Funny we got the same theme going!

Funny we got the same theme going!

Yes we do.

Although I tried posting it earlier yesterday, but JU ate my first attempt. Not that I'm complaining about the free ice cream.

I figured that you're mostly looking for those missing in action. While I'm interested in the MIA as well, I'm also curious about the full-time lurkers. Come on folks, rise to the surface and say hello for once. We know that you're out there!

I have family members who lurk and it always gives me a chuckle when they start talking about someone on JU, or their article.

*waves*

I have family members who lurk and it always gives me a chuckle when they start talking about someone on JU, or their article.

Wondering if they even have accounts and just rarely/never post?

Smacks self in forehead upon the realization that you don't need a JU account to lurk. Duh!

*waves*

Sorry for the delayed *wave back*!!!

I'm never one to lurk here...I'm too opinionated.

Although I do take a hiatus from time to time.

~Zoo

I lurk here mostly... I post tech-related things here, and I have a personal blog for everything else.

I thought about making this my primary blog home, but I have found that the atmosphere here is very anti-liberal.... Much as I respect Brad (Draginol, Froboy, etc), he is a bit uber-conservative and is rude and offensive about it - and a lot of the users pick up on this attitude to make this site not very open to open-minded intellectual discussion. I guess it makes sense since it is for the "average Joe".

I would lurk, but I can't find the "Just Lurking" buttons. ;~D

Do you honestly think the average person is capable of open-minded intellectual discussion?

So far as I can tell the majority of the population spend their entire lives quite happily without ever knowing the difference between Sartre, Hobbes and Marx.

On the conservative front, Brad's hostility and intolerance for anything less than the ultimate 'liberal' (ie highly educated, articulate and with extremely well-researched views backed up by mountains of evidence) is pretty obvious, and I don't consider it surprising that many people are intimidated away from saying anything 'liberal' on JU. Conservatives get it easier, if for no greater reason than that people don't tend to swat vermin that don't personally annoy them.

I stick around because sometimes interesting or insightful things are said, but usually only if they're drawn out of people. I consider the occasional personal slight or slam a small price to pay for a new insight or way of looking at something.

I'd say the average person, who tend to be more in the center than left or right, is far more capable of open minded discussion than most of the people who are either far left or far right.

Yes.

I'm not going to explain my statement. I mean, I'm just an average person; in your eyes I'm not able to have an openminded, intellectual discussion.

When you want to talk about Tudor and Elizabethan history, anatomy, physiology, emergency medicine or pallative care on a level far beyond that of an 'average' person, you come and let me know. I'll be happy to have an openminded, intellecual discussion with you about any of those subjects.

I wish I was smart enough to comment, but I am to busy trying to figure out how to make some some monies on the difference between the Dinar and the euro and the dollar right now.

Depends on your view of average. Admittedly there are a lot of idiots in this world...but I usually view average as several steps above. If they can't carry a conversation then I just give up on people.



This is true.

~Zoo

Mason, Dharma, Zoo: I'll try and put something together over the next week or so to explain what I mean. The figures I've seen (and will try and find again) have always suggested that the average person
1. rarely reads at all
2. rarely understands the political system in which they live
3. is largely unfamiliar with political, social or cultural theory
4. is largely unfamiliar with scientific theory and medicine, except in areas that directly influence their work.

But give me a week and I'll try to write that up with some sources for you.