I haven't ever seen a circular eddy
That's why when you do see one, Wordwind, it's very eddifying. For me, as well.
A circular argument is no longer eddifying. What is contrary is often eddifying because it turns against the flow.
There's nothing wrong with the mainstream, of course. But it only flows in one direction.
More directions are no harm to the mainstream. If nothing else, they allow for some aimless excursions which might carry back crustaceans and such nestled in the silt of some dead-end rivulet.
These tasty morsels may help to feed the fish flowing in the mainstream.
Reminds me of a line from a little poem my father always enjoyed reciting to me when I was a kid [especially when I got into trouble]:
"Only the game fish swims upstream, the sensible fish swims down."
It's a good thing most fish are sensible enough to swim in schools. But there's a case to be made for fish who like to play hookey as well.
