Why did you come to this board?

[Kingpin]

I'm interested to know the reasons why people came to this forum.  Was it to maybe get some answers on things you were struggling with?  Was it for a sense of community of like minded individuals?  Was it to promote debate?

For me I came to listen to voices of differing opinions than my own.  I feel the only way I can grow intellectually is to continue to branch in to areas I don't know enough of as well as to listen to those that draw different conclusions than myself to the same questions.  

Why did you come and what keeps you coming back?

[AFTT47]

Mostly for a sense of community of like minded individuals. It's also refreshing to see that there really are people on the internet who know the difference between to and too.

[Crossless2.0]

In no particular order: community (perhaps less an issue for non-Americans but a welcome change for one living in the Bible Belt), comedy, and rock-crushing waffles.

[downbeatplumb]

I'm interested to know the reasons why people came to this forum.  Was it to maybe get some answers on things you were struggling with?  Was it for a sense of community of like minded individuals?  Was it to promote debate?

For me I came to listen to voices of differing opinions than my own.  I feel the only way I can grow intellectually is to continue to branch in to areas I don't know enough of as well as to listen to those that draw different conclusions than myself to the same questions.  

Why did you come and what keeps you coming back?

I was invited to look at some of the more insane examples of Christianity that roamed the board here by a friend of mine who went by the name of Darwinian.

I was especially hooked in by the mad rantings of an evangelical Christian who went by the name of Ifightforjesus I believe.

It's fascinating the sort of dumb reasons people have and bring to their discussions of their pet delusion and living in a relatively rational part of the world where this sort of crazy does not often manifest itself, I got hooked.

It's like in Victorian times when people went to visit the freak shows or bedlam mental asylum.

[Minimalist]

I came because the board I was frequenting was having server troubles.  I stayed because this place rules.

[Napoléon]

For the bants.

[Alex K]

I seriously don't remember... I must have been a bit bored 1.5 years ago, or maybe it was just that the usual atheist blog comment sections annoyed me and I was looking for a more reasonable and laid back place. I know why I stayed though, because this place has a very colourful collection of people, a heart and a culture that's not too stressful.

[Spooky]

At the time I fairly recently had started identifying as Atheist. Plus, I'm an addicted forumite.

[MTL]

I came for a number of purposes:

1.  I feel the world is retrogressing back into a repressed sort of Dark Ages of religious mania
and it is supportive to read rational posts from intelligent people...so, community of the like-minded, certainly.

2.  However, I love that Theists who are interested in a debate, or who are honestly questioning their religion,
come to boards like this.  There are so many Theists who shut down all conversation that is not in line with their beliefs,
so that is encouraging....plus I'd be lying if I denied that it also provides a chance for closure...saying stuff I've always wanted to say, to Theists.

3.  Often, I'm just lonely (and a bit depressed by the closed-minded Theism in my own family).
This board provides both some company, and a means with which to vent, to some degree.

(Although I live in fear of somehow doing something I'm not supposed to...especially starting a thread that is too similar to threads that others have already debated many times
...I find some of the threads so long that by the time I read everything already posted, I will be too tired to contribute, but I don't want to repeat what someone has already said).

[Longhorn]

Friends.



(And waffles, and invigilation)