I think I have "Dillahunty Syndrome"

[Angrboda]

tl;dr



Truthfully, I've always thought the debates on the front lines were and are beside the point. But a lot of that comes from positions on psychology, sociology and philosophy which place such things in a perspective, which, acknowledging the utility of evangelism for both sides, believes the greater battle is to be fought elsewhere, having to do with what it means to be human and social.

That being said, I enjoy the occasional debate. It's a fun way to get your kicks sometimes. And as a person interested in both the human and logical aspects of debate, it can be rather informative. This past week, I debated an individual who believes in fairly classical views of consciousness and free will. His arguments were terrible, but he presented them effectively and I didn't refute them equally as effectively. Live and learn. Everybody at that discussion had a good time (it was an atheist book club), in spite of my failure and the general opinion that the book itself was terrible. Social engagements are more than the sum of their parts. And given that I partake of different features in such debates than, perhaps, most, means I'm often fulfilled.

That being said, what led me to AtheistForums.org and these discussion/book groups was that I was bored and depressed, and in order to enliven my spirits, I started re-reading TalkOrigins.org, sheerly to delight in seeing Creationists skewered. (I'd already read most of TO, so it was purely the visceral thrills which drew me.)