The death of civility on ATS, the current election season, and a lament for discourse.

For a long time ATS has been my go-to conspiracy site. It's been an education over the few years I have been here, and in some ways I consider myself wiser for the journey.

However, I don't know if ATS has become more toxic this election season or it is just my awareness of this, but I suspect it is the former. It's gotten to the point where I have to steel myself to come onto ATS, which has never been an issue before. I see people posting meaningful threads, and being called out as shills, paid protesters, Libtards, Trumpbots/Trumpkins, and various types of slightly obfuscated swear words. This was not tolerated previously, and I think there was definitely a higher level on discourse prior to this.

I have even been sucked into some poor behaviour myself, and for a person who values meaningful discourse, it seems a shame. I use to never log out from ATS, but I find myself taking breaks more and more often. I don't know if it's the election, the influx of people from social media, the Mud-Pit, or something else, but I'm finding it no longer a place I feel like visiting so often.

I don't expect anything to change, this is merely a lament for a place that perhaps no longer exists. I know that ATS is a microcosm of the greater world, and unfortunately I see these changes also in other media (including the mainstream media, diminished as it is).

ATS has Deny Ignorance as its motto, unfortunately, I feel this applies less and less.

a reply to: cuckooold

ATS can be compared to climate change,it goes through cycles but
always straightens out in the end.Just wait until school break,then
the fun really begins!

Just your normal 4 year election cycle....wait till 2020
"This too shall pass"

“You need to spend time crawling alone through shadows to truly appreciate what it is to stand in the sun.” ― Shaun Hick

I think the election got under a lot of skins. People lose civility and decency when discussing politics. It is a touchy subject to some though.

a reply to: cuckooold

Oh come on! We only really get to let loose on each other every four years!



Election years are so steeped in conspiracy because every election cycle we get stuck with asshats to choose from, with both asshats complete with sketchy pasts for us to pick apart.

Its like The Purge!

Just sit back and enjoy with some popcorn if you dont want to pull the trigger!

a reply to: cuckooold

When was the last time a republican had the presidency, House, Senate?

Was ATS even in existence then?

There is a very real war going on right now.

You have people online encouraging violence, people actually harming other people and property just for having a different political ideology.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: cuckooold


You have people online encouraging violence, people actually harming other people and property just for having a different political ideology.

I am sorry, who is 'you people'?

Please do not lump me in as being affiliated with any 'group' of people. Just because my political beliefs do not align with yours does not mean I am part of some monolithic 'group. I have never advocated for harming people or property for whatever their political ideology.

Perhaps you are projecting, as I'm calling out all behaviours on ATS, not focusing on any ideology here.

a reply to: DBCowboy

My apologies, I read 'You have people' as 'You people'.

My bad.

a reply to: cuckooold

I believe you took his word usage of "you" out of context.

He didn't mean You specifically have people. The usage of the word in this case could have also been written as:

"There are people online encouraging violence, people actually harming other people "

His usage of "You have" is not a indication of you specifically, but is used in the English language as a generic "you".

For example, if I were to say "You have people that go to the library" it does not mean that I'm trying to say that YOU cuckooold, have people you send to the library, but I'm saying "there are" people that go to the library.

I'm going to guess English isn't your first language? Or maybe you are just not aware of how the word "you" can be used.

a reply to: eriktheawful

Nope, English is my first language, I'm actually an English teacher (hangs head in shame). I just read his post wrong, was focusing on too many tasks at once, and offered my Mea Culpa.

See my post above yours.

a reply to: cuckooold

Perhaps the answer to the death of civility could be in misconstruing other people's posts.

On topic:

Last presidential election, 2012, we had a LOT of other subjects to talk about on here: IE the world ending. It made for great subject mater that could be discussed and was a very favorite topic on here and a great distraction from that presidential election.

We didn't have that this year, other than both sides claiming that the world would end if either candidate won.

That also is another big difference: the candidates. 2012's election cycle, the candidates were rather.....dull? as compared to who was running this year. Makes a big difference.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: cuckooold

When was the last time a republican had the presidency, House, Senate?

Was ATS even in existence then?

Short memory. 10 years ago. The child molester was Speaker, the Internet is made of tubes guy was Senate majority pro tem, and Dubya was prez.

Those years didn't work out so well.

a reply to: DBCowboy

Perhaps, although I feel in some cases on ATS it is wilful and that some posters will dig in rather than admit they are wrong.

originally posted by: six67seven

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: cuckooold

Jesus effing Christ.

This is what I'm talking about.

I never effing said "you people".

Take the god-damned chip off your shoulder.

I was adding to your thread, not pissing in your oatmeal.

Lol... looks like you offended another one Cowboy!

Your signature rings true, even without the intent a la Hillary!

Lol

I have a quota I have to meet or else the Illuminati doesn't cut me a check.

a reply to: BeefNoMeat

Well there you go!

a reply to: cuckooold

I don't know how other people think and I would never suggest ways in which to think, but me. . . personally?

I start out in some subjects by openly admitting that I'm an idiot.

Kinda takes the potential weapons away from anyone who could use them and it diffuses the situation before it even starts.

a reply to: DBCowboy

Just lending a hand to a self-admitted idiot.