How do you justify the time you spend at EvC?

I have to ask myself this question because there are literally soooo many other things I need to be doing - and yet as soon as I catch a bit of boredom or frustration at work, I seem to end up here.Assuming the average member is at least half as busy as I am, how can we justify spending so much time to hang out here writing and answering posts?And the admin and moderator folk spend even more time, it appears.Some possibilities:1. it is part of your self-styled program of continuing education.2. given current circumstances, this is as close as you can get to a social life.3. a paucity of good converstation and worthy debators in your non-virtual social circle.4. a desire to share knowledge and help others improve their understanding of science (or religion).5. Its become a virtual addiction.For me it is certainly a little bit of all those things, (sadly 2 and 3 are too true for comfort), but I was really curious about others who obviously invest a lot of time and effort here.

Are we to assume that might explain the tone and content of some of your posts ?(just kidding)

...you're on a mission from God.I should have thought of that one.
We might call it the 'Blues Brothers justification'...

That's cool, CS.Now if we could just get you on a *real* bike it might help with that nicotine problem....

That's interesting. Kind of implies you would be socializing more in person if you weren't tied in to debating so much online. Of course you are here with a purpose, though.I think if I had more opportunity for interesting social interactions locally you might see less of me over here. Not sure though.I venture to say the conversations here serve as sort of a substitute for the type of social interactions that I used to have more of in person when I had a larger circle of educated friends, i.e. before moving to the relative isolation 'the wheatfield'. That Goth weekend in Whitby sounded fun. Nothing like that around here.

I am glad for your sake, Brad.
I have visited the Cornell campus at Ithaca.
I don't work on a nice central campus with all the activities, but rather a 'research outpost' - kind of a university gulag.
Has its advantages, though. Do you mean that EvC conversation has unique attributes that are not obtainable from conversations with those around you, despite an active social life?

Yes, good point Ms. P.
I do get a sense of comraderie here also.I came to engage in debate and try and promote understanding of evolution, but I find myself enjoying the jokes and the sharing of amusing links as much as wading into the heated arguments.

OK, that's gender-specific but pertient I think you have something here.
Maybe we gravitate to the opportunity to ask questions that would be too pointed or socially 'charged' to address directly to our immediate co-workers, colleagues etc. regardless of how extensive our social activities are. It is common knowledge that the 2 forbidden topics at the dinner table are politics and religion... and therefore science if and when it has ramifications for either.

I am guessing you are still young, single and leading an unfettered life (e.g. the Goth weekend). Enjoy it while it lasts.
Wait until you are married with kids and a demanding career and actually have to start budgeting your time.

Well, maybe you won't.
But most people end up with more and more responsibility in life as they get older. I'm just speculating, admittedly, but I'll bet you have a few years to go before you find out whether or not those things will be ultimately true for you or not.

Interesting. I'm curious. Am I to understand you live in some sort of religiously-aligned community and that these people are other non-evolutionists who met you because you guys all came over here to try and defend the Faith? I doubt there would be people joining communities based on a common belief in evolutionary theory.I'll bet Percy never thought of his board being used as a potential recruiting ground for religious communities. Who'd a thunk.

Ooops. Had to edit this.At first I thought you were talking about Percy (AdminTL).I am even more interested in hearing Truthlover's response, in that case.Edited by EZscience, : misinterpretation

Sorry - thought I had posted an answer to this when I saw the bump.
Must have been a 'failure to post' that escaped my notice.Your community seems very pleasant, happy and friendly.
I support everyone in their pursuit of a peaceful and happy living environment and you certainly seem to have found what you were looking for.I am always quite surprised when I meet people who are ardent christians (as opposed to the token kind) who also support and believe in evolutionary theory, although I suppose I shouldn't be.
You are living proof that there is hope for reason from the christian side, although my outlook may have been colored by too many run-ins with Faith So do the adults in your community all commute to jobs in town, or is this like some self-sufficent commune where you farm and try to produce everything you need for yourselves? I guess I'm wondering how the community supports itself financially.{Note - This substring has gone to a better place. - Adminnemooseus}Edited by Adminnemooseus, : Note added above.