The ATS Issues Thread

reply to post by schrodingers dog


They just don't want to sell us short.



Mods: Hows about a full list? It would really help.

reply to post by pause4thought


This thread should help.

A lot of reading but I think it has everything you might need to know

reply to post by budski


Awesome link.

I think it has everything you might need to know.

I didn't see the exact date of the collapse of the dollar.

Looks to be some site wide cleanup of large threads going on. FCP, DATS (perhaps others that I have missed). I'm not truly bothered, as I ceased discussions in these threads for the most part.

however I think I need a little clarification,

This thread has been determined to not meet ATS/BTS domain minimum standards. ATS/BTS is not a role playing venue. I would invite those who enjoy that aspect of the internet to register at an appropriate site that caters to role playing.

The Owners...

The General Chit Chat forum from what I understand is to be used for off topic discussions. Perhaps I am missing the distinction between general off topic discussion and BTS domain minimum standards.

DATS from what I saw largely adhered to the Terms and Conditions, as well as it was in the appropriate forum for its nature. It was a rather large thread, with 21737 replies including Springer's last post closing the thread. While I admit much of what was in DATS was useless banter, with no real legitimate direction, I saw no real harm of it.

Perhaps I am mistaken. Wouldn't be the first time that information vital to coming to the correct conclusion has eluded me thereby leaving me with a flawed understanding of a problem.

The closing of the FCP thread I believe I understood, as it was exclusive & not part of the original intention of the forum it was housed within. It left members out as only fighters were allowed to join in the discussion and for the most part it seems that even though the fighters in the thread were adhering to the threads scope, it was cumbersome and for the most part off topic.

The DATS thread closing does have me stumped as to a reason. I am sure it is valid but I am simply not understanding the issue.

Is there to be a board wide shut down of pub type topics? To what point and purpose? Are pub type topics causing a problem within ATS as a whole?

reply to post by whatukno


The phrasing of that scared me, too. I've really been enjoying following the "Space Opera" role-playing thread in the Writer's forum. I'm glad I can leave it to the staff/admins to deal with nit-picking of phrasing for policy and application, but there's probably others who would appreciate more clarification.

reply to post by Ian McLean


Clarification would be nice on the closure of the DATS thread.

Also, if another chat thread is created that is all inclusive with everyone being themselves, is that going to cause problems in the future?

[edit on 4/9/2009 by skeptic1]

Yes clarification would be nice other than asking us to find another site.

CLARIFICATION:

ATS/BTS is not for "alternate reality/role playing" style chit-chat...

ATS/BTS is for serious/relaxed discussion not role playing or fantasy exploration.

ATS/BTS does not tolerate "cliques" or "forum gangs", especially when the same group consistently turns up in drama after drama combined with several member complaints.

I am not going to go into details or names. This horse is dead now, let's move on and not beat on him (or me) any more.

Hope that cleared it up a little.

Springer...

I have to admit... I had anticipated the closing of the DATS thread for some time... Minor situations that had presented themselves, as well as minor occurance, had led me to believe perhaps the DATS thread was under the microscope. But how a 20,000 post thread only now gets determined as "to not meet ATS/BTS domain minimum standards" - has left me a little on the confused side of things. Why now? Was it the direction of the thread? The Alochol in the thread? The "regulars" posting in the thread? What did we do wrong?

Last night, when the Fight Club Pub was closed down - I bit my tongue and watched the others bring forth the arguments and questions that I myself had been asking. I watched the answers given - and thought "okay perhaps this is justifiable." I see the point of view that the FCP was far too chit chatty, with less "debate talk"... OKay, I've squared with the idea of not having a Fighter Only Pub. OKay I can accept that having a Fighter Only Pub can be seen as elitist. OKay I can accept these explanations given by Staff - ultimately it is your website. I have always said "If you don't like the rules get out of the sandbox." Fine. I can accept these new conditions as you have put forth. I can play by the rules, but please, provide me with an explanation so that I can better understand where you are coming from.

