some care might be advised when asking questions like that. especially in this thread. this thread is an introduction to a new poster on TOL. its done a pretty good job of doing that already. its uncertain how much longer it can last though.
the new poster poses questions at times that are poorly phrased or located. these questions are generally always aimed at the posters own feet. when a question is posed such as:theres just as likely to be a response of nothing as a discouse on the posters existentialism. that is purely a result of the poster assuming the shared trait of preferring to endanger ones own progress rather than endangering anothers.
it should have become instantly obvious though that the cat is not dead and it is in fact responding to said question. perhaps pandoras box should have remained closed or perhaps this is for the best. one should never know until after the event.
Why are you here?
can you even answer that honestly? the question raises such issues base like employment and social contributions. or for others it might raise issues like what sport you play. and no, baseball is not a sport. this thread has already covered that issue. .. this question would obviously be pointlessly asked of any green jumping insects.
is the new poster here because he is being paid?
does the poster do anything because he is being paid?
what would the poster do regardless of how much he might be paid?
it raises issues more esoteric like philosophical musings and moral obligation.
is the poster here because of an authoratative decree*?
does the poster respond to authority?
what course would the poster take when faced with the challenge that comes when reality clashes with ideals?
an answer to these questions is a life long process. i do not think you wish to have that process played out in an online forum**. an online forum is only a small part of that which is reality. everything in moderation - and yes, that includes moderation.
if i was strapped to a chair and forced to watch bad cinema untill i answered the original question concisely, i might respond thus:
"I have decyphered the hieroglyphics."