EZ
I would like to address a couple of your points and I will quote fromyour post so that others might seethe points I am trying to address.

alikat:
I'm greatly disturbed when I see debates turn into mud slinging, ad hominem attacks. Yes, people want to investigate, seek and question, but they want to do so at a rate that they can assimilate.

EZ:
Yes, I find it very disturbing also that people resort to attacks rather than civil discourse. I have no problem with people wishing to investigate at a rate they are comfortable with. Many of my questions are meant to make people think and in many cases I am looking or trying to seek out the basis for many of the "theories" presented on the different forums. However, a desire to proceed at ones own rate does not give a individual the right to disrupt the thread with irrelevant off-topic posts or blatent attempts to interogate me.

alikat:
Many of the folks here are not up to an out and out battle, and although I fully realize, and appreciate that you try not to make your statements or questions in a personally offensive manner, for many your unanswered, intellectual reasonings are just that.

EZ:
Because I think along different lines and use a different approach is also not a reason to attack me or try and interogate me on my beliefs. A discussion of the topic or a simple "I don't know" is often a sufficient response. After that if a person doesn't know perhaps they might wnat to try and find out a bit about what they don't know. Fromthe Facts and Science thread I doubt that anyone has read a basic human physiology textbook while I have sought out and read Howell's book...it is a give and take situation and personal attacks play no productive role.

alikat:
Therefore many respond accordingly, even if quite inappropiately.
Perhaps it is very unfair of us to assume that you have vile personal or lucrative motives for your challenges. But as you have not become weary of doing so, would it not be just as unfair to continue without giving some personal information that would put your so-called opponents at ease?

EZ:
I doubt that any personal information would put anyone at ease. Bits of my personal life and viewpoints have been expressed on these forums and it has not mattered or reduced the acussations of "troll" or any of the other attacks. Despite any personal information that I might post my questions will remain and it is these questions,and the lack of answers, that appear to cause a great many members distress. The topics can stand alone and need no personal information. What personal information would provide comfort and will others be willing to provide the same information?

alikat:
Is it possible besides the intellectual high that seemingly unparalleled positions afford, there is a surreptitious delight in thinking people might be stumped and squirming?

EZ:
I fully realize that others do not have the type of education that I have but that works both ways. If discourse is to be meaningful it cannot involve personal attack and that seems to be the first line of defense when topics are brought forth that differ fromteh opinions of others. For example in the vaccination debate forum I pointed out that the decline plots are about deaths not incidence. I did not make the plots but I did recognize that deaths are different than incidence and that there might be other factors to be considered in what is causing the deaths to decline without affecting incidence. This was sufficient to be labeled a "troll"by forum members. If they would look at the plots they will see that this is correct and if we wish to discuss the meanings and associations that this might represent that would be invaluable but it gets short-circuited by the personal attacks.

alikat:
The raison d'etre for Curezone is just to escape that kind of atmosphere. So although discussions are welcome, shot gun approaches to challenges are met with anger and suspicion.

EZ:
I would say they are knee jerk reactions to questions that prove challenging.

alikat:
Let me give you an example: We have several religious and spiritual forums on this huge website. It has always been my position that no one from one of the disciplines (for lack of a better word) on these forums can or should try to convince anyone else of another forum. All of us are thoroughly convinced within our particular little boxes, and to try to infiltrate someone else's space on this site is disrespectful and should not be tolerated.

EZ:
I would agree with you that trying to change someones mind is not a productive process but making them think is possible and something that we all should be receptive of. I have had my mind changed onmany issues through civil and rational discussions which present a opinion or point of view in a light that I had not previiously considered. This is what I had hoped for but again it appears to be a difficult concept for many to understand and as a result they lash out with personal attacks and paranoia.

I would like to thank you for your very thoughtful and reasoned response it was very refreshing and I hope to be able to discuss more issues with you.