What is AMT for?

brianlux

This is sort of a companion dignin's "Why you'll never win an argument on the AMT" thread because many of the comments there led me to this question. But I don't have permission to call it a "companion thread" plus I don't want to water down dignin's excellent and interesting thread so we'll let this stand on it's own.

So just because I'm the curious type and because AMT seems to wander off the tracks (so to speak) now and then- What do you see as the role or purpose of AMT? It is officially subtitled "reasoned debate and discussion" but it often seems more than that. Is it a place you seek out in order to gather or disseminate information? Is it a place you go to discuss or debate? Do you just like a good argument? Do you simply enjoy a lounge break? Is it a place to morph things into other subjects like (ahem!) sports? (Sorry, but that seems to happen a lot around here lately.) Is there something else you hope to find or leave there? Are you more into being informed, informing others, debating or discussing?

For me, AMT has always been a place I like to go to to gather information (numero uno) and read other people's opinions about things as well as a place to post things I find interesting get others take on them. I've often found AMT very helpful for finding out about what's going on out there in this big crazy world. It works well that way because there are enough of us here with enough varied interests and information sources such that I find things here that I might well have missed otherwise. This place often works well for me personally as a good way to keep up with what's going on, especially when I'm more focused on learning and not getting so caught up in debating. I find I'm most pleased here when I learn something new.

Thoughts?

hedonist

'ello, Guvnah Lux!

Would "yes" be too broad an answer?

I come here - most forums really - for different reasons but mostly to interact, have fun and learn a few things along the way.

(oh yeah, and share the loving of PJ)

Not to mention waving to all my friends, whether or not they seem to notice me I've come to know some truly remarkable people...you among them!

Sometimes I just like to lurk, or avoid the weighty, or spill out thoughts. It's a nice field in which to play and graze.

I also appreciate the draw, and input, others take in from AMT - and give too.

I wonder if some here are aware how much they have given, or affected an outlook, or brought a smile.

brianlux

hedonist said:

'ello, Guvnah Lux!

Would "yes" be too broad an answer?

I come here - most forums really - for different reasons but mostly to interact, have fun and learn a few things along the way.

(oh yeah, and share the loving of PJ)

Not to mention waving to all my friends, whether or not they seem to notice me I've come to know some truly remarkable people...you among them!

Sometimes I just like to lurk, or avoid the weighty, or spill out thoughts. It's a nice field in which to play and graze.

I also appreciate the draw, and input, others take in from AMT - and give too.

I wonder if some here are aware how much they have given, or affected an outlook, or brought a smile.

No! yes is too broad! I mean, Yes! Yes is too... I mean.... ah shit, I dunno what I mean, hahah!

"Guvnah" Haha!! Love it!

But seriously, all your reason to hear are good.

oftenreading

I don't know that I have too much to add to the answers already given, but I'll give it a try. I come to learn about issues I might otherwise not get exposed to, and read the variety of opinions expressed. Sometimes it boggles my mind to see how differently people can view the same set of circumstances, but that's one of the things that brings me back. It's a "learn something new every day" situation, even though sometimes what I learn isn't necessarily something I wanted to learn!

JimmyV

I like to talk politics and I like a good debate. That's why I'm here. Sometimes the bickering gets to be too much and I step back for awhile, but on the whole I enjoy it.

Indifference71

It's a place I come to occasionally do discuss current events, politics, etc... The thing that kills me is that a lot of people can't seem to accept that people have opinions that are different than their own and things unfortunately turn personal pretty regularly. And that's usually when I take a couple weeks off from AMT.

mickeyrat

I come here to be ignored.

badbrains

mickeyrat said:

I come here to be ignored.

Lol, that's funny. He answers only what he feels paints them in a shiney light Mickey.

HughFreakingDillon

oftenreading said:

I don't know that I have too much to add to the answers already given, but I'll give it a try. I come to learn about issues I might otherwise not get exposed to, and read the variety of opinions expressed. Sometimes it boggles my mind to see how differently people can view the same set of circumstances, but that's one of the things that brings me back. It's a "learn something new every day" situation, even though sometimes what I learn isn't necessarily something I wanted to learn!

this is exactly my reason.

benjs

HughFreakingDillon said:

oftenreading said:

I don't know that I have too much to add to the answers already given, but I'll give it a try. I come to learn about issues I might otherwise not get exposed to, and read the variety of opinions expressed. Sometimes it boggles my mind to see how differently people can view the same set of circumstances, but that's one of the things that brings me back. It's a "learn something new every day" situation, even though sometimes what I learn isn't necessarily something I wanted to learn!

this is exactly my reason.

Agreed. What keeps me here is the exposure to various viewpoints - it's the ability to learn. What drives me away from this place every so often are the people who are here to fight instead of to learn. To some degree, I think we are like silly putty: more malleable and less set in our ways when massaged than when tugged at.

dignin

Great companion piece Brian. I think it's helpful and important for the regular participants in the AMT to pause and have a little bit of inward reflection about what we do here.

I mostly come here to be exposed to different opinions. I find that in "real" life we tend to become surrounded by people who have beliefs very similar to our own, and it's nice to be challenged by others who don't see the world the same way.

I also love a good argument and debate. It sucks when people make it personal, but it happens when people get passionate.....and when they are getting their asses handed to them in the debate.

Last-12-Exit

I pretty much come here to show how stubborn I am. However, I am still for the death penalty, but my stance has softened a lot since reading the various articles about it (see byrnzie).

riotgrl

I come here for the varying points of view and many of you are well versed in a wide range of topics about which I know very little. I do find it frustrating that some seem dismissive of other peoples ideas about a topic but overall I have learned a lot from so many. I definitely miss some of those people that could be a bit abrasive but had a deep well of knowledge from which the rest of us could draw.

badbrains

Bring back byrnzie!!!

riotgrl

badbrains said:

Bring back byrnzie!!!

Funny but that is exactly who I was thinking of with that post!

badbrains

riotgrl said:

badbrains said:

Bring back byrnzie!!!

Funny but that is exactly who I was thinking of with that post!

I knew it! Haha, Steve is a good dude

rr165892

Something tells me he never really quit monitoring what's happening here.

badbrains

rr165892 said:

Something tells me he never really quit monitoring what's happening here.

Idk RR, he's been out traveling around the world. Don't think he has anytime, but I could be wrong.

HughFreakingDillon

badbrains said:

riotgrl said:

badbrains said:

Bring back byrnzie!!!

Funny but that is exactly who I was thinking of with that post!

I knew it! Haha, Steve is a good dude

edit

HughFreakingDillon

..

PJ_Soul

I always thought of it as a big circle jerk, to be perfectly honest. Or like mental masturbation in a group setting.

... Not that there's anything wrong with that.