Is all of this worth it?

[Rusty T]

I was just thinking about all the time that must be spent in writing/responding/reading posts here on Theology Web. I'm asking this question to everyone - no exceptions. Is all of this worth it? For an atheist who is convinced of the truth, isn't this just a waste of time? For a Christian who is convinced of the truth, isn't this just a waste of time? Couldn't there be more productive things done with our time? (I'm including myself here).

How many people have you convinced by your arguments here on TWeb? How many people could you have helped with the time saved by not spending it here? It seems that the disputations that occur here are "all vanity."

I don't know why I'm saying all of this, perhaps I'm tired of seeing so many "I have the answers, and you don't" type of comments. I'm fully convinced that none of us have the answers to many things, and those answers that we do have are incomplete at best.

Anyway, please don't take this as a condemnation.

tizzi

[Bartholomew]

I personally don't discuss to convince others, but to become convinced of what I believe, or would like to believe.

~Matt

[yxboom]

3 things.

One is that is the purpose for the Pearls system we are implementing. To show appreciation to those posters who help us with our understanding of Scripture among other things.

Two is an extension of one as the admins do recieve mail from those who read and may never post but have been affected for better or worst on things being discussed.

Three personal growth and learning.


Is it worth it is a personal question every person should address but in a communal scale I will adamently say YES! Even if the direct audience waivers none in their original position there are 10s~100s of others you will never hear a response from that has helped that person as an indirect audience.

[Bartholomew]

Today @ 12:49 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=88130#post88130)
yxboom:

Is it worth it is a personal question every person should address but in a communal scale I will adamently say YES! Even if the direct audience waivers none in their original position there are 10s~100s of others you will never hear a response from that has helped that person as an indirect audience.

That's interesting. I've always wondered how many people lurk on these types of boards.

Is there any way to track the numbers?

~Matt

[yxboom]

Today @ 09:58 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=88138#post88138)
InquisitorKind:



That's interesting. I've always wondered how many people lurk on these types of boards.

Is there any way to track the numbers?

~Matt

Yes but the tracking just takes up too much server space, and CPU time as logs are written. We did some tracking for about a month so I would average it to about 100~300 unique ip addresses not registered a day that lurk the forum. It was about 4000 recorded the end of that month. Give or take users who are on friends comps and search engine spiders it is extremely difficult to really accurately resolve legitamate guests but with such a number we can get a rough idea. For now things are based solely on email correspondance by guests as well as replies to their welcome messages when a lurker finally becomes a member which may take weeks or months.