contributed much because I find all the knowledge here to be somewhat daunting. I was like that too for a good few months. But then I dived in and never looked back I gained most of the relevant knowledge in composing responses to challenges to my position. Take a brave stand and try and defend, you'll learn something one way or the other!
I'm not just talking about scientific or biblical knowledge, I'd never heard the terms "ad hoc" or "strawman" before coming to this forum. I am still somewhat unclear on ad hoc even after looking it up. In terms of debate an ad hoc argument is a proposed solution to a problem with a notion that was only generated for the purposes of avoiding the problem with your original position. There is no other purpose for supposing that the ad hoc argument might be true other than if it were true one's argument wouldn't be critically flawed.
quote: What about Hitler?
quote: Wasn't Charles Manson a veggie?
quote: And that's an ad hoc argument. Edited by Modulous, : No reason given.
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Aware Wolf Member (Idle past 1448 days) Posts: 156 From: New Hampshire, USA Joined: |
I tend to only listen in, not just because there usually seems to be someone who says what I would say, only better; but also because I can't commit to being able to respond to anyone in a reasonable time. So I typically avoid traditional "debate" type posts, and mostly listen or post messages like this one that needs no reply.
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subbie Member (Idle past 1283 days) Posts: 3509 Joined: |
Well, you've started something now, boyo! You better damn well be able to support your untenable position that lurkers are people, too.
Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. -- Thomas Jefferson We see monsters where science shows us windmills. -- Phat It has always struck me as odd that fundies devote so much time and effort into trying to find a naturalistic explanation for their mythical flood, while looking for magical explanations for things that actually happened. -- Dr. Adequate ...creationists have a great way to detect fraud and it doesn't take 8 or 40 years or even a scientific degree to spot the fraud--'if it disagrees with the bible then it is wrong'.... -- archaeologist
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Theodoric Member Posts: 9199 From: Northwest, WI, USA Joined: Member Rating: 3.2 |
The reason I'm so quiet is because I find everyone to be much more knowledgeable than I am and feel my contributions here would be insignificant. Compared to most people here on most subjects I am probably an idiot.(some here would heartily agree), but I don't let that stop me. You can learn a lot by contributing the little you think you do know. Also, you might find a niche where you can contribute a lot. I tend to post mostly to the political and historical subjects, but do occasional have a point or two to make on the hard science subjects too. Jump in the waters fine. Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts
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ringo Member (Idle past 440 days) Posts: 20940 From: frozen wasteland Joined: |
Aware Wolf writes:
Isn't it kind of arrogant to decide for others which way is "better"? ... there usually seems to be someone who says what I would say, only better.... Once, many moons ago, another poster told me that one of my posts was just a repetition of what others had already said. Then I got a Post of the Month nomination for mine. So you never know what's going to resonate with somebody. If you have nothing to say, you could have done so much more concisely. -- Dr Adequate
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New Cat's Eye Inactive Member |
Is it odd that I've spent like 100 hours here, but have only 13 posts? Yes, it is. You are a freak and there's something seriously wrong with you.
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New Cat's Eye Inactive Member |
Compared to most people here on most subjects I am probably an idiot.(some here would heartily agree),
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