Does ATS Influence Your Emotions?

What makes you feel good about yourself? Do you think humans have a NEED to get positive feedback from others about what we have done? How about negative feedback? Do you think people just crave the attention that this system can provide for them?

For example, let's say you write a thread on ATS. Does it make you feel good when somebody gives you a flag and star?

When someone only writes a response to agree with your thread, how does it make you feel?
When someone only writes a response to disagree with your thread, how does it make you feel?

It seems really easy to get caught up in lusting after stars and flags. Everybody (or most everybody) likes them.

I don't know if this question is going to come out right. Do a lot people on ATS NEED encouragement and positive feedback from other people to make them happy? It seems like lots and lots of people spend a long time on here and that it must make them happy, or they woudn't do it.

And, I know this is a lot of questions, But I'm really trying to understand things better....

When YOU visit ATS and get involved in threads, do you do it to make yourself feel better, learn something, or to help someone else out? Do you do it to try and learn something new, or to try and share what YOU have learned with us?

If you have a freind on ATS (Im looking for some more!) and you read their thread, do you star and flag it just becasue you are friends?


Thanks in advance for your insight.

reply to post by notsosweet


ATS doesn't influence me at all. I get into heated debates, but to me they are just words on a screen. After I have stated my opinion and have a few back and forths with someone I sometimes tell that person that they are right and move on, other times I will simply put them on the ignore list.

Stars and Flags don't mean anything at all to me. Honestly I don't even know I could use them for anything until a few months ago. I used a few to join RATS and afterwards couldn't understand why ATS makes you use stars to pay for something that worthless.

I spend a good bit of time here at night because I am bored and it is something to do. I suffer from a sleeping disorder and can't sleep more then 4 hours a night. After 3 there isn't anything on but paid programming.

If someone agrees with me then they agree with me, if not then they don't. They are just words on a screen.

I mean no disrespect, but I don't have any friends on ATS. A few may consider me an ally because we have similar beliefs, but I don't consider anyone here to be my friend. Unless you have come to my house and met my wife then you aren't my friend.

At the end of the night, I will turn my computer off and not think about this site until the next night when I can't sleep and log back in.

I completely agree.
But I won't star or flag to see if you get mad

I like ats, it makes me happy

It's fun to be in a place where thinkers come together, and discuss the absurd

If I get a star AND A FLAG! Oh boy, lol.

No, if you read my threads, I think most of them don't have a single flag nor star, and quite a few are filled with hate.

If I based my emotions on ats, i'd be one depressed dude!

When YOU visit ATS and get involved in threads, do you do it to make yourself feel better, learn something, or to help someone else out? Do you do it to try and learn something new, or to try and share what YOU have learned with us?

All but doing it to make myself feel bettter... Although learning and the rest makes me feel better , unless it's calculus!

the main reason I come here is to learn something, help someone out once in a while by offering more information, or to get in a debate. Doing so actually makes me happy

For example, I get one point of view from the mass media or from uni, but I come here to see the other point of view (or points of view), debate those points of view, and separate the truth from the BS.

Sometimes separating truth from lies is impossible, especially in subjects like religion. however, even those subjects are worth discussing to learn more about other points of view and why people believe what they believe.

In addition, I don't think most of the community of ATS comes here to feel better about themselves; I believe people come here to discuss issues they believe are relevant, or to come up with some sort of conspiracy theory and see if there is some truth in it. Of course, feeling "good about yourself" is a byproduct of being successful in your threads and succeeding in using some sort of logic in one's post.

The start and flags, at least in my view, exist to tell others you agree with their point of view or at least find it interesting, but I don't think it would be wise to feel better just for gathering several starts and flags. one should "feel better" if they believe they have contributed positively to a thread, or if they believe the information they show us is relevant. the stars and flags are only just a bonus.

No.

More simply put, no.

Why?

Because it's all words for the most part.

Originally posted by Revolution-2012
No.

More simply put, no.

Why?

Because it's all words for the most part.

its like getting upset over a letter which was sent to you from someone you dont know.

however i do feel for members and their problems, and if i feel i can help i do. But thats it.

Yes, yes, yes, lol. Anyone who says it doesn't is either unemotional, not paying attention, or something.

Look, I am posting this right now, and as my words fluctuate, my thoughts fluctuate, and so my emotions therefore fluctuate, if only slightly. But I can FEEL it right now.

There is a continuous chemical stream here if nothing else: awareness --> thoughts --> emotions. Or, if you aren't particularly aware, the other way around, lol: emotions --> thoughts --> fixation.

