Conspiracy theorist begging for money

originally posted by: reldra

originally posted by: simro
a reply to: reldra

Its not about personal details if people pay money they should get something to not get something is wrong, websites are not charities and neither are conspiracy theorists.

Websites and conspiracy theorists with websites are businesses and have expenses. That is what the donation button is for. It does not say it is for a charity such as the Salvation Army, does it?

Do you not see the donation banner above your thread here?

Are you having a bad day?

You seem to be coming down pretty hard on a relatively new member for some reason.

Just thought I'd ask.

a reply to: MagesticEsoteric

All businesses have expenses it does not mean they get to beg for money. Businesses do not beg if they cannot meet their expenses they simply become fold. In fact many businesses would not be allowed to function in this way, and I am sure if amazon added a buy the board a beer button people would complain, but just because they are successful and some other businesses aren't doesn't mean that they have a better reason to beg.

I think its more honest to have a donation button for nothing.

If you are giving someone money for "extra content" -- who is to say they will give you anything extra that is worthwhile?

At least the guy saying it goes directly to him, and you don't get anything extra for it is being honest. People have bills and need to eat.

"Hey, if you like my site and what I do -- please donate. I have bills and need to eat. Websites cost money to host too."

Something like that is a lot more honest IMO than some subscription for content you may not feel is worth the cost. I'd rather put forth quality content that prompts people to like me enough to WANT to give me money. I wouldn't feel right stringing people along, dangling a carrot on a stick to motivate donations.

Besides, I've always liked the idea of people giving me money just because they thought I was awesome.

a reply to: MagesticEsoteric
Maybe too much time in front of the comp today. You're right.

a reply to: MystikMushroom

It is not immoral to sell content: do you not sell your time in the form of a job or career? Do people not sell other things such as clothing which has to be made, well content is made and if the content is good enough people will pay for it, and if it is not and they feel tricked they will not buy again and tell other not to. There is this thing called a book and it has existed a very long time and people have been paying for it a long time and people do so because the content is good enough, there are no beg buttons used and selling content is not less moral then giving it away. I think a good argument could be made the other way around, but if its good enough people will pay for it and the producers will not need to beg. If it isn't then maybe it should just be free, because expenses are not the problem of the viewer and if it isn't worth anything at all then is its removal via expenses via the website hosting really a bad thing: and surely it would result in higher quality.

You're comparing Richard D. Hall to David Icke and finding Hall lacking???

I think you've got it backwards, dude. I'll take Hall's information over Icke's any day.

originally posted by: reldra
a reply to: simro

Ummmm.....ATS has a donation button. If you accidentally click it, money is not magically taken from you. You can close the page that opens up after and you have not given any personal details.

As far as I recall, The ATS button was introduced fairly recently to address a particular problem, and as far as I know without caveats, so not quite the same thing. When the OP say mentions, 'without thinking' I took that as meaning, 'What's that all about' ? rather than disclosing personal details, although there is a certain risk factor there in any case from any source.
Overall, it's much ado about nothing, they are both entitled to make a charge for something if they so wish, or ask for a donation if they wish..in fact Wiki is full of all sorts of things, including conspiracy, yet they also ask for a donation to run the site, what running the site means is not well defined other than it costs something.

originally posted by: reldra
a reply to: MagesticEsoteric
Maybe too much time in front of the comp today. You're right.

You are a rarity ya know?

Not many people can step back and see themselves as ever being in the wrong. (Especially around these parts)

I respect that.

a reply to: simro

Are you kidding? All advertising is a form of begging. Marketing is a form of begging. Most employees of big companies never have to deal with advertizing, (which is a form of begging,) issues except for those specifically in the advertizing department of that company. The rest build the product or service it. They will never understand the business they work for continually asks for money...grants...loans. ..ask/beg. I need. I need.

You scorning this man for asking to be paid after having read his thoughts that he took time to put into words for people to see is ridiculous. Looks like he's saying, "pay me something if you can please but if you can't, I understand" hence: donation. BEAUSE MOST OF US ARE BROKE. And he's aware of that. Thank GOD there is still FREE info out there good enough to get brain juices working in support of it or against it, but nevertheless being against it leads to debate and MORE CREATIVE IDEAS follow. Yay. Because of these fine people, maybe one day the good lot of us poor folks will figure a way out of this shathole unfair economy so we can all have our cost of living needs met .

It would be nice if every member on here had a donation icon under their name. So many on here provide VALUABLE info for....FREE. this place is one huge THINK TANK and ATS provides the venue.

I will donate a dollar into your pot OP. Even though I don't agree with you. that's for bringing this to everyone's attention.

originally posted by: simro
a reply to: Ksihkehe

If a site cannot think of a way of getting money from their content then its just tough because these are things that they should have thought about before they set up the website. I am not here to petition for David Icke but it does seem on this particular issue he has the moral high ground. Also any donation should state what it is for, even if it was an I like beer button at least it would be open about what it would be used for, but not saying what it is used for is a bit slimey its the sort of thing that conmen do. Think about it first they convince you that there is some great crusade which they need to fight against: via the content: and then they ask for donations. Its the same way fake charities operate. Is this what some conspiracy theorists have become televangelists/conmen. Its funny how Alex Jones doesn't have a donate button because he sells things from the website, and if his new channel doesn't work then as a company it is him who takes the loss because that's how businesses work.

