"If you "know how to be right", Bill, show pete, and hurry up about it. "

The point is, a debate is not useless because one side fails to convince the other.

You see, I don't expect to convince Pete. All I really do in this case is try to leave ".... a long, patient, gentle explanation of the way things really are.". I 'hope' Pete might have a crack in his armor someday, but I have spent many years dealing with personal friends & acquaintances who hold awkward views on this & similar topics. With few exceptions, they are sane, nice, friendly, enjoyable people. We just don't discuss certain topics a lot. Pete gets our/my attentions because he chooses to directly enter the discussion.....and he doesn't call US names or question our honesty or intelligence.

   Remember, YEC is only an extreme subset of a belief system that posits metaphysical entities... and there are many similar belief systems. I find that it is useful to ME to hone my own understandings by discussing/debating them when they appear in this forum. Yes, it is frustrating when the same categories of logical & factual errors seem to crop up over & over, but I am quite sure I'm not going to win converts to MY point of view by insults, ridicule and general assumptions about what is 'in the mind' of those I debate.
"He is enjoying this business of toying with us....He feigns dignity ...etc."

I am assured by two people who know him personally that Pete is honest and decent.... but I don't NEED even that. *I* have the choice to give up and end the discussion if someone seems belligerent and attacks me personally....and I have done so a few times here. I suggest that course if your blood pressure seems too high.....