Is ATS a Masonic Website?

Note to mods.

I posted this in the General Conspiracy for two reasons.

1. Masons themselves say they are not a secret society.

2. I believe Masons are at the core of the General Conspiracy.

So, I've noticed, after a few years of observation of Masons on this website, (there are a bunch) and other conspiracy forums, and knowing a couple in real life and they are the same way.

Is it entrenched into Masonic teachings to never question authority?


For example. OzWeatherman is a Mason. And the biggest anti-chemtrail skeptic on this site. Chemtrails are a huge conspiracy.

LowLevelMason has "skeptic of the realms" in his avatar. Most of these guys lurk in the secret societies forum, waiting to pounce on anyone who dares to write an anti-masonic thread.

A great example is the thread started yesterday by ATS member WatchNLearn
www.abovetopsecret.com...&addstar=1&on=5647332#pid5647332

I thought it was lighthearted, yet powerful. The Masons are furious, gangposting and name calling. It's really quite revealing.

I could go on and on.

It seems to me that every good conspiracy theory has some group with secrets at the core. The Masons are a group with secrets, so naturally they will be involved in some of those theories. Why do they lurk here if they don't believe in Conspiracy Theories?

And better yet, why does ATS show favortism to them.

Is ATS a Masonic website??

[edit on 17-1-2009 by doctordoom]

You're simply experiencing one small aspect of the larger paradox that is ATS.

Originally posted by doctordoom
Why do they lurk here if they don't believe in Conspiracy Theories?
And better yet, why does ATS show favortism to them.

Firstly, throughout our history we have encouraged all parties to become active participants in the discussions on ATS. No truth is every discovered from a one-sided viewpoint. Any valid conspiracy theory must stand the test of skeptical debunkery.

Second, we show no "favoritism" to any viewpoint. We want to encourage all angles of a given topic, within the simple civil boundaries of the terms & conditions.


As a result of these two simple core operational strategies... we often get a great deal of criticism from those who don't understand the simple notion of an open format...

-- because they tolerate 9/11 debunkers, they must be COINTELPRO

-- because they tolerate 9/11 truthers, they must be nut cases

-- because they tolerate Zionists, they must be against Palestine

-- because they tolerate Palestinians, they must be anti-semetic

-- because they tolerate anti-government rhetoric, they must favor terrorists

-- because they tolerate atheists, they must hate religion

-- because they tolerate fundamentalist christians, they must hate athiests

-- because they tolerate Masons, they must be masonic

-- because they tolerate anti-masons, they must hate masons

-- etc, etc, etc...


Now... the above not withstanding, we most certainly have had issues with Masonic members ganging up against those critical of Masonry in some threads in the past. On the two occasions when this has happened, we've clamped down hard and banned several members. Such activity is anti-social and contrary to our terms and conditions. If you believe something like this his happening, within any topic, please alert our staff. This is a big site, and even with a large staff, there's no way we can be aware of everything that's going on.


[edit on 17-1-2009 by SkepticOverlord]

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord



Now... the above not withstanding, we most certainly have had issues with Masonic members ganging up against those critical of Masonry in some threads in the past. On the two occasions when this has happened, we've clamped down hard and banned several members.


[edit on 17-1-2009 by SkepticOverlord]

Yes, and you've banned just as many if not more "anti-masons"

But your efforts are recognized. So can we assume that you are not a Mason?

I know MirthfulMe is a Mason, and GAOTU and other mods are masons.

If so, it would be like going to anti-cop forum run by cops.

i would suggest that as masons are part of a conspiracy, i.e. a secret society, then they are more likely to accept that others are also involved in some form of conspiracy and thus might come here for info.

The stone masons were a secret group because they knew the secrets of religion, they built the churches and thus had very close dealing with the clergy -in responce to the religious power base they worked with they formed a strong group of their own to be able to deal with the church. Then later they let bankers and people in and it turned into a secret power base and then either faded away into a pointless game or they took over the world -whatever you believe.

it could be said that before they were a conspiracy they were an anti-conspiracy group, thus people who identify with the masonic teachings are again more likely than others to visit a conspiracy site.

So no i don't think this site is a mason conspiracy, it think it's as likely to attract cointelpro, masons and illuminati (also originally the 'illuminated' people who saw through the religious conspiracy which was controlling the world at the time) because of their interest in secret societys as it is likely to attract crazy rednecks who are sure they've worked out the lizard kings great plan.

That said of course if there #is# a mason conspiracy in the world then they're going to attack any site that trying to offer open and honest debate about their aims and objectives.

Originally posted by doctordoom
So can we assume that you are not a Mason?

I am not... though I have known a few personally.

I generally tend to believe that most Masons get involved with the organization for generally good intentions.

I also believe that a few high profile masons throughout history have been involved in deeds that range from pure-evil to highly questionable. Whether or not that is the result of "Masonic teachings" is one of the reasons our "Secret Societies" forum exists.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord

Originally posted by doctordoom
So can we assume that you are not a Mason?

I am not... though I have known a few personally.

I generally tend to believe that most Masons get involved with the organization for generally good intentions.

I also believe that a few high profile masons throughout history have been involved in deeds that range from pure-evil to highly questionable. Whether or not that is the result of "Masonic teachings" is one of the reasons our "Secret Societies" forum exists.

Thanks for your interesting response. I am very glad you are not a Mason.
And I'm happy to see that you are aware for a potential conspiracy of grand perportions perpetuated by the Freemasons.

Do you realize that some of your confessed Freemason moderators moderate in the "Secret Societies" forum? Don't you think there is a conflict of interest, and a potential for corruptive control?

Although i have only recently adopted the ATS site as a member, i have always had a conspiracy theorist vantage on many things in life. This does not make one crazy, but simply skeptic. I have found that there always seems to be 3 sides to every story, yours, mine, and the truth.

I believe in taking all evidence at face value, adding it all up, and determining a resonable solution to the equation that i like to call my oppinion.

As far as ATS being a masonic site, i think it lies with there are obviously (some maybe only self proclaimed) masons that use this site, and there are non-masons that use this site. I would think that a more accurate description would be non-discriminatory. Or rather this site does not make decisions based on your affiliation with the masonic temple... sounds fair?

This was well pointed out by the site owner above.

The ONLY possible complaint that i could make about the site would be when the line is drawn between the rediculous and believable. For instance. As of reading it appears that it is impossible to be a werewolf... it is impossible to be a time traveller, but astral projection, NWO, area 51, and UFOs are in?

I was happy to find a site where any topic could be discussed from 9/11 to UFOs to time travel and spiritual experiences without ridicule and with open minded vantages. Unfortunately some members and some moderators have shown that this is not always the case...

ATS a masonic site? i dont think so... ATS a free forum to discuss anything? not so much on that either, to my dissapointment...

-A

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


i dont want to take the time to log in right now as i have to rush to work but i like what you just put into words, that was freakin sexy

Originally posted by doctordoom
I know MirthfulMe is a Mason

That would explain why MirthfulMe is such a you know what.

Seriously, I've never seen anything positive towards any conspiracy come out of these Mason's mouths.

I have Masons in my family, can't stand them, they are complete a-holes, they act like they are above everyone else.
My dad was invited to join the masons, he couldn't join them though because he's was a pastor at the time and the Assemblies of God do not allow there pastors to be members of a secret society and pastor at the same time, at the church my dad goes to, the pastor there is a former 33rd degree Mason and he says that the Masons are a bunch or Occultists and that they probably don't even really understand what they're doing in there little ceremonies has it's roots in satanic worship. Why would a former Mason tell me these things? He left btw, not kicked out or anything, he left because he realized that what he was apart of had it's roots in ancient evil.

So that's what I know about the Masons, just what I've been told by them.

-Lahara

reply to post by doctordoom

Do you realize that some of your confessed Freemason moderators moderate in the "Secret Societies" forum? Don't you think there is a conflict of interest, and a potential for corruptive control?

I know this question was not directed at me, but I'd like to give my opinion.

It makes perfect sense to me that we have a mason or two moderating a forum on secret societies. It would be disturbing if we had ONLY masons moderating the forum, but we don't, do we? You'll notice we have moderators across the spectrum, from die-hard skeptic to true-believer. How else could we keep up with such a diverse membership if we, ourselves, were not diverse?

As Skeptic said, no investigator arrives at conclusions based on one viewpoint or perspective, it takes multiple angles to see any situation clearly.

I think an important question that needs to be asked is why you DON'T want masons on the staff of a board that discusses their involvement in every conspiracy imaginable, at one point or another. Those who are closest to the issue have no place in the discussion? Why?

ATS members who are masons give us a hard time for allowing what they see as defamation, and ATS members who are anti-mason give us a hard time for what they see as aiding and abetting the enemy.

As long as we're straddling the fence, we're doing our job. Do you see? The whole idea of this place is to facilitate discussion, and we can't do that by taking sides.

I don't think ATS is a masonic forum.

But what you said about some member- well it makes a lot of sense to me, because you know, I'm always guided by intuition (which nevers fails! and well... the ignore button is a blessing in here.

And I know pretty well some masons in real life- and I'll be perfectly honest, I can't stand them. Oops.
Call me an "anti-mason", I really don't care

[edit on 17/1/09 by plutoxgirl]

I think ATS is great, particularly when compared to other sites that mine the vast conspiracy mindedness out there.

The moderators do a decent job trying to minimize abusive behaviour that is becoming so common with open online forums.

A lot of misinformed, misdirected, ignorance and hatred out there. It seems as if every paranoid schizophrenic with a computer is typing away madly in search of a receptive audience.

I worry about young or older but still impressionable minds that can easily find support of a lot of nasty disinformation campaigns circulating. If you believe the Holocaust didn't happen, or that Evolution is a disproven theory, for example, you can find lots of back up around here.

Censorship may be bad, but the willful dissemination of lies is not a good counterbalalnce.

If I ran a site like this I don't know where I'd draw the line.


Mike F

Originally posted by doctordoom
Yes, and you've banned just as many if not more "anti-masons"

Just because you hate Masons, and you've been banned here 3 times that I know of, it doesn't necessarily follow that you are being banned by Masonic mods, nor are you necessarily being banned for your anti-Masonic opinions.

It could just be that your method of argument is more heated than others. I wouldn't be all that surprised if LowLevelMason or RockPuck got banned for being too hostile when expressing their opinions. LightInDarkness was banned twice for reacting too strongly to some posts.

Maybe it's not what you're saying that's getting you in hot water, but how you're saying it?

*shrug*

[edit on 1/17/2009 by JoshNorton]

reply to post by doctordoom


And any other militant anti-masons...


Why all the mason rubbish all of a sudden?
Who cares?

If you don't know any masons... why not go and meet some?
They are not all shapeshifting, child-eating reptilian lizard people you know?
You can get involved with charity work, or community related work...

I just don't get the issue at all?

It's not like they are not accessible at all and nobody knows who or where they are... they have bloody websites!!!
I really think a lot of this boils down to jealousy... seriously... why else all the BS?

Somebody else linked this in another thread... you should watch it and see how silly you sound




[edit on 17/1/09 by blupblup]

From the bottom of the Secret Societies Forum:

This thread is in a forum moderated by: TheBorg, lombozo, WyrdeOne, benevolent tyrant, HarlemHottie, yeahright, Sauron, NGC2736, khunmoon, JacKatMtn, Spiderj, GAOTU789, kleverone, Hal9000

I know GOATU789 is a Mason, and Mirthful Me being a Super Mod (a job that comes with a neat lleotard, is my understanding) is able to moderate that forum as well.
I'm not a hundred percent sure if any of the other are or are not, but that's two out of x-number of mods that get their job based on performance.
Personally, I don't think it's any of my business personally. See a ruling by a mod and contest it. Generally, I've found the handling of most threads to be mostly fair.

1. Masons themselves say they are not a secret society.

2. I believe Masons are at the core of the General Conspiracy.

I believe that beliefs are something to be challenged.


[edit on 17-1-2009 by RuneSpider]

Since you named me specifically I think I'll respond to your claims, at least in regards to me.

Yes I am a mason. That is obvious.I am also a father, a chef, a soccer coach, a volunteer at several different organizations, active politically amongst other things. What exactly me being a mason has to do with my ability to moderate the SS forum, or any other for that matter, I am not sure. The only thing I use to moderate any forum is the Terms & Conditions, the same thing that all of the staff use. You may chose to believe what ever you want, that is your right but if you think that my being a mason gives me carte blanche to do what I feel like in the SS forum, you're mistaken. I'd not be a staff member for long and I would probably end up banned for abusing the powers given to me as a mod. I've applied penalties against both masons and anti masons in the forum. I don't care what your bent is, if you break the rules, you get punished.

As far as this goes...

Is it entrenched into Masonic teachings to never question authority?

You obviously haven't a clue about me or any of my posts here at ATS. I question authority regularly. Yes I am a skeptic on many things but also believe that we are lied to and deceived daily also by the PTB. I question politicians all the time, through many different means. I question a great deal and don't except "because I said so" as an answer or trust every decision made on my behalf because some one whom is in government says it is good for me. I actively work against these things that are not good for us in RL. My affiliation as a mason has nothing to do with my ability to stand up for what I believe is right.

I am sure there have been and are evil people that have been masons but because a small few may do things that are unjust and wrong doesn't mean I'll paint the entire group with the same brush. If a doctor causes a death because of something he did, it doesn't mean I accuse all doctors of negligence. Because a teacher screws up and hits a kid, I don't call all teachers child abusers. Because a priest sexually assaults a child, I don't call all priests paedophiles. Is this making sense to you?

Also, let's put this into perspective. Out of 60 plus staff members, there are 4 masons. I don't think that makes ATS a masonic website. Also, out of the several thousand active members, there may be about a 100 or so who are mason's. Some are more militant about defending the craft. Other's like me, just let it be. Everyone is entitled to there opinions, right or wrong. It isn't my job to change your mind, just enforce the Terms and Conditions of the site.

Oh, Parakeet. You are not starting off very well. You should take a kind of back seat approach to your regular ways. Leave the parakletos speach for months down the road. Just throw in an occasional "your going to hell because you are a mason" from time to time, and you should be fine. (PS, denver still sucks)

reply to post by doctordoom


I don't think it's masonic...
from what I've seen, if it WERE masonic, they would pretty much ban a lot more anti masonic people on here, and delete a bunch of threads on here that were anti masonic. They just want to defend themselves, and they seem more defensive than religions on here, and I know their not a religion, there does tend to be more NWO conspiracy junk directed at the masons than most other groups, which is probably the main reason there on here to debunk the myths.

I'm not a mason btw.

Freemason, CIA and DoD have teamed up to make sure that potential whistleblowers and bloggers who stumble on info is managed in a neat little
package called ATS.

ATS is set up in a tiny little town called Cherokee, Oklahoma.
whois.domaintools.com...

AC- 123 DoD Civilian Personnel Management Service (AW)
Arlington, Virginia 22209-5144 Issue Date: 28 December 2006
Wage Schedule # 023
SUBJECT: NAF Wage Schedules for the Comanche, Oklahoma (RUS) Wage Area


TO: Commanding Officers of Military Departments and DoD Component Installations in the Area


The Crafts and Trades schedules shown below have been established under authority of DoD Directive
5120.42 "Department of Defense Wage Fixing Authority

www.cpms.osd.mil...

Curious, for such a tiny little town there is a DoD directive for Wage Fixing.

And of course, there is a Masonic lodge in the town too.

www.ibegin.com...

And you'll say, well, every town has a Masonic lodge. And I will say, that is why it is so important we know what these fr..people are up to.



Wonder if Washington was gay. He sure looks like it in this picture.



[edit on 18-1-2009 by doctordoom]

Also, let's put this into perspective. Out of 60 plus staff members, there are 4 masons. I don't think that makes ATS a masonic website.

Statistically speaking that is an utterly staggering percentage. I'm not going to bother to make an analogy here, I'll just use numbers. Take 60 random people, chances are that 0 of them will be masons. Yes I know mods are not picked at random.

Though I don't believe this is a masonic website, I find it curious that 4 masons have found themselves mods.