Has ATS become little more than a __ Wing propaganda machine?

Main Entry: top secret
Function: adjective
Date: 1944
1 : protected by a high degree of secrecy
2 a : containing or being information whose unauthorized disclosure could result in exceptionally grave danger to the nation — compare confidential, secret b : of or relating to top secret documents


I look daily on the ATS to see whats being promoted. although the actual boards are for the most part, on topic, the highlighted threads are almost always political. The problem isnt even that its political in nature, but its not even remotely a conspiracy or anything hidden...healthcare reform, stimulus pack, etc...general political commentary you can listen to for hours on end on one major network or another in the greatest of detail.

Why does it seem that a website that theoretically is devoted to exposing hidden agendas, concept that are unknown to most, and uncovering truth in a web of confusion is more bent on becoming just another poltiical non-conspiracy my side verses your side website.

I have to admit that the more I see these threads being promoted, the less I come on here. Yes, its important to moniter what the governments of the *world* does, but not to report your opinion about every comment Obama, Pelosi, Brown, etc..make that has little to do with something above top secret.

Sort it out...if your a low end political junky, there are thousands of website forums out there far more approprate to do your talking..if you have some evidence that a government is funding some secret program with tax dollars that could end up effecting us, then sure, post it here...else whats the point of this board?

dont force us to goto that other website that is focused in on actual conspiracys...unless of course the intent is to railroad people here into dismissing this website all together as just a political hack website...

promote things equally..and the politics forums are only one of many here!

Good post, added to which, left and right definitions are usually not a good indicator of what a person on here is preaching. Titles and labels only serve to divide us.

I'm not against political discussion per se, but the sheer number of angsty misinformed political free-for-alls on here daily is at best an annoyance. There should be a point to political discussions other than a futile escalade of anger that nobody benefits from.

Clearly, what is promoted as important new threads on ATS fall into the general category of cheap entertainment for the mass ATS mind. The claim is that it's the well formed substantive threads that get the top honors but, your quite right, what wins out is material Politically correct to ATS powers, whatever that is. Steering seems to be an important practice on ATS. Whether that's just human nature, a profit motive or deliberate, who knows.

The interesting thing to me is the complete lack of respect for another persons post is not moderated. I've seen the label pig, idiot, facist, sheep, and dumb all used today alone to describe someone. Wacko, crazy, lunatic...I had to jump in to defend the poor person being attacked only to be attacked myself. Without moderation there is a free for all. This is happening today especially. I like reading opinions, but it is a bit outrageous what is happening today.

If ATS were a beer

it would be known as

Conspiracy Lite

reply to post by ReelView

 

Steering seems to be an important practice on ATS. Whether that's just human nature, a profit motive or deliberate, who knows.

First of all that is incorrect ...

I get as frustrated at the constant volume of low brow, dogmatic back and forth, and lack of conspiracy oriented political threads as anyone else. Obviously, both sides have peeps here pimping agendas furthering and mirroring the division instigated across the American political spectrum at large. And "true believers" abound ...

But ...

The topics that make the front page or are as you say promoted/highlighted are done so by us members. This is done via number of responses and number of flags. If there is blame to be disbursed we must look at each other and ourselves. Other than enforcing the T&C, which is by its own nature neutral, I cannot see how one can justifiably point the finger at ATS admin. for this.

WE as members are doing it and only WE as members can change it.

[edit on 8 Aug 2009 by schrodingers dog]

Well, very good post first of all.

I primarily come to ATS for two reasons.

1. It's a vast library of knowledge and discussion on virtually any topic that's been discussed throughout the world in the last several years.

2. It's one of the only places on the web where intelligent, forthcoming people come together to deconstruct the political news and other news until a suitable truth is found within the web of lies.

It's an engaging environment. I'm actually quite happy that the boards focus on alot of politics simply because we do deconstruct it and attempt to figure out the truth.

And as much as some would disagree, there is a conspiracy related post or discussion in every thread. Were not simply here to have an outlet for the news. We are here to pursue truth.

Most of the problems in this world and the conspiracies we discuss, revolve or are imbedded in the daily politics of the world. Politics may have some of the biggest conspiracies of all time.

This is why the boards are so filled with such things. If we did not post political news stories and that sort of thing, how are we to even say that there is a conspiracy about anything?

~Keeper

Originally posted by SaturnFX
I look daily on the ATS to see whats being promoted. although the actual boards are for the most part, on topic, the highlighted threads are almost always political. The problem isnt even that its political in nature, but its not even remotely a conspiracy or anything hidden...healthcare reform, stimulus pack, etc...general political commentary you can listen to for hours on end on one major network or another in the greatest of detail.

Why does it seem that a website that theoretically is devoted to exposing hidden agendas, concept that are unknown to most, and uncovering truth in a web of confusion is more bent on becoming just another poltiical non-conspiracy my side verses your side website.

Maybe you don't know this since you're new, but politics and conspiracies used to be separated, they have abovepolitics.com for politics. I'm not blaming them for reuniting abovepolitics with ats, and I won't blame them if now they want to separate those two again.

add:
or add some sort of political filter, like that h1n1 inoculation filter.

[edit on Sat, 8 Aug 09 by Jazzyguy]

I agree.

It amazes and saddens me how many people are steadfast to sides, contrary for the sake of being contrary, push certain agendas and can be pretty closed- minded at times.

But it's incredible and frustrating to see so many vying viewpoints.

And most honest social interactions come with disagreements. At least, that's the way i see it.

There is an old saying that life is what you make it. Don't rip ATS because they are not following your agenda. People do not come on this site to criticize the avenue which gets their message across to the converted. They come on this site to express their honest opinion of what is going on in the world. Whoever is behind ATS is irrelevant. What is relevant is that people use their brain when they post.

Originally posted by ExPostFacto
The interesting thing to me is the complete lack of respect for another persons post is not moderated. I've seen the label pig, idiot, facist, sheep, and dumb all used today alone to describe someone. Wacko, crazy, lunatic...I had to jump in to defend the poor person being attacked only to be attacked myself. Without moderation there is a free for all. This is happening today especially. I like reading opinions, but it is a bit outrageous what is happening today.

On ATS there used to ba "mud pit" where the discussions got pretty gnarly.
But there was still a feeling of community and the agreement to disagree.

Now the feeling has just become mean and ugly.

God Help us!

reply to post by tothetenthpower


I would agree , i enjoy the political threads and discussion.There are plenty of conspiracy related threads on ATS look at the top threads now, how cydonia is a star map or Giants discovered in NZ and hidden from the public.I think Ats has the right balance.Ats content is driven by it's members the top threads are a reflection of members interests.

reply to post by schrodingers dog

make the front page or are as you say promoted/highlighted are done so by us members.

Yea, I made it to the front page with post by many members posting hateful remarks to me about how worthless my topic was,so,

See if you can Pull that one off?



[edit on 093131p://bSaturday2009 by Stormdancer777]

Well said S. Dog.

I think my first computer was Tandy I bought at Radio Shack.

So I've been a computer nerd for many years.

I have been a part of many sites and forums and for the life of me I can not understand why a person keeps visiting a site they do not like.

ATS is a well run site that I enjoy very much. If I didn't I would not be here every day.

Seems to me if a person is not enjoying the forums and complains about the site they should move along some where else or try to change it.

This is one of the best forum I've been a part of in many years.

You can't please everybody all of the time.

"Now the feeling has just become mean and ugly."

Well, what can i say, but welcome to the real world. Life is mean and ugly and I prefer a site which reflects that reality, instead of a site which gives me Alice In Wonderland. The one thing I don't like about ATS is this ban on talk about illegal drugs. Reminds me of the phony war on drugs.

reply to post by Stormdancer777


Wait ... I don't know what you're referring to storm?

All I was saying is that threads get on the top/hot/popular section of the home page by the number of flags or responses they get.

Originally posted by schrodingers dog
reply to post by Stormdancer777

 

Wait ... I don't know what you're referring to storm?

All I was saying is that threads get on the top/hot/popular section of the home page by the number of flags or responses they get.

I was just talking about how I made it to the front page one time even though it seemed like most people who posted on my topic didn't like it, isn't that one for the books?

Now that's not easy to do.

reply to post by Stormdancer777


Yeah it is.

I can prove it.

Create a thread right now that says:

God Doesn't Exist--With Proof.

And in an hour you'll be at the top of the boards. Mind you it won't be an intellectual conversation. It will be a hate match, but you'll still get there .

~Keeper

Originally posted by tothetenthpower
reply to post by Stormdancer777

 

Yeah it is.

I can prove it.

Create a thread right now that says:

God Doesn't Exist--With Proof.

And in an hour you'll be at the top of the boards. Mind you it won't be an intellectual conversation. It will be a hate match, but you'll still get there

.

~Keeper

No doubt

In my opinion, I think blaming ATS for its content is like blaming a spoon for a bad meal.

The problem isn't the utensil, it's the chefs.

Go make good food.


[edit on 8-8-2009 by loam]