Really?! Is this what has become of ATS?

a reply to: Dingo80

Shirley they can......

ATS should change its name to AmericanTopSecret

a reply to: AlphaHawk

US (and other western) news media exhibits bias, with RT represents propaganda.

This is the whole problem, that statement is completely untrue. Western media slings propaganda with the best of them.

a reply to: SLAYER69

Look everyone argument seems to be about RT being a tool, which everyone agrees to. Its not even worth a debate, we know this, its about ATS steering us in Coldwar mentality and so much more.

Claiming that somehow our western media is any different then RT is a bunch of *****, and you know it.

a reply to: Nikola014

Questioning should begin in the OP. The OP should be making complete and well thought out threads, the OP should fact check before posting a story.

Isn't this what we ALL have against the MSM? No fact checking... no indepth story, just copy paste and copy paste some more...

Well... why do we distrust the MSM for the same thing we "trust" ourselves for? Where is the logic?

If your backing up RT with known hoaxers, and this is the only people you can use to back up RT with... then don't you think there is a possible problem that would make you want to do your own background checking for?

a reply to: Nikola014

There are things MSM just will not report. There are many alternative news sources that are banned from ATS. So, when RT is our only source, how do we check? We don't. We make a thread, where the news will be either debunked or proven true.

In legitimate journalism, an editor will require three independent sources for a story that is not personally witnessed by a reporter on the scene. If there is only one source, language is used to qualify the statement: "according to...." "a spokesperson said...." "allegedly..." "claims..." "reportedly..." and so forth. If your only source is RT, the qualifying expression is: "according to a Russian government propagandist...." Please try to find another source if you want people to believe the story.

originally posted by: Flatcoat
a reply to: AlphaHawk

US (and other western) news media exhibits bias, with RT represents propaganda.

This is the whole problem, that statement is completely untrue. Western media slings propaganda with the best of them.

Even better, most of the times you have several media outlets slinging the same scripted bs.

a reply to: OpinionatedB

Your totally derailing the thread with points that have nothing to do with my opening post. Really.

RT with known hoaxers? Really?

a reply to: MessageforAll

I've never claimed 'Western Media" isn't BS, but what gets old are all those who wont bother acknowledging the FACT that RT is pushing their agenda just like the rest.

a reply to: OpinionatedB

Why do you force this false statement that we treat RT differently then MSM? It's completely untrue. Just because OP started a thread with only RT as a source, it doesn't mean other members will take it for granted. When i read RT article, and when i use my logic, it makes so much more sense than when i read some MSM news.

How don't you understand that all MSM should have a title of state-run propaganda? Just because we know MSM reports on bunch of BS, would be nice they have that title also.

originally posted by: SLAYER69
a reply to: MessageforAll

I've never claimed 'Western Media" isn't BS, but what gets old are all those who wont bother acknowledging the FACT that RT is pushing their agenda just like the rest.

But is it right for RT to be tagged and not CNN, Fox, BBC etc etc? they are all at the same nonsense.

originally posted by: SLAYER69
a reply to: MessageforAll

I've never claimed 'Western Media" isn't BS, but what gets old are all those who wont bother acknowledging the FACT that RT is pushing their agenda just like the rest.

Quite a few have said that RT are like that. If that is the case every news source should come with a warning.

a reply to: MessageforAll

I'm saying if a site like "before its news" is the only people running the same damn story as RT, then why would you automatically trust RT as a source?

And I'm not derailing the thread.... you just don't like my opinion because I am indicating we should deny ignorance by sourcing more than one source in threads. And not blindly following and blindly trusting one.

a reply to: SLAYER69

Yup indeed; and yet RT is since recent events being targeted. All MSM agencies are just telling what their local government wants them to tell.

No one is claiming that RT is pure of heart, as I said it before go look at those threads, everyone acknowledges that RT is just another tool.

But adding that tag when linking a story from RT that's just yeesh.

originally posted by: SLAYER69
a reply to: MessageforAll

I've never claimed 'Western Media" isn't BS, but what gets old are all those who wont bother acknowledging the FACT that RT is pushing their agenda just like the rest.

Ah there it is don't you see it, if RT is pushing their agenda like the rest why the rest isn't labeled similar to rt

All labeled with their respective bias or none

originally posted by: SLAYER69
a reply to: MessageforAll

I've never claimed 'Western Media" isn't BS, but what gets old are all those who wont bother acknowledging the FACT that RT is pushing their agenda just like the rest.

Most people on this thread have acknowledged that fact. The problem is with singling out RT for special treatment.

a reply to: DJW001

There is no independent journalism.

I've never in my life seen a thread with MSM source, where OP said "according to a God knows who controlls our media..."

I don't know in what world do you think we live in, but ALL MSM publish propaganda news. It is unfair to single out only one. Many people here just wonder why at this specific time, and were there any agendas behind this action. I honestly believe ATS is no more neutral.

a reply to: Nikola014

You all are the one's telling the rest of us that we SHOULD treat RT differently. You ask us to accept blindly a story just because RT said it.

If your going to ask us to do that, then I say more power to the label.

a reply to: MessageforAll

Ever see an RT article even vaguely critical of the Russian government? I won't be holding my breath for a link to one. Am I to believe, then, that the Russian government is perfect and unassailable? Or, is RT the propaganda arm of the Russian government?

Reporters who have left the organization due to their frustration have been calling it exactly what it is. All of your hand wringing means nothing, because ATS isn't a democracy, and the admins make the rules for their site. I suppose that you can complain about it all day long, but realize that this site isn't offered as any sort of public service, there are real people who pay real money to run the site and they call the shots.

It's kind of comical to me that you've been registered all of a few months and you're already bemoaning 'what has become of ATS.' Usually takes a couple of years before that mentality sets in.

a reply to: OpinionatedB

You all are the one's telling the rest of us that we SHOULD treat RT differently

Wrong, we should treat RT the same as all the others.

I don't think anyone is denying that RT engages in agenda-driven information production - propaganda, if you will.

The problem lies with the fact that ATS has taken upon itself, the actions of labeling RT a state-run propaganda machine. And while it may be true, it is unfair to target RT for its propaganda, and not target Fox News or MSNBC for similar actions.

Indeed, the very labeling of a site as a propaganda source, contradicts the site's motto, 'deny ignorance'. While it no longer appears on the main pages, it is specifically stated in Above Top Secret's about page as such:

The simple yet effective motto of our membership is "deny ignorance", which signifies an effort to apply the principals of critical thought and peer review to the provocative topics covered within. More than a slogan, our members have embraced the motto as our collective cultural standard, demanding all to aspire to a higher standard. These simple two words have galvanized a broad membership that spans the spectrum from highly speculative conspiracy writers to staunch doubters. The result is a unique collaboration of diverse individuals rallying under this simple statement to learn from each other, discover new truths, and imagine new ideas that expand our minds.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

This is a motto which is still well used by members today, and indeed, it holds significant relevance, considering its continued existence on this website.

As i stated on page 3:

The actions of labeling RT a state-run propaganda source has undeniably undermined the essential meaning of 'deny ignorance'. Members can not apply critical thought or peer review to a source when the ownership has already determined it and all of its contents as 'propaganda'.