The Third Man.

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GothmogII

Possessor Of Hats
Apr 6, 2008
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Of recent, I've been noting something. The presence of...an entity. Wherever there is a thread that stirs up the passions of opposing sides. They appear. Whenever those two sides are crushing up against each other, vying for the right to be right, they appear.

Who are they? They are the third men! Or women. A person, who, upon their endless wandering of the internet's boiling corridors, will come upon a topic the peaks their interest, something, that they like the participants on all sides, have a vested interest in. Of recent note on the Escapist, religion has been the pull. But it can be anything at all, provided that it has drawn enough passionate debate, and indeed sometimes bile. And it is this that draws the Third Man out, he will swoop in! Delivering much needed sense, and reason to a topic, he will shame all who oppose him, or, at the very least attempt to.

He may or may not choose a side. He may choose both. But, you can be sure, he will post in most cases a scathing page long retort, which is sure to make everyone stop and think for a moment! That maybe they could be wrong about it all. And then? Further discussion entails right? No, the Third Man has said his piece, and that is it. He will leave as suddenly as he came. Perhaps, only to post in a similar manner in other threads, but, you can take it almost as a given that you will never see him again.

After all, the Third Man has made his point. Why should he care that the discussion continues after he has left? He spake the truth! And that is all that matters, now he can wander onward, and feel good about himself for a job well done.

Of course, I could be wrong? Are there any Third Men here that care to speak up and explain themselves? Please, surely you can spare a few moments before you whisk yourselves away to different pastures?

[-To the moderation staff. Sorry ^^' I know this doesn't really seem like the kind of thing to encourage discourse, but I -really- get a little irked by people who do this. I mean, some people do take the trouble to argue properly, making their own points and counterpoints, and the Third Man comes in and makes an overarching statement, that seems only to stifle the debate to nothing, but, easily ignored I understand. That's not to say however that a person who joins the forum should -have- to stay, nor that people who do this don't have a valid opinion, in a lot of cases they do. It's just...zoom! You're wrong! Poof! Goodbye!Skk... Anyway, apologies-]
 

Galletea

Inexplicably Awesome
Sep 27, 2008
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I try to be concise, and keep an eye on the argument, but sometimes I find the argument degenerate into rants or siliness and I just lose interest. I don't even like to read essays on the forums.
 

Amnestic

High Priest of Haruhi
Aug 22, 2008
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I'd like to think I have at least some aspects of a Third Man. I don't think I embody enough of them to call myself one, I often try to stay and defend my points and, more often than not, bugger it up at some point. In respect to the recent religious argument, I find myself arguing for both sides at times, because both sides are generally an extreme and I find moderation to be the key in most settlements.

And I'm more than happy to derail threads through my own minor points, which doesn't help my credibility 90% of the time.
 

Easykill

New member
Sep 13, 2007
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I'm not quite sure what to say about this. I like it when anyone expresses their arguments in a clear, complete way like that; whether they are going to stay afterwards doesn't affect that. But I'm unsure if that's all you're talking about, I don't like people who jump in an argument without looking, say something dumb, and leave again before we can smite them, but I do not know if that's it either. Third men?
 

Johnn Johnston

New member
May 4, 2008
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I find it quite frustrating when someone joins a debate, makes a point and leaves. They cannot address any concerns made about their point, nor can they continue to provoke discussion.
 

PedroSteckecilo

Mexican Fugitive
Feb 7, 2008
6,727
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Once the arguement starts to loop (ex. point is made, counter point, restates point, same counterpoint is made etc.) I tend to leave, or when someone either fails to address my points adequately or ignores me all together. I'm bad though, if I get ignored all together I assume I've made such a good statement/arguement that nobody can object too it.
 

tiredinnuendo

New member
Jan 2, 2008
1,385
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PedroSteckecilo post=18.73519.798260 said:
I assume I've made such a good statement/arguement that nobody can object too it.
Wait... that's not what's happening?

Lies. Lies and treachery.

- J
 

AuntyEthel

New member
Sep 19, 2008
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Well, sometimes I'm not on the net for long enough, and I've actually got something else to do.
 

Redlac

New member
Dec 12, 2007
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I'm fairly certain I show some of the traits of a Third man. Here's a few reasons why I tend to post and leave.

1. By the time I've posted my piece, the rabid posters at the Escapist have either moved topic or added an extra ten pages to the topic I've posted in, burying it instantly. Seriously, I've posted something and come back ten minutes later only to realise no one actually saw my post because it was waaaay back on page two and we're all on page 45 now. Do keep up, Redlac.

2. I have to be somewhere after I've posted, like work.

3. Given my history amongst the forums of the t'internet over the past couple of years I've discovered that it's very rare for someone to actually reply to my posts. So I say my piece and leave it at that. For that reason I lurk for a bit and then post in something that catches my eye. No point in joining a discussion if no one wants to discuss.

..and that's all I can think of now.
 

Monkfish Acc.

New member
May 7, 2008
4,101
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I'm really tempted to make a massive post explaining the actions of these "Third Men", but at the same time be understanding of how irritating it is. And then leave, and never come back. Yep.

Seriously, I've probably done this quite a few times, and I don't ever just leave it. It's just that nobody ever replies, or does anything other than agree. So there. *thbbbt*.