I read the original wall of text, but I'm not reading another one.

Your organization of text is as baffling to me as your opinion on the topic and both are something I can't deal with long.

a reply to: WhiteWingedMonolith

Advertising is not begging it is simply trying to get people to pay in exchange for something. I also question the fact that you say that most people cannot afford to pay for things, it simply wrong people pay for things all the time, and if someone wants to give things away for free that is fine but asking for donations for themselves as an individual and leaving it completely open ended is wrong. If a person had a website and asked for money to run it that would be money for something but to say the money is just for whatever they want is dishonest. The trouble is that people get defensive because these conspiracy theorists act like con men, and yet like all good con men are liked anyway. The definition of a fake charity and how they operate is:

1. They are not registered charities
2. They give out false information to convince you they are real and that there is something terrible going on
3. They then ask for donations
This is exactly how conspiracy theorists operate, they are the same.
If anyone thinks about the above clearly it is quite obvious that they are one and the same.

a reply to: simro

Dude, this site costs money to run. And it has more than conspiracies. There's lots of forums--many of which have quality information on them that one could even use while, say, studying at school. It's an invaluable resource in addition to the mainstream media. ATS was getting DDOSed by landwhales and they lost money as a result. So they're asking for help. They've done a few classy threads about it and they're not begging anyone for money. Frankly, I would donate to them if I had money that I wanted to donate because I support what ATS is doing here, denying ignorance. And they give that option to people. I think it's smart. In these days when gamers with twitch accounts make thousands a month playing games that people watch them play, I think it's okay for this website to ask for donations. That's just my 2 cents.

originally posted by: simro
Conspiracy theorists acting like charities is not correct at all.

But what if they've sourced the best and strongest herbs from around the globe, specifically for this one treatment that will give you erections, help you sleep, cure cancer, feed starving people and all manner of amazing benefits, and tell you that by buying it you are the spear head in the fight on information?

And then sell you food that will last 50 years - unless its macdonalds, which lasts 50 years and everyone complains.

Or super duper silver, specifically formed by ancient Aztec kings to give them invulnerability and wards off tinea?

Come on man, everyone loves Alex jones...

originally posted by: simro
a reply to: reldra

Its not about personal details if people pay money they should get something to not get something is wrong, websites are not charities and neither are conspiracy theorists.
Also monthly donations are you kidding you think this is right for an individual to get monthly donations from people?

Truth comes at a price, it appears.

I'll tell you more about how deep the rabbit hole goes, in my new book, Where the Conspiracists Roam, only $19.95 on ebay !!

originally posted by: reldra

originally posted by: simro
a reply to: reldra

Its not about personal details if people pay money they should get something to not get something is wrong, websites are not charities and neither are conspiracy theorists.

Websites and conspiracy theorists with websites are businesses and have expenses. That is what the donation button is for. It does not say it is for a charity such as the Salvation Army, does it?

Do you not see the donation banner above your thread here?

The Donation button here is to help safe guard the forums from insidious hacksters and denialers who have it in for the way the place runs.

Not cover running costs though.. it's been asked many times if there was a way to subscribe so as to avoid popups and adverts, to which it's always been said no.

originally posted by: dogstar23
I will take monthly donations from people if they want to give them to me, and i don't even have a website providing content. Even if someone were willing to give me $5,000/month "just 'cuz", I would have no shame in taking it. Who am I to stop someone from giving me money if that's what makes them happy?

How much in donations do you think he's getting?

Wanna buy some pictures of my feet? They're manly and have toe hair, and really gnarly toenails.

Call me.

originally posted by: simro
I don't see Alex Jones asking for donations and when you send money it is to buy something. Donate buttons have become for the terminally stupid who thought that simply having lots of content on a website would put them in the money.

It's not just something. it's the BEST something. remember that.

and you cant get any warmer than buying his specific warm clothing, no need for a fire, you might attract attention. but in his Alex Jones snuggie, you're set for the winter.

Don't forget the oil.. oh my god, no more burning tongue. And it makes you superu arertu!!!

originally posted by: simro
a reply to: MystikMushroom

It is not immoral to sell content:

In this context, yes it is.

Do you want to spread truth, or cash in.

Can't have both... Knowledge and truth are fundamental to us all, and no one has the right to monetise it.

that it happens, is not justification for it happening.

originally posted by: rukia
a reply to: simro

Dude, this site costs money to run. And it has more than conspiracies.

And no one here is taking money to keep it running.

The advertising and traffic alone pay for that.

a reply to: simro I assume your getting entertainment and somewhere to share your opinions in a well maintained civil environment. I assume no one forces you to come here or shake you down for paying for a subscription? I pay for Spotify, but hardly use it it's for entertainment purposes only which I find worth it. I come to ATS every day, use the service everyday. There is a value in that to me