Well thanks for all the nominations (and yes Tony I read yours and appreciate knowing what "lurkers" think). I really did not expect this (esp from crash).
There are way too many people that I like to say who is "best" and essentially it comes down to picking one of the bubbling balls at the top of the lotto machine of really great posters. Here's my thought processes...
While I like Crash's posts and think he is definitely a pre-eminent poster and personality, if it is quality of posts I honestly can't return the favor. He is fantastic but not consistent in his fantasticity (and admittedly I myself would not pass that test).
If they were still regular posters dsv and CK would have been up there and I probably would have chosen them. But attendance is mandatory!
I think Phat is really great, and I don't want to continually sound condescending to suggest he is "most improved". My only problem might be that he is lesser in providing answers than asking important questions.
As a big surprise to most, I'd almost consider nominating Faith or Canadian Steve. They both write so well, and what is debate without opposition? Unfortunately they don't do well with the "continuing" of debate, or thoughtfully resolving it.
I think it would come down to Parsomnium (sic?), RAZD, and Ben as being those who I felt were best moving things along for me personally during this year. Ben was certainly one of the most inspiring for me.
But I think I'll put RAZD down as my choice. He posts more than the others (at least to me it seems he did) and what's more he created some pretty good (we're talking long and well laid out) posts to try and bring closure or at least a focus on closure to debates. We had some disagreements, but most lay within grey areas of logic where anything could happen.
Man, but I really want to say that this is just a specific selection for this year, and does not mean that I think "less" of anyone else, especially those I might not have mentioned. Like I noted earlier, watching EvC is like watching the balls in a lotto machine, posters bobble up and down (I know I hit some really low portions of the bowl this year). RAZD's ball just seemed (for me) to stay around the top and perhaps get picked more often.
holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)