When I used to lurk, I evaluated the culture here as a debate culture, not a discussion culture.

IMO and IME debate is not a good way of trying to discover accurate conclusions or solutions to problem, because the process of debate itself is rooted in competition. Who can present the better argument, who can dominate or influence the other person into a negative psychological state. IMO debate is about intellectual and psychological competition, or trying to change other people's perspective by intellectually or psychologically dominating them.

Discussion IMO is about sharing perspectives in search of the truth or solutions, cooperation rather than competition, even if the participants accept that.

I think some people come here for empathy, to be seen and understood. They want their experiences, or the experiences of their demographic, to be seen and understood.

I think some people come here for discussion, but rarely find it.

I think some people come here for solutions, but probably don't walk away with much.

I think most people come here for debates.

I come here primarily for mental stimulation, entertainment, and interaction. However, today I was thinking that there probably are some people who genuinely come here looking for empathy, discussion or solutions, and I'm not contributing anything positive to that person's life by entertaining myself debating.

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Why do you come here?

For; Discussion, Debate, Empathy, or Solutions. (You can pick more than one reason, of course.)