Your reasons for debating on SDMB: A Poll

In My Humble Opinion
41

  1. Frequently.

  2. Frequently.

Why? Some of the choices listed, of course, but primarily because I can read posts from other people who can recognize words like “primarily” and use them properly in a sentence. Too much of the internet is filled with people for whom “Yer stoopid lol” is the pinnacle of their level of discourse. This board is a refreshing island of intelligence in a sea of banality.

42
  1. seldom - last post must be 2 weeks ago
  2. seldom
  3. D, F, I - just not thinking things through in terms of how best to spend my time
43

  1. Seldom

  2. Frequently

  3. A bit of b,c,f, & g.

44

  1. How much do you participate in Great Debate threads?
    Frequently

  2. How much do you read GD threads?
    Frequently

  3. WHY do you engage in debate on this board?

a. To have a contest that I can try to win (as in a high-school debating team).

**Somewhat. The people here are good and smart, and debating with them is good mental exercise. I do my best to thrust and parry, but I do try to play fair, always being honest about my position and recognizing the good points of my opponents. I don’t expect to “win,” however.
b. To fight ignorance by showing my opponents why they are wrong and why I am right.

Only rarely, when someone has a barbaric view like the recently trounced sock. But others usually get to 'em first.

c. To attempt to change other people’s minds to my way of thinking.

Only rarely is this possible, and I don’t expect it.

d. To force myself to improve my own arguments for my positions, and keep them free of common logical fallacies.

I don’t think I commit gross fallacies, but I do try to improve my arguments.

e. To engourage my opponents to frame their arguments in the best possible way, free of logical fallacies.

No.

f. To attempt to better understand the merit of my opponent’s strongest arguments, even if I disagree with their inevitable conclusions.

Yes.

g. To try to make my opponents understand my point of view, even if I know they will not come around to my way of thinking.

In the sense that I want to improve the clarity of my message, yes.

h. Because it’s something to do during work hours, and it’s more interesting than my job.

Used to be true, now that I’m self-employed it serves as a break and self-motivator (if I get this done, I can read/post/etc.)

i. OTHER. (Please explain).

***Information: Lots of current events being debated.

MENTAL MASTURBATION.*