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Author Topic:   How do you justify the time you spend at EvC?
EZscience
Member (Idle past 5153 days)
Posts: 961
From: A wheatfield in Kansas
Joined: 04-14-2005


Message 1 of 43 (307061)
04-27-2006 1:03 PM


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.

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by pesto, posted 04-27-2006 1:43 PM EZscience has not replied
 Message 3 by robinrohan, posted 04-27-2006 1:47 PM EZscience has replied
 Message 5 by iano, posted 04-27-2006 1:52 PM EZscience has replied
 Message 8 by New Cat's Eye, posted 04-27-2006 2:19 PM EZscience has replied
 Message 11 by Omnivorous, posted 04-27-2006 3:21 PM EZscience has not replied
 Message 13 by Brad McFall, posted 04-27-2006 3:34 PM EZscience has replied
 Message 18 by purpledawn, posted 04-27-2006 5:02 PM EZscience has replied
 Message 20 by RAZD, posted 04-27-2006 10:45 PM EZscience has not replied
 Message 21 by Monk, posted 04-27-2006 11:02 PM EZscience has not replied
 Message 27 by Dr Jack, posted 04-28-2006 6:35 AM EZscience has replied
 Message 37 by truthlover, posted 05-15-2006 3:58 PM EZscience has replied

  
pesto
Member (Idle past 5587 days)
Posts: 63
From: Chicago, IL
Joined: 04-05-2006


Message 2 of 43 (307069)
04-27-2006 1:43 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by EZscience
04-27-2006 1:03 PM


Being that I am an engineer, I love science, but am only versed in what I need to know to get my job done (which isn't much). Since I can't really contribute very much to the site, it's basically #1.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by EZscience, posted 04-27-2006 1:03 PM EZscience has not replied

  
robinrohan
Inactive Member


Message 3 of 43 (307071)
04-27-2006 1:47 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by EZscience
04-27-2006 1:03 PM


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 conversation 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.
6. Something to do when drinking.

God does not "exist."---Paul Tillich, Christian theologian

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by EZscience, posted 04-27-2006 1:03 PM EZscience has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 4 by EZscience, posted 04-27-2006 1:51 PM robinrohan has replied

  
EZscience
Member (Idle past 5153 days)
Posts: 961
From: A wheatfield in Kansas
Joined: 04-14-2005


Message 4 of 43 (307072)
04-27-2006 1:51 PM
Reply to: Message 3 by robinrohan
04-27-2006 1:47 PM


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

This message is a reply to:
 Message 3 by robinrohan, posted 04-27-2006 1:47 PM robinrohan has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 6 by robinrohan, posted 04-27-2006 1:56 PM EZscience has not replied

  
iano
Member (Idle past 1940 days)
Posts: 6165
From: Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Joined: 07-27-2005


Message 5 of 43 (307073)
04-27-2006 1:52 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by EZscience
04-27-2006 1:03 PM


Primarily evangelising. Thus a job of work largely
Too much time spent at it though. The trap is to wander into argument and debate for its sake and forget the reason why I'm here
It is a habit I would like breaking. Had a few weeks of very light (for me) use a couple of weeks ago and it was great. There is so much life out there.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by EZscience, posted 04-27-2006 1:03 PM EZscience has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 7 by EZscience, posted 04-27-2006 1:59 PM iano has replied

  
robinrohan
Inactive Member


Message 6 of 43 (307075)
04-27-2006 1:56 PM
Reply to: Message 4 by EZscience
04-27-2006 1:51 PM


Are we to assume that might explain the tone and content of some of your posts ?
Yeah, that's why the tone and content is crisp and clear.

God does not "exist."---Paul Tillich, Christian theologian

This message is a reply to:
 Message 4 by EZscience, posted 04-27-2006 1:51 PM EZscience has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 14 by Parasomnium, posted 04-27-2006 3:40 PM robinrohan has not replied

  
EZscience
Member (Idle past 5153 days)
Posts: 961
From: A wheatfield in Kansas
Joined: 04-14-2005


Message 7 of 43 (307078)
04-27-2006 1:59 PM
Reply to: Message 5 by iano
04-27-2006 1:52 PM


Justification No. 6
...you're on a mission from God.
I should have thought of that one.
We might call it the 'Blues Brothers justification'...

This message is a reply to:
 Message 5 by iano, posted 04-27-2006 1:52 PM iano has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 10 by iano, posted 04-27-2006 3:06 PM EZscience has replied

  
New Cat's Eye
Inactive Member


Message 8 of 43 (307086)
04-27-2006 2:19 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by EZscience
04-27-2006 1:03 PM


I usually post while I'm at work, unless I'm interested in what someone's reply is then I'll check and maybe reply at home. All of your justifications have some relevance to mine.
1. it is part of your self-styled program of continuing education.
You can learn a lot about science and religion from this site so it does have a lot of value. This is the most important justification IMO, plus sometimes I don't have anything better to do.
2. given current circumstances, this is as close as you can get to a social life.
I have a lot of friends in RL (real life) but none of them talk about the kind of stuff that's discussed on this forum.
3. a paucity of good converstation and worthy debators in your non-virtual social circle.
Yup, this is definately true for me.
4. a desire to share knowledge and help others improve their understanding of science (or religion).
Sortof but I don't think I'm supplying that much. I'm more interested in getting my views criticised so I can refine them.
5. Its become a virtual addiction.
Well, its nothing compared to nicotine.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by EZscience, posted 04-27-2006 1:03 PM EZscience has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 9 by EZscience, posted 04-27-2006 2:27 PM New Cat's Eye has not replied

  
EZscience
Member (Idle past 5153 days)
Posts: 961
From: A wheatfield in Kansas
Joined: 04-14-2005


