The biggest trouble the site seems to have is how quickly YECs get burned out and leave. This doesn't happen so much with evos so you get a rapid enrichment.
Let's face it:
* They're outnumbered by a large margin.
* On average, they aren't so well informed.
* The rules of engagment here are very stringent. In fact, some topics the newcoming YECs (and almost all the YECs we have are going to be newcomers) have already been beaten to death so they're retired or otherwise *done*. If you're seeking final philosophical truth or in a debate club exercise, this is definately the way to go, but I don't think that's the usual YEC mindset. I think they argue for entertainment (as do I, and I'm sure others). I also think they have an unrealistic expectation that they can copy-and-paste in stuff from Hovind and win. They don't stick around once that balloon bursts because nobody likes to lose---constantly.
* The ones we tend to keep are the best of pack. They actually are interested in science for science's sake, keep a cool head, and listen to what people have to say...even outnumbered five to one. People of this caliber are hard to find in any group, I wish I could manage all of those things at once. The part about liking science is rare enough in YECs, and by itself is a formidable filter.
This isn't all bad. There are so many people here who know so much about science-related topics this site is the one I would come to ask about technical topics that maybe I'm not clear one. Further, despite the YEC desertification it's still interesting enough that I continue to return after long leaves of absence. Of course, part of that is because I've been around here a while.
Does TO have these problems?
This message has been edited by gene90, 11-02-2005 05:36 PM
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