The ATS Issues Thread

Originally posted by blowfishdl
reply to post by maria_stardust

 

There was a post in one of my threads saying that using proxy service to mask your IP address is not allowed. Is this true, and if so why?

Also, is ATS working for any government agencies to provide them with such information?

[edit on 11/26/08 by blowfishdl]

I never said it was NOT allowed. I said to make sure it is within T&C before you start telling people how to do it! I wasnt sure and I was TRYING to help you - as a precaution.



[edit on 11/26/2008 by greeneyedleo]

Originally posted by greeneyedleo

Originally posted by blowfishdl
reply to post by maria_stardust

 

There was a post in one of my threads saying that using proxy service to mask your IP address is not allowed. Is this true, and if so why?

Also, is ATS working for any government agencies to provide them with such information?

[edit on 11/26/08 by blowfishdl]

I never said it was NOT allowed. I said to make sure it is within T&C before you start telling people how to do it! I was TRYING to help you - as a precaution.

At ease soldier - I just wanted to hear it from the admins themselves . I appreciate very much your input greeneyed and would encourage this informative action in the future to possibly prevent me from getting knee deep.

reply to post by blowfishdl


Ok. Got it

Carry on.

Originally posted by Wig
Please stop sending us spam under the guise of "ATS admin" in our U2U inboxes.

I also refer you to this closed thread
www.abovetopsecret.com...'

Well that thread has been deleted now, which leads me to suspect that closing it and asking me to make my point in this HUGE thread where my complaint would very soon become buried, was just ATS' way of silencing the complaint so that not many more other users would see it and agree with me.

reply to post by Wig


If you don't like it, don't read it.

This is a private board and Admin can send us whatever U2Us they want to send us.

reply to post by Wig


Actually, complaints are made right here:

*The Official ATS Complaints and Suggestions Form*


[edit on 26-11-2008 by Skyfloating]

reply to post by Skyfloating


Is this just more of an attempt to scatter the conversation surrounding Proxies and individual identity protection on the ATS boards? I was guided here twice by ATS moderators regarding this topic specifically mind you.

No, it's people asking a question and not liking the answer they get, so they become disruptive and start making accusations about the site and other people involved.

Originally posted by blowfishdl
reply to post by Skyfloating

 

Is this just more of an attempt to scatter the conversation surrounding Proxies and individual identity protection on the ATS boards? I was guided here twice by ATS moderators regarding this topic specifically mind you.

1. I wasnt replying to you. As you can see in my post, I was replying to Wig.

2. Its a T&C Violation to post private U2Us

3. You have received answers on proxies right here, in this thread.

Originally posted by Wig
Well that thread has been deleted now, which leads me to suspect that closing it and asking me to make my point in this HUGE thread where my complaint would very soon become buried, was just ATS' way of silencing the complaint so that not many more other users would see it and agree with me.

It's not deleted, just locked. And I personally check on this thread several times a day, so nothing is buried (though some may claim concerns are not address, but indeed they are, it's just that sometimes the answers are not what they're looking for).


Overall, AboveTopSecret.com is an exceptionally advanced and sophisticated discussion board environment where any can join and use it for free, with an absolute minimal requirement, an e-mail account. This sophisticated environment has grown over years of investment in code and hardware to the point where members enjoy unique search optimization of their posts (what you post is seen on Google often within six hours of posting), a robust hosting environment capable of handling hundreds-of-thousands of daily visits, and professional management of the security and hardware to ensure it all stays up.

You, and all members, are able to freely post your ideas, theories, and thoughts with no restrictions other than the simple every-day decorum and manners defined by our Terms & Conditions. Additionally, you have access to free high-bandwidth upload space, free high-bandwidth podcast services, free private messaging service, free real-time chat, free personal profiles, and access to popular persons through ATS MIX. All of these free services are exceptionally expensive to run, especially our cluster of servers and the firm who we've contract to maintain them.

From time to time, there will be important messages of interest to most members, including items such as our new book that may help support the operation through sales. We anticipate that members, in exchange for the broad range of free services and exceptional infrastructure, will gladly tolerate one or two messages a week via the U2U system. If you're unable to tolerate such a limited amount of "official" or "informative" mass-messages in the U2U system, then it would seem you have a rather low irritation threshold.

