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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Umbran" data-source="post: 6118468" data-attributes="member: 177">Goodness gracious...In the course of human events, it is possible to become... invested in not giving up, not allowing another person a last word. As a matter of pride, or not even really thinking about it, folks can stay in entrenched positions despite having no expectation of changing anyone else's mind, nor of having their own mind changed.  People continue to state positions, but others don't really listen, but simply rebut.  Over and over again, people butt heads, not really exchanging information or learning anything they intend to apply.   This can result in endless rehashing of old arguments, and overall lasting hostilities between people.  Now, I don't know if that's happening to anyone in this thread.  But, given the length and repetitive nature of the discussion, it might be, so it perhaps pays to check.I'm here to give folks an anonymous route out of a miasma.  If you find yourself stuck, endlessly replying out of pride, simple reflex arc, or dogged tenacity, feel free to PM me.  If we get a couple/few such notes from folks active in the thread, we will consider shutting the thread down, breaking the cycle.  We won't reveal who made the requests.  Everyone can keep their pride intact, and not "lose points" for giving up.  Nobody will get knocked with infraction points, or the like - we'll just say the thing has run its useful course, and should be closed.If, on the other hand, you feel you're actively getting somewhere, like this thread is producing something useful for the participants (as opposed to unknown, potential anonymous phantom readers), just continue on as you are.  If we don't get any reports, we'll assume you actually feel this is a good and positive experience, and leave it all be.</blockquote>

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