It depends on the individual. There are plenty of people subscribed here who will engage in an honest exchange of ideas but they may not be posting at the moment. I think a number of people were also turned off by a posting limit and haven't been back since. And then there is that bunch who want to engage in arm wrestling. I've always taken it as a sign of insecurity. I also find this on some tech forums I'm on as people want to advertise their expertise even if it is only the "armchair" variety.
And then because of search engines "exactitude" has become a disease on the web. Some people want your facts to be exactly right on with no causal or "off the top of your head" information permitted. That is a little insane I think and can make communication tedious. Angela Mailander wrote: > Bhairitu, > I've got the impression that this group is not really interested in an honest > exchange of ideas, but, rather, in finding ways to shoot one another down > with more or less venom. It doesn't matter how good your logic or your > evidence is, it simply will not be received in the spirit of honest inquiry. > I'm not accusing you and have not seen you do this---I'm only noting a > general impression. Also, the shooting down is usually not at any major > point in an argument, but some side issue---I'd call it a special instance of > the Texas sharp shooter's fallacy in which the shooter sprays bullets at the > side of a barn and then goes and draws a target around the places where the > bullets have hit. Of course, he's on target every time in his own mind. Is > this your impression also? Or am I totally wrong? a > >
