The ATS Issues Thread

I understand that if something puts someone else down or is harmful it should not be allowed. I am just curious as to what was harmful about the 2012 poll that someone posted? I went to the 404 thread to post but it was closed? I really like that post and had a lot of thoughts to add on the 2012 poll. Was it a duplicate?
It bothers me because I did not think ATS was really all about policies and rules so strictly that even harmless threads get closed. If the poster took it down then it would be up to them.
I hope I do not see more posts being deleted. Society has become scary to me with all it's policies and we must go by the rules as if is a our god. I hope ATS does not become like that. Only time will tell.

reply to post by Freeborn


Hello Freeborn,

this issue was extensively discussed among Moderators and found no "final resolution" or "final policy". And that is something good. Why? Because as important as rules and the T&C are for running a site, some ambiguity and some leeway is also important. If we allow everything to be governed by rules we forget the human ability to judge on a case-to-case basis.

As you say, its about Context. All staff and all ATS members want this site to run smoothly and for discussion to run in a civil and respectable manner. For that reason we choose to remove profanity, swearing, FU, STFU and similar. We`d also remove WTF from thread-titles whenever we detect them. But we would certainly not be mini-managing every little WTF exclamation.

Does that mean we will NEVER action a WTF-exclamation in a thread? Am I announcing that as a "rule"? No. If someone goes WTF, WTF, WTF along with 10 smilies and another 10 WTF Id probably delete it.

So its CONTEXT that matters. If someone is worried about whether something will be removed or not, that worry is a sign that they better re-write it. Anything can be expressed without profanity.

On the other hand, if someone goes around the boards looking for every tiny piece of profanity and alerting it, thats overdoing it too.

So as with most things in life there are clear-cut rules and then there are some things that are ambigious, some things you will not get a definitive and final answer to.

Feel free to protest my response to you but I do think this issue is given way too much attention. While the world is going haywire people are worried about things like "WTF". There must be more pressing issues to worry about.

reply to post by Freeborn


The use of common sense in combination with common courtesy will win the day every time here. If there is a word that the auto censors don't remove it makes sense that it must not be a very offensive word unless it is used in a derogatory way and directed a fellow member.

WRT "web abbreviations"... The same thing applies, common sense will tell you if it's an abbreviation that lends itself to polite conversation or not.

"Discuss the content NOT the member" is a good rule to follow for these issues as is, "would you put what you want to post in a letter to your mother?".

Springer...

reply to post by Skyfloating


Thank you for your response and thank you for some common sense, which alas, isn't that common.

Your response echoes my take on things, the only reason I pursued the matter so much was because I was under the impression that a steadfast ruling was to be enforced, if that had been so then clarification on some things was needed.

The lack of response was also confusing and annoying.

Again, thanks for the reply and hopefully we can all continue contributing to ATS in a respctful yet adult manner safe in the knowledge that any transgressions will be dealt with.

Edit to add:
And thanks Springer

[edit on 30/5/10 by Freeborn]

I have a question.....

I annoyed the Mods a couple of times today, suggesting that 2 reptilian threads in the A&E forum could perhaps be moved to the "Grey Area".

I did that because I thought that was a policy that was enacted some time back.

Am I right about that?

Or.....am I just being a pain in the butt!!

Cheers
Maybe...maybe not

reply to post by Maybe...maybe not


You annoyed the mods? News to me. Now if you don't have our monthly stipend of excellent scotch we'll be annoyed.

reply to post by intrepid


How's about one of these?

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/d5fb25350116.jpg[/atsimg]

Iam a new member , but already noticed some posts get a bucketful of stars which to be honest doesn"t reflect the content of some of the posts, could it be that some members have large multiple usernames?
Or is just that friends are vigilant and starring their buddies?
I know on almost all forums multiple accounts are possible, its just on some threads I get the feeling the mutiple account thing is operating almost exclusivel?
I think about three usernames per member would suffice?

Originally posted by Dr Expired
Iam a new member , but already noticed some posts get a bucketful of stars which to be honest doesn"t reflect the content of some of the posts, could it be that some members have large multiple usernames?
Or is just that friends are vigilant and starring their buddies?
I know on almost all forums multiple accounts are possible, its just on some threads I get the feeling the mutiple account thing is operating almost exclusivel?
I think about three usernames per member would suffice?