Message 9 of 43 (307091)
04-27-2006 2:27 PM
Reply to: Message 8 by New Cat's Eye
04-27-2006 2:19 PM


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

This message is a reply to:
 Message 8 by New Cat's Eye, posted 04-27-2006 2:19 PM New Cat's Eye has not replied

  
iano
Member (Idle past 1940 days)
Posts: 6165
From: Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Joined: 07-27-2005


Message 10 of 43 (307114)
04-27-2006 3:06 PM
Reply to: Message 7 by EZscience
04-27-2006 1:59 PM


Justification No. 7 nested within
1. it is part of your self-styled program of continuing education.
I wouldn't have thought so initially but I do find that dealing with argument here helps in realworld evangelism. It can be much less agressive there because having dealt with issues in such width and depth here you tend to have analogies and counters so readily to hand that you don't have to cling to one idea which is being resisted. Just drop it and move to another angle of approach. Sounds very predatory but is really is just about being "cunning as foxes"
2. given current circumstances, this is as close as you can get to a social life.
It ruins social life.
3. a paucity of good converstation and worthy debators in your non-virtual social circle.
A touch of that. You might put this your list. "Have argumentitive nature". I have one and I know it. But if I'm going down I'l take a few EvC-ers with me!
4. a desire to share knowledge and help others improve their understanding of science (or religion).
Main reason
5. Its become a virtual addiction.
Second main reason.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 7 by EZscience, posted 04-27-2006 1:59 PM EZscience has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 12 by EZscience, posted 04-27-2006 3:23 PM iano has not replied
 Message 22 by lfen, posted 04-27-2006 11:22 PM iano has replied

  
Omnivorous
Member
Posts: 3978
From: Adirondackia
Joined: 07-21-2005
Member Rating: 7.3


Message 11 of 43 (307123)
04-27-2006 3:21 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by EZscience
04-27-2006 1:03 PM


It's a long story. I started chasing sovereignty as a child and now
I don't need no stinkin' justification.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by EZscience, posted 04-27-2006 1:03 PM EZscience has not replied

  
EZscience
Member (Idle past 5153 days)
Posts: 961
From: A wheatfield in Kansas
Joined: 04-14-2005


Message 12 of 43 (307125)
04-27-2006 3:23 PM
Reply to: Message 10 by iano
04-27-2006 3:06 PM


Re: Justification No. 7 nested within
iano writes:
It ruins social life.
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.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 10 by iano, posted 04-27-2006 3:06 PM iano has not replied

  
Brad McFall
Member (Idle past 5032 days)
Posts: 3428
From: Ithaca,NY, USA
Joined: 12-20-2001


Message 13 of 43 (307127)
04-27-2006 3:34 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by EZscience
04-27-2006 1:03 PM


2 is out
It is not #two.
It it true that I can say things here that never happened at Cornell but I can tell since I pass through the campus every day and live among all the current students (on a side of campus I did not live at when I was a student) that the life here can not keep up with our "conversation." That is a goad to continue. It is not virtual either else I would use the CHAT feature more. FOUR defintely applies for me...and it is true that after reading a post or two I start to think, this helps. I think the web actually is a part of induction in science but how much it helps out creation science I do not know nor have much feedback on. So THREE is somewhat true but the field is really somewhat thin for me here as I cant really get to metaphyiscs as explaining things like GOUld or Croizat or contradicting Dawkins takes up more time just now.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by EZscience, posted 04-27-2006 1:03 PM EZscience has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 15 by EZscience, posted 04-27-2006 3:54 PM Brad McFall has replied

  
Parasomnium
Member
Posts: 2224
Joined: 07-15-2003


Message 14 of 43 (307129)
04-27-2006 3:40 PM
Reply to: Message 6 by robinrohan
04-27-2006 1:56 PM


Ah, Robin...
Are we to assume that might explain the tone and content of some of your posts ?
Yeah, that's why the tone and content is crisp and clear.
This brought a big smile on my face. That's Robin in one sentence. That's why I like him.
It's people like Robin who make this site a nice place to be. And people like Percy, NosyNed, Schrafinator, Omnivorous, Modulous, Wounded King, Ringo, to name but a few. And people like Faith, Iano, and Buzz, to also name a few creationists, for balance's sake. (If you are not mentioned in either category, sorry. I can't name all of you.)
Other reasons for me to be here are to learn about science, to practice my language skills, and to try and make some people see the illogic of religion.
It's been a bit of an addiction, but I am restraining myself lately.

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science." - Charles Darwin.
Did you know that most of the time your computer is doing nothing? What if you could make it do something really useful? Like helping scientists understand diseases? Your computer could even be instrumental in finding a cure for HIV/AIDS. Wouldn't that be something? If you agree, then join World Community Grid now and download a simple, free tool that lets you and your computer do your share in helping humanity. After all, you are part of it, so why not take part in it?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 6 by robinrohan, posted 04-27-2006 1:56 PM robinrohan has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 16 by EZscience, posted 04-27-2006 4:01 PM Parasomnium has not replied

  
EZscience
Member (Idle past 5153 days)
Posts: 961
From: A wheatfield in Kansas
Joined: 04-14-2005


Message 15 of 43 (307136)
04-27-2006 3:54 PM
Reply to: Message 13 by Brad McFall
04-27-2006 3:34 PM


Re: 2 is out
Brad writes:
It is not #two.
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.
Brad writes:
the life here can not keep up with our "conversation."
Do you mean that EvC conversation has unique attributes that are not obtainable from conversations with those around you, despite an active social life?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 13 by Brad McFall, posted 04-27-2006 3:34 PM Brad McFall has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 30 by Brad McFall, posted 04-28-2006 7:47 AM EZscience has not replied

  
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