NationStates Jolt Archive

Good day all.
Well, on my little time here I have experienced at least five seperate threads on evolution, countless threads on Christianity/Atheism, a couple political threads (namely abortion really), and a few other high level topics. However, despite the good nature of these threads they often seem to fail to provide good discussion due to pages of sarcastic retorts, personal attacks and poor argument structuring. Frankly, I am tired. I want to have a good discussion with intelligent people, which, from what I've read, are certainly on here. A discussion without attacks on someone's person, and without inane sarcastic commentary.
So this is a calling. I am calling for anyone who is willing to have a good, purposeful discussion with me. If you are willing, please reply. If not, then simply press the back button on your browser. Please, no need for sarcastic replies here. Thank you.
- Veritas

about what?

I can be much more productive on certian topics than I can on others......or was I not one of the "intelligent people" you were looking for?

about what?

I can be much more productive on certian topics than I can on others......or was I not one of the "intelligent people" you were looking for?
agreed, topic of discussion would make it easier on people.

Good day all.
Well, on my little time here I have experienced at least five seperate threads on evolution, countless threads on Christianity/Atheism, a couple political threads (namely abortion really), and a few other high level topics. However, despite the good nature of these threads they often seem to fail to provide good discussion due to pages of sarcastic retorts, personal attacks and poor argument structuring. Frankly, I am tired. I want to have a good discussion with intelligent people, which, from what I've read, are certainly on here. A discussion without attacks on someone's person, and without inane sarcastic commentary.
So this is a calling. I am calling for anyone who is willing to have a good, purposeful discussion with me. If you are willing, please reply. If not, then simply press the back button on your browser. Please, no need for sarcastic replies here. Thank you.
- Veritas
Out of curiosity, is it Tyslan or Veritas? Should I address you by your given name or by "Truth"?

I consider myself one of those "intelligent" peoples of which you spoke, so please take it from me. There are TONS of threads that spawn intelligent conversation beyond just the political or religious ones, if you're willing to look for them. However, sarcasm is par for the course. Just because somebody uses sarcasm in a response doesn't make them unintelligent (and I resent the implication), and just because posters use sarcasm against each other doesn't mean they're attacking anybody. If you're unable to read it for what it is, I respectfully suggest you find a different forum in which to post, because that's just the way we are here. You're not going to change us, and lesser people have been shunned for trying.

However, if you're willing to accept us for all that we are -- politics, sex, drugs, religion, sarcasm, debate, the whole nine yards -- I'm all for conversing with you. If you're against everything that most of us are, then we're done here. Ball's in your court.

Greetings once more.
In response to Simonist, allow me to clarify my position on sarcasm. I realize sarcasm has its uses, both comedic and academic, yet my main issue arises when the only thing posted on a serious topic is sarcastic humor. I apologize if I implied sarcastic people were inherently less intelligent, I know it to be quite the opposite from my experience, and that implication was not my intent. Furthermore, I realize pointed sarcasm is not always on the attack. However, I have noticed a distinct trend that seems to indicate people like to make personal attacks on posters, something which in my opinion does not further the discussion. If these views are too contrary to the popular opinion, then I sincerely apologize, I had a mistaken idea of the peoples on this board.
I apologize for not providing a topic, I was waiting to see if anyone would reply before throwing a topic idea out there. I was considering the question of evolution, as I have a noted interest in that field. On that note, what do you think? Is evolution supported? How about creationism, or ID? Is evolution any less of a faith due to the "subjectivity of science," as some propose?
Thank you for your comments and critiques, hopefully we can make this a fruitful discussion.
- Veritas
P.S. You may refer to me in either way, or you could simply call me Seth Turner.

I suppose it depends on your definition of evolution. I believe that things evolve. I also believe that God created the Earth and all life on it. I don't believe there is any evidence of God though. There are things that scientists believe support thier own version of how we evolved but I don't think that any of them have figured it out or explained it to my satisfaction.

Greetings once more.
In response to Simonist, allow me to clarify my position on sarcasm. I realize sarcasm has its uses, both comedic and academic, yet my main issue arises when the only thing posted on a serious topic is sarcastic humor.
Ohhhhh. Well, see, there are some of us about that will sometimes, in the middle of a serious topic, throw some humour or sarcasm in to lighten the mood as well. It has to be done from time to time, to keep huge fights and flame-fests from breaking out. It's our forumatic duty.

I apologize if I implied sarcastic people were inherently less intelligent, I know it to be quite the opposite from my experience, and that implication was not my intent.
Forgiven. I in turn apologize for my tone in light of that.

P.S. You may refer to me in either way, or you could simply call me Seth Turner.
Yes......a name......that's always a good tactic. That way people will start seeing you more as a person than just a computer conversing with another computer. I, for one, am a lot more likely to take into consideration the points of those I respect (like Smunkee, Drunken Commies, Fass, blessed Chris, etc) than those who seem nothing more to me than automated responses.

And I respectfully decline to add to the debate you pose....I've gotten in trouble with this one before :p

This thread just isn't up to par. What's the topic? It helps.

This thread just isn't up to par. What's the topic? It helps.
check post #5

check post #5

Oh, thanks. Evolution, huh? Well. I believe in evolution, and I believe that human social evolution may be changing our physical evolution. I also believe that God could have started the ball rolling, set the laws of nature in place and let it go. Did you know whales used to be land creatures? I find evolution absolutely fascinating. And I wonder if what they say is true about humans devolving. :p

That's the nature of things in most forums and stuff. Usually, if there's going to be an intelligent conversation it's going to be in the first pages. If a thread has gone on for 6 or more pages you can be almost sure that it has devolved into absurdity or name calling. Doesn't always happen, just to keep in mind.

Usually, if there's going to be an intelligent conversation it's going to be in the first pages.

Yup.. and sometimes there's no intelligent conversation until later on. :)

The reason that many threads are full of disparaging remarks is that they cover topics that the older posters have seen literally about a hundred times before, and are tired of debating them. Even posters who aren't very new will have seen many repeat topics. Of course, no-one can blame a new poster for starting a thread on a topic that they personally haven't discussed, but they should expect some people to be tired of the more common topics.