Will someone riddle me this: If the first approach to dealing with the FCP was to move it to BTS (as stated by intrepid the first time this FCP stuff started to evolve) - then, why, praytell has the DATS thread (which could arguably be considered similar to the FCP thread) been closed? If it was in the right forum to begin with?

I've been throwing that question back at myself all morning, trying to come up with some rationale behind the closing of the DATS thread. Had the DATS thread received a warning at some point that I obviously missed - as I don't recall reading a warning... or ever receiving one... ?I'm being compeltely honest when I say, that I have read every page of the DATS thread - why? To keep on top of the posts, and make sure that nobody would post something that would earn the thread a "Close".

Granted DATS is not my thread, and my title in DATS is fictionary. I concede that it is possible I missed something in my back-reading of the DATS thread - it happens. I'm only human. But I assure you, that if there had of been a warning in that thread - it would have caught my attention and something would have been done to recitfy the situation. So, am I blind? Or was DATS not given a warning?

I do even, recall, some of the Moderators participating in the thread. So, just how long, has this "idea" of closing the DATS thread been in the works, and why, only now, after 20,000 posts are we hearing of it?

Why now?


- Carrot

I see that I took to long to formulate my concerns regarding the closing of the DATS thread...

Originally posted by Springer
ATS/BTS is not for "alternate reality/role playing" style chit-chat...

Granted, there was role playing in the DATS thread, perhaps it could have moved to the Games Forum instead?

ATS/BTS does not tolerate "cliques" or "forum gangs", especially when the same group consistently turns up in drama after drama combined with several member complaints.

This is the first I am hearing of DATS posters being labled as a "Forum Gang" or "clique" and as for complaints - perhaps sending a u2u to those tied to these complaints, might have been a nice headsup.


- Carrot

reply to post by Springer

Originally posted by Springer
CLARIFICATION:

ATS/BTS is not for "alternate reality/role playing" style chit-chat...

ATS I understand that clarification completely, BTS, not so much.

ATS/BTS is for serious/relaxed discussion not role playing or fantasy exploration.

Perhaps DATS should have been moved to the Fantasy & Science Fiction forum?

ATS/BTS does not tolerate "cliques" or "forum gangs", especially when the same group consistently turns up in drama after drama combined with several member complaints.

I think I am coming to an understanding here, I definitely understand the need to dissolve Forum Gangs and Cliques as soon as possible, I also understand the reasoning behind addressing member complaints. If there was an issue with people within DATS ganging up on other members that would be a completely valid reason to disperse the gang, and shut down the thread.

I am not going to go into details or names. This horse is dead now, let's move on and not beat on him (or me) any more.

I certainly hope you don't feel I was beating up on you. It was not my intent at all. Nor was it my intent to accuse any staff member or owner of unfair practices. As for the horse, I believe the way to resolve a problem is to dissect that problem to it's component atoms. (I thought I saw it twitch)

Hope that cleared it up a little.

Sort of, kinda, a little.

More Clarity (different topic)...

The Creative Writing Forum is a GEM of ATS and the work done through the collaboration of the Writers is, and always will be, CHERISHED by the ownership.

Springer...

Seems a bit patronizing, since most dats posters were also writers. And honestly the ones that I post with on the writers forum are the same as in dats.

Not being cliquey just "we" seem to have like interests.

reply to post by whatukno


the only place it seems to fit is the chat room.

reply to post by Crakeur



So, no more chat threads in BTS at all?

Despite all the discusion that went on behind the scenes it is just interesting it took 1000+ pages to decide the title of the thread and the content was not appropriate for the site.

A suggestion in the thread would have been helpful in changing its direction before this action was taken.

reply to post by skeptic1


no more role playing threads.

reply to post by Crakeur


My understanding is Skeptic was asking for a chit chat thread not a role playing thread.

Originally posted by Crakeur
reply to post by skeptic1

 

no more role playing threads.

Understood.

But, a laid back thread for chatting, getting to know each other better, etc., is fine, right? As long as we are ourselves and all-inclusive?