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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 3604 days)
Posts: 48
From: Minnesota
Joined: 03-03-2010


Message 1 of 26 (610319)
03-29-2011 3:06 AM


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.

Replies to this message:
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 Message 7 by subbie, posted 03-29-2011 3:11 PM nlerd has not replied
 Message 8 by Nunquam, posted 03-31-2011 10:22 AM nlerd has not replied
 Message 9 by Modulous, posted 03-31-2011 12:06 PM nlerd has not replied
 Message 10 by Aware Wolf, posted 03-31-2011 12:42 PM nlerd has not replied
 Message 14 by New Cat's Eye, posted 03-31-2011 2:25 PM nlerd has not replied
 Message 22 by Larni, posted 04-01-2011 5:35 AM nlerd has not replied
 Message 25 by Jon, posted 04-01-2011 8:40 PM nlerd has not replied
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AZPaul3
Member
Posts: 8513
From: Phoenix
Joined: 11-06-2006
Member Rating: 5.3


Message 2 of 26 (610342)
03-29-2011 9:02 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by nlerd
03-29-2011 3:06 AM


Learn
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.

This message is a reply to:
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Straggler
Member
Posts: 10333
From: London England
Joined: 09-30-2006


Message 3 of 26 (610349)
03-29-2011 9:47 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by nlerd
03-29-2011 3:06 AM


Brazen Blaggers (and other animals)
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.

This message is a reply to:
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ringo
Member (Idle past 412 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


Message 4 of 26 (610358)
03-29-2011 10:35 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by nlerd
03-29-2011 3:06 AM


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

This message is a reply to:
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Rahvin
Member
Posts: 4032
Joined: 07-01-2005
Member Rating: 9.2


Message 5 of 26 (610382)
03-29-2011 12:49 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by nlerd
03-29-2011 3:06 AM


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.

This message is a reply to:
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fearandloathing
Member (Idle past 4145 days)
Posts: 990
From: Burlington, NC, USA
Joined: 02-24-2011


Message 6 of 26 (610389)
03-29-2011 2:08 PM


Participate
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

  
subbie
Member (Idle past 1255 days)
Posts: 3509
Joined: 02-26-2006


Message 7 of 26 (610394)
03-29-2011 3:11 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by nlerd
03-29-2011 3:06 AM


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

This message is a reply to:
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Nunquam
Junior Member (Idle past 4718 days)
Posts: 8
From: New Jersey, USA
Joined: 02-10-2009


Message 8 of 26 (610551)
03-31-2011 10:22 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by nlerd
03-29-2011 3:06 AM


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

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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Modulous
Member
Posts: 7801
From: Manchester, UK
Joined: 05-01-2005


(1)
Message 9 of 26 (610556)
03-31-2011 12:06 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by nlerd
03-29-2011 3:06 AM


*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:
All vegetarians are peaceful, kind people
What about Hitler?
quote:
All vegetarians are peaceful, kind people - except Hitler
Wasn't Charles Manson a veggie?
quote:
There are some people who went vegetarian just to make vegetarians look bad.
And that's an ad hoc argument.
Edited by Modulous, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by nlerd, posted 03-29-2011 3:06 AM nlerd has not replied

  
Aware Wolf
Member (Idle past 1420 days)
Posts: 156
From: New Hampshire, USA
Joined: 02-13-2009


Message 10 of 26 (610574)
03-31-2011 12:42 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by nlerd
03-29-2011 3:06 AM


Lurkers are people too
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.

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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subbie
Member (Idle past 1255 days)
Posts: 3509
Joined: 02-26-2006


Message 11 of 26 (610578)
03-31-2011 1:02 PM
Reply to: Message 10 by Aware Wolf
03-31-2011 12:42 PM


Re: Lurkers are people too
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

This message is a reply to:
 Message 10 by Aware Wolf, posted 03-31-2011 12:42 PM Aware Wolf has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 21 by Aware Wolf, posted 03-31-2011 8:49 PM subbie has seen this message but not replied

  
Theodoric
Member
Posts: 9076
From: Northwest, WI, USA
Joined: 08-15-2005
Member Rating: 3.7


Message 12 of 26 (610585)
03-31-2011 1:32 PM
Reply to: Message 8 by Nunquam
03-31-2011 10:22 AM


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

This message is a reply to:
 Message 8 by Nunquam, posted 03-31-2011 10:22 AM Nunquam has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 15 by New Cat's Eye, posted 03-31-2011 2:30 PM Theodoric has replied

  
ringo
Member (Idle past 412 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


Message 13 of 26 (610592)
03-31-2011 2:13 PM
Reply to: Message 10 by Aware Wolf
03-31-2011 12:42 PM


Re: Lurkers are people too
Aware Wolf writes:
... there usually seems to be someone who says what I would say, only better....
Isn't it kind of arrogant to decide for others which way is "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

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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New Cat's Eye
Inactive Member


Message 14 of 26 (610594)
03-31-2011 2:25 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by nlerd
03-29-2011 3:06 AM


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.

This message is a reply to:
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New Cat's Eye
Inactive Member


Message 15 of 26 (610596)
03-31-2011 2:30 PM
Reply to: Message 12 by Theodoric
03-31-2011 1:32 PM


Compared to most people here on most subjects I am probably an idiot.(some here would heartily agree),

This message is a reply to:
 Message 12 by Theodoric, posted 03-31-2011 1:32 PM Theodoric has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 16 by Theodoric, posted 03-31-2011 2:36 PM New Cat's Eye has replied
 Message 18 by subbie, posted 03-31-2011 3:32 PM New Cat's Eye has replied

  
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