Originally posted by blowfishdl
Is this just more of an attempt to scatter the conversation surrounding Proxies and individual identity protection on the ATS boards? I was guided here twice by ATS moderators regarding this topic specifically mind you.

Your concerns where addressed on the previous page, here. Was the answer somehow unsatisfactory?

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord

Originally posted by blowfishdl
Is this just more of an attempt to scatter the conversation surrounding Proxies and individual identity protection on the ATS boards? I was guided here twice by ATS moderators regarding this topic specifically mind you.

Your concerns where addressed on the previous page, here. Was the answer somehow unsatisfactory?

The answer was not unsatisfactory but the lack of freedom to discuss personal privacy on ATS is disturbing. The question wouldn't be raised if every forum thread surrounding discussion of ATS privacy remained open for discussion rather than moved to the Trash bin. Do you not see why that would raise concerns as well as questions?

Also, I would like to know the exact reason I was warned and my post removed. I did not violate TOS.

Originally posted by Wig ATS' way of silencing the complaint so that not many more other users would see it and agree with me.

No. Quite a few users read the ATS Issues thread regularly. In fact, probably more people keep up with the issues thread than bother to read through every new thread that pops up in BB&Q.

Furthermore, it's a single location for all of the busy staff and admin to look for questions, problems and concerns that they may need to deal with or respond to instead of looking in all the possible locations where people *might* put such topics.

I can understand you being paranoid - after all this is ATS - but they're NOT out to get you. Although, it is kinda starting to look like you might be out to get them. Hmm.

Originally posted by blowfishdl
The answer was not unsatisfactory but the lack of freedom to discuss personal privacy on ATS is disturbing.

I don't follow. There are no such restrictions. Where/how do you feel there are?

Also, I would like to know the exact reason I was warned and my post removed. I did not violate TOS.

Don't you think it's rather ironic that you seem concerned about privacy issues, but have no compunction over posting the private message of someone else? The public posting of private U2U's is a clear violation of the Terms & Conditions.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord

Originally posted by blowfishdl
The answer was not unsatisfactory but the lack of freedom to discuss personal privacy on ATS is disturbing.

I don't follow. There are no such restrictions. Where/how do you feel there are?

The impossibility of providing a thread to discuss such privacy concerns without an administrator throwing it in the Trash.

reply to post by skeptic1


A sensible person would see the the truth in what I wrote and recognise that I am in my own way helping the ATS admin realise that they are making a mistake, if they ever want to really send out a GENUINE Administration U2U to everyone.

Originally posted by blowfishdl
The impossibility of providing a thread to discuss such privacy concerns without an administrator throwing it in the Trash.

What are your privacy concerns?

We've made it clear that such issues should be contained within this (ATS Issues) thread. There are no restrictions for discussing the topic, simply a preference to keep such questions and answers organized.

Have you seen the Privacy Policy link on every page?


[edit on 26-11-2008 by SkepticOverlord]

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord

Originally posted by blowfishdl
The impossibility of providing a thread to discuss such privacy concerns without an administrator throwing it in the Trash.

What are your privacy concerns?

We've made it clear that such issues should be contained within this (ATS Issues) thread.

Have you seen the Privacy Policy link on every page?

Actually I found the real, and original privacy policy here.

In this it states:

The Way We Use Information:

We use the information you provide about yourself when you post messages on our discussion forum. We record IP addresses at the time of each posted messages.

It notes that it records IP addresses, and does not address the concern of sharing the IP address' of it's visitors.

Originally posted by blowfishdl
Actually I found the real, and original privacy policy here.

Clearly, that is the old policy which has been updated long ago. (I modified the post to contain a link to the official policy.)

It notes that it records IP addresses, and does not address the concern of sharing the IP address' of it's visitors.

1 - We don't record the IP addresses of visits, just posts.

2 - What part of this statement, "we never use or share the personally identifiable information provided to us," is unclear to you?