ATS Terms and Conditions of Use

2c.) Multiple Accounts: You will not create multiple user accounts and "talk to yourself".

Meaning, we do not allow multiple accounts for one person to post.

[edit on June 4th 2010 by greeneyedleo]

Originally posted by Maybe...maybe not
I have a question.....

I annoyed the Mods a couple of times today, suggesting that 2 reptilian threads in the A&E forum could perhaps be moved to the "Grey Area".

I did that because I thought that was a policy that was enacted some time back.

Am I right about that?

Or.....am I just being a pain in the butt!!

Cheers
Maybe...maybe not

Reptillian threads go in Skunk Works - not A&U

reply to post by greeneyedleo

Thanks for the prompt reply.

It is sort of clear, I can imagine people with multiple personality disorder perhaps even talking to themselves within one post?
Has this happenned?

reply to post by greeneyedleo


Greeneyedleo.....

Thanks for your clarification

I will keep that reference handy.

Kind regards
Maybe...maybe

Originally posted by Dr Expired
reply to post by greeneyedleo

 

Thanks for the prompt reply.

It is sort of clear, I can imagine people with multiple personality disorder perhaps even talking to themselves within one post?
Has this happenned?

We do not discuss the matters of other members on the boards.

The ATS Terms and Conditions of Use are clear. Best to read thru it all

I am still banned from chat, please tell me why or unlock my account. I have absolute no idea why you banned me, thanks.

Originally posted by Dr Expired
Iam a new member , but already noticed some posts get a bucketful of stars which to be honest doesn"t reflect the content of some of the posts, could it be that some members have large multiple usernames?

I think it's more that the first few pages of a thread get the most views and hence the most stars. People seem to lose interest in threads and drop out after the first few pages and so you will notice the posts getting less and less stars, even if they are still good posts.

I know on almost all forums multiple accounts are possible, its just on some threads I get the feeling the mutiple account thing is operating almost exclusivel?

Using multiple accounts or sockpuppet identities is totally against the rules and no one ever does that. The owners and mods have certainly never done that, the corporate shills and disinformation specialists don't, nor the Israeli propagandists, and members like me would never do that either.

[edit on 5-6-2010 by AndersonLee]

ATS is boggling my mind.

After having a neutral/open-minded thread about seeingUFOsPA's latest video moved to the HOAX forum (a week ago or so) and discovering this is a staff/owner policy, I am OK with that. I no longer post seeingUFOsPA videos.

However, when I see a thread like the following accepted in the Aliens & UFO forum, I start to wonder if ATS still holds the truth as a core belief.

The Dishonesty & Danger Inherent In The seeingUFOsPA Hoax

Why are people allowed to make opinionated rant threads and have them featured in the Aliens & UFOs forum?

I would love to debate factual evidence and reasonable explanations but to have to do so in a completely biased thread is unfair. Further, trolls work to destroy these threads with personal attacks and distraction - they need to be monitored.

Funny, if you look at seeingUFOsPA threads you will count a higher percentage of people believing it's not a hoax...

I just don't see myself wanting to continue to contribute to a site that allows opinion to be forced in such a prejudiced fashion. If you allow that thread, why can't I make a "seeingUFOsPA is not a hoax" thread, bashing deniers and their lame evidence?

Thanks.

[edit on 2010-6-5 by sandwiches]

I want to alert about my thread and requestion action on the said thread www.abovetopsecret.com..., it was moved to Middle East Issues...the thread basis is related to USA MSM with Middle East event. I would request moving the thread back to Breaking Event or US Political Madness.

Regards,
YJLTG

Hey.

Just a question.

My wife and I are big fans and users and have noticed a few things.

The biggest misunderstanding we have that could be explained for us is:
Is there a limit to stars and flags set by time or user?

We sometimes cannot give either to each other, and sometimes only one of us can.

Obviously when I start a thread she reads it and of course being together more than a decade we share some viewpoints, but we barely cross paths other than in that situation.

Was just wondering?

Cheers,
Pablos
and
Mumma in Pyjamas

reply to post by pablos


Pablos.....

That's interesting & I've noticed something similar.

My daughter & her boyfriend are also on ATS & the 3 of us will sometimes all be logged in from seperate laptops, from here at home.

I note we cannot give each other stars.

Perhaps it's something to do with being in the same location.

Kind regards
Maybe...maybe not