The ATS Issues Thread

Well americandingbat, our issue seems to have gotten lost amongst the drama here.

Hellllo? Our issue is on page 53 if anyone wants to check on it. If you do I promise to mention you in schrodinger's favorite mod thread.

(haha) Rush

Originally posted by Corum
Now, a question to the ATS enforcers who determine what I can and can not say or see on this site. I'd like to ask why the word '''n-word''' is censored but the word ''honky'' or ''paki'' is not? Why is this? It might be an automatic system that you have no control over but if it is not I recommend you watch the double episode of South Park entitled ''Cartoon Wars'', please listen to the message it gives, it makes sense. I respect and like you fellas but I have issues with your censoring policies.

I'd like this addressing please. What's with the double standards? Either everything is okay to say and talk about or nothing is, which one is it?


I also noticed another educational thread about marijuana was moved again to an area where not many see. I suppose you're trying to keep the sponsors happy again? Well, just carry on sweeping things under the rug and continue your hypocrisy, your policies are becoming more transparent as time goes on.

Originally posted by Corum
I also noticed another educational thread about marijuana was moved again to an area where not many see. I suppose you're trying to keep the sponsors happy again? Well, just carry on sweeping things under the rug and continue your hypocrisy, your policies are becoming more transparent as time goes on.

I explained this in an earlier post in this thread, but I suppose you were too busy making accusations and finding things to complain about to read it. It's not about keeping the sponsors happy, it's about making sure that everyone can have access to ATS.

Here's the post that explains:
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Click here for more information.

reply to post by Corum


Yes, I am part of the management and no, I don't need to stay out of it. ATS is user-generated content, a collaborative effort and the collective result of the contributions of every single member from SO down to the guy who just registered today to post about the black helicopters which are following him around.

The "management" here is us - you and me - every ATS member; we are all responsible for the content, interaction, topics, tone, and atmosphere of ATS. The designated staff merely provide limited oversight and keep out SPAM and as much of the blatant ignorance as they can. Seventy people can't control 76,000 even in a virtual world; if most of us did not participate in the "management" of this site by following the T&C, encouraging others to do so, and using the [ALERT] buttons, it couldn't exist as it does.

Besides, I would think that you would appreciate getting a reasonable explanation from a "regular member" who has the experience to understand the reasons for keeping references to illegal substances off the main boards; obviously you are going to view any response from the staff with suspicion and skepticism. I have no agenda other than wanting to help you understand and a desire not to have my own ATS access blocked for inappropriate content.

P.S. If discussing illegal substances is so important to you, why not just go to a board that allows it? There are plenty of them.

(edit to add P.S.)

[edit on 18-10-2008 by Heike]

I agree with Heike on this one. A week doesn't go by without someone complaining about the rule against drug talk. It's been explained a million times. Also with drug topics being moved to RATS which has a very simple fix: Join twitter, get 5,000 points, then receive instant and essentially free RATS membership buy using those free points to access that forum.

Drug talk: No-no due to internet nanny problems.
Threads moved to RATS: Join twitter for enough points to access it.

LAck of drug talk talk/swearing means that this is the only forum I can access from work.

Good Job Amigos and Mods and if anyone diesn't like that they need to realise that on the whole we are a mature forum. Deal with it or move on.

Springer has said umpteen times that we don't wanna hear about stoners saying how wasted they were when they met a grey and they took him on their ship and they had coffee with Billy Mieir in the Pleiades...

Oh, and that I told the work IT tech guys I use the breaking alternative news forum for media studies lessons...LOL

And what's with calling other members for being helpful?

Peace,

MGGG

Originally posted by Corum
reply to post by Heike

 

The questions and complaints were directed to the management. Are you management? Nope. So do me a favour and stay out of it.

Heike is right.

Thanks Heike for the input.

hsur2112, I have no idea why the threads were closed. I wasn't around to see it come down. I just wanted you to know you're not being ignored, or lost in the shuffle.

But on that note, let me make an observation. Here we are nearing three score of pages, and there are rumblings of being ignored in this massive thread. Everyone feels like their personal problem is the deal breaker, it's special, and if it isn't answered ASAP then we're censoring them, or biased in some way.

Now stretch your imaginations past your own earth shaking problems with this site and look at all the other people that are just as sure their problem is the one that's important; the one being ignored, or dealt with in an unfair or biased manner. You have no idea of the amount of "woe is me, nobody understands me, everybody is mistreating me because I'm right and they ought to know it" complaints, threads, and U2Us we deal with every day. Throw in a couple of references to how we're Natzi SS, government agents, aliens, Masons/anti-masons, a few death threats, and a sprinkling of good old fashioned cussing out. This "massive" thread is just the tip of the iceberg.

And top that off with how many folks don't want to comply with the T&C because they have no grasp of "free speech" and it's limits, or even what their Constitutional Rights really are, or what the rights of ownership mean. (ATS is privately owned.) Season lightly with assorted nuts, some folks on medication, and a couple of drunks, and you have the ATS daily fruitcake and punch brunch.

Good grief folks. Don't you think if it were possible to make everyone happy we would?

Originally posted by NGC2736
Season lightly with assorted nuts, some folks on medication, and a couple of drunks,

...and that's just the staff.

Originally posted by NGC2736
hsur2112, I have no idea why the threads were closed. I wasn't around to see it come down. I just wanted you to know you're not being ignored, or lost in the shuffle.

But on that note, let me make an observation. Here we are nearing three score of pages, and there are rumblings of being ignored in this massive thread. Everyone feels like their personal problem is the deal breaker, it's special, and if it isn't answered ASAP then we're censoring them, or biased in some way.

Thanks for the reassurance that we didn't get lost in the noise.

I don't want to speak for Rush, but I know that for me it was a little discouraging to find our questions buried under a couple pages of same old same old. I am not concerned about the time it might take to get answers, so much as the possibility that there may never be a long enough break from readdressing complaints that surface weekly to look into a new issue.

It seems to me that BTS is still finding its personality, if you will, and I think Rush's original question goes directly to that issue. BTS is a wonderful, fun, fascinating side of ATS that many people never even see. I'm sure that its future shape is very much on the minds of mods, admins, and Amigos, and I understand that means questions about appropriate content there are not addressed as easily as the questions about illegal substances that have already been answered a hundred times.

Consider this a plug in hopes that more folk will head down BelowTopSecret and help it develop and find guidelines that fit

Originally posted by HeikeBesides, I would think that you would appreciate getting a reasonable explanation from a "regular member" who has the experience to understand the reasons for keeping references to illegal substances off the main boards; obviously you are going to view any response from the staff with suspicion and skepticism. I have no agenda other than wanting to help you understand and a desire not to have my own ATS access blocked for inappropriate content.

I accept that. The only reason I was sharp with you in my response is because you accused me of ''finding'' things to complain about, I felt a bit defensive at that and I apologise.

reply to post by Corum


You're right, I was out of line with the unnecessary sarcasm. Apology accepted and I apologize to you as well.

Go join twitter and subscribe to RATS and we can argue about your unnatural obsession with that green stuff! just kidding.

You know, this is one of the reasons I love ATS so much. All the thousands of people here, and very seldom are there issues, either with ATS itself or with each other, that we can't/don't resolve eventually.

Peace!, and kudos to you Corum for being the first to step up and admit your portion of "badness."

reply to post by NGC2736


Whoa. I'm thinking that you feel better now and that someone needs a hug.

If all of that was directed towards me then, in all due respect my friend, it is way off base.

Everyone feels like their personal problem is the deal breaker, it's special, and if it isn't answered ASAP then we're censoring them, or biased in some way.

My personal problem? Just something that occured in BTS that I wanted clarity about. Here's the thing, I had an issue/question, this is the issues thread, I posted my issue, bumped it because of said pages of bickering and that's it. bingo bango I have no idea what all the bickering is about, I haven't read it, it's not my issue. But if it's overwhelming this thread then maybe the bickering between members should go elsewhere.

Now stretch your imaginations past your own earth shaking problems with this site....

Seriously? I have no problems with this site, never have. I only had an issue which I felt deserved clarity and posted it in the issue thread so that I wouldn't bog down U2U's. That was uncalled for.

Good grief folks. Don't you think if it were possible to make everyone happy we would?

This has nothing to do with my happiness, I'm one of the happiest people on this site. A simple "we'll get around to it eventually" would have sufficed. I'm outa here.

Rush


[edit on 18-10-2008 by hsur2112]

reply to post by Heike


heike...i recently had a response deleted for "ill-mannered" language. since i cannot find a copy of what i actually wrote, is there a place where i can review and see what was said by myself. i try to be careful about language and name-calling, and i need to find out what was "offensive"

[edit on 18-10-2008 by jimmyx]

reply to post by jimmyx


I don't think you can access it but I believe the staff can access posts that were removed. Just check your U2U's and write the staff member who removed your post. It should give you the name of the staff member who removed it.

reply to post by jimmyx


Jimmyx, I'm sorry I don't know the answer to that, I've never had a post deleted. However, I think did see earlier in this thread a Mod posting portions of an edited or deleted post to point out what the problem was, so I'm hoping that Ashley is right and a Mod will be able to retrieve your post for you and and tell you what the problem was.

In any case, I'm pretty sure sending a u2u to one of the Mods for the forum you were posting in (or the Mod who deleted your post if you still have the relevant u2u) is your best bet for getting an answer.

Sorry not to be more help.

Originally posted by AshleyD
reply to post by jimmyx

 

I don't think you can access it but I believe the staff can access posts that were removed. Just check your U2U's and write the staff member who removed your post. It should give you the name of the staff member who removed it.

thanks for responding, it was sent to me by "elevatedone"...and i wrote to him back on the 15th, and have not had a response as of yet.

Originally posted by Corum
... but is there anywhere on the site I can see site statistitics in regards to its users? ...

Here ya go.

abovetopsecret stats

Originally posted by Stormdancer777
...
I was just wondering, how long are my two warnings valid, is there a time period, like time off for good behavior?
...

A warning remains on a member's account for 72 hours

ATS Handbook