[Zeke]

I come here if I'm eating alone and when I've just finished reading the online newspaper and run through my emails. Then some, which IS a drain on time.

For the most part, it's entertaining and offers some alternative perspectives. Random highlights of current events that would be otherwise overlooked is another reason.

But none of that requires a reply. Once in awhile a post asking a question reaps a lot of information. A lot of it good and some pretty arcane. I have only one on my ignore list as this person is never germane, just off the tracks about 90% of the time.

Reading people like that IS a colossal waste of time and thoughts created during that time are usually counterproductive. You got to know when to hold them and when to fold 'em.

That alone saves a huge amount of time.

My breakdown would be that in the first 2/3rds of my time here I never came to OT. Participating in the tech threads becomes very repetitious after a few years. I can't even imagine how many times Grady Clay and Early_S_Man went over the same information. They were very generous.

We owe a lot to a few.