Don't even get me started about heated debates, expressions of disgust, all number of things I see here on every single thread! To deny emotional attachment is denial!

It's just a matter of who has the reigns I guess. I have my reigns. Just give me a poke when I forget it!

[edit on 22-9-2009 by bsbray11]

Star & Flag for you just to make you feel better..

I don't personally get carried away with emotions on ATS (or anywhere online). But every now and then, I'll run across a member's post that touches deep with me -- and may be fertile grounds to experience all kinds of emotions in that moment -- I just don't let it affect my day-to-day life in any dramatic way..

Its only natural to FEEL what one is doing (and our brains can't tell if its here or there).. to NOT feel anything would be a waste..

I dare say that ATS wouldn't have many members if not for the great emotions that these topics seem to stir within us all!

We come for the thrills..

- Mea


[edit on 22-9-2009 by Veritas Lux Mea]

What you think influences you emotions. ATS cant do a damn thing to your emotions.

Yep, my thoughts make me emotional about some of the content here.

reply to post by notsosweet


I guess it depends on the kind of thread I'm involved in.
It makes me feel good to meet and discuss with people who think alike, it's nice to have someone agree on my views, but I don't feel bad because someone might disagree, that's each his own opinion.

When I start a thread on a topic that is important to me and that I really want to discuss....then no one responds on it, then yes I feel a bit bad

but overall, the response is more important then the stars and flags because it's the response that makes me think further and explore different takes on the subject.
I come to ATS because this site and the people on it force me to think in different directions, something I don't often find in my daily life

[edit on 22/9/2009 by GypsK]

When I first joined the stars and flags were good because I wanted to join RATS; but now I don't care.

I am generally a very unemotional person. Occasionally a some posts will make me a bit agitated; but once I have walked away from the screen, it's forgotten.

Even this thread

The world I live in

didn't stir any emotions, though I do think it's an excellent thread.

I love ATS! Its a great site but it doesnt influence my mood at all (well one thread freaked me out the other day but Im fine now )If someone disagrees with me its not the end of the world, its their opinion and thats what I like about ATS everyone has their own view. I dont really care about stars and flags but when I get them its nice. I only recently did a thread where I actually got flags and it was nice that people enjoyed it I am sure some on here arent happy unless they get those stars and flags. I personally dont care. They are nice but not needed. I just enjoy the discussions on here with members.

reply to post by lightchild


Oh yeah Zazz's thread made me teary, that is an awesome thread!

Some threads on here have irritated me but if I were standing face to face discussing the topic it would still irritate me It happens but again everyone is entitled to their opinion and take on things going on.

Thanks to all who contributed in this topic. There are lots of good threads on here. I come here to try and broaden my knowledge of things that i'm not always aware of.

It used to bother me when I would reply to a thread and then it was like i killed it or something when nobody would reply after my reply, but I realize that maybe people were just done talking about it.

So basically what I am hearing from you guys is that it is just something fun to do as it gives you some sense that you are contributing in a way that makes you happy or feel good about yourselves?

Wow...I'm the complete opposite end of the spectrum here.
ATS DOES influence my emotions.
To me, the posts are not just words, and the avatars not just pictures...
Iam talking to PEOPLE.
Maybe I can't see you, but I know you are there.
I may not agree with what you post, but I'll post exactly what I'd say to your face.
I have friends here, who have become family...when they laugh, I do to.
When they are sad, it makes me sad.
When they need help I'm there, and vice versa.
I love and hate many things about ATS...
just like reality it has a bit of both.

Originally posted by notsosweet
What makes you feel good about yourself?

Too many answers to list, but I will concentrate on my ATS participation, because that is the topic of the thread, even though it's a minor factor in my "feeling good" throughout the day.

My participation on ATS usually feels good simply because I'm getting my views out there. But sometimes, when I unexpectedly get a large number of stars of flags, then, yes, it feels good. It feels good to know that I did a good job organizing my thoughts and wrote a good post that a lot of people understood and/or agreed with. It doesn't make my day, but I might think about it a couple of times and smile.

Do you think humans have a NEED to get positive feedback from others about what we have done? How about negative feedback? Do you think people just crave the attention that this system can provide for them?

In general, absolutely, people need positive feedback. Not necessarily here, but in life. Here, Some do, some don't. I think we all look at ATS with a slightly different perspective. (duh!) Negative feedback? I'm not