I just don't want the risk of getting sucked into a debate on every post I make.
No one can make you "debate" (by your definition, certainly not mine) anything. It is your choice to make if you allow yourself to be engaged in debate.
No, but when certain users seem to take delight in responding to every post with which they disagree with posts that can be classified as debating, it tends to drive others away.
Yes, I could simply ignore it and not let myself get caught up, but sometimes it sneaks up on people. A certain thread, for example, where one person posted their thoughts on a topic, and a debater jumped in to respond. The OP tried to defend his statements because he just wanted to express himself. He didn't realize that he was getting dragged into a debate.
The same bloody thing happened to me in a topic about how some aspect of magic might work in the dresdenverse. I didn't even see it coming until I was in the middle of it.
I'm not saying debating is a bad thing. I'm saying that it's not always welcome or useful, especially in a thread about how someone felt something didn't make sense.
If it was *just me*, I'd say the heck with it. I'm learning to catch the signs of debaters earlier nowadays, but they are often harmful to forums. They scare away newbies. They torment anyone less eloquent than they. And they seem to be more about claiming their ground than in discussing ideas.
Everyone has a bit of debator in them. It's the same part of you that ends up screaming "I AM NOT YELLING!" at your SO proceeded by "AND YOU KIDS GO TO BED!" at the younguns.
bobtheskull.
I am not some bboard predator, lurking to snare unsuspecting 'discussion holders' into debates with my nefarious posting power.
I am simply a Jim fan who loves the books, and loves to explore ideas.
Yes, I used the word debate. But what I was doing was exploring your idea.
THere were several flaws in them, and I pointed them out.
You have grabbed several phrases I used, and tried to make them evidence of me being some big bully.
As others said, you did not get 'tricked' or 'dragged' into a debate. YOu chose to debate me.
YOu also chose to stop.
THis thread is not about us. I used it as an example becuase it was the easiest. I am not rehashing that little debacle with you, because I don't want this thread shut down, or to be banned.
SInce you've started posting on here, you've taken shots at me every chance you get.
I reported the thread to Iago, because your responses kept getting more and more heated, and in your last post, you neglected the topic entirely, to have a shot at me.
I felt moderator influence was needed.
That spawned this thread, where you do it again.
If anyone is sorry they posted, bobtheskull, it's me.
As to your other post above, telling me my own motivations. Mate, you have no idea what I was doing.
I'll tell you one more time. I found your idea intriguing, but I could see holes in it. I didn't really agree with it, so I took up the devils advocate position.
You made your own choices, take ownership of that, dont' try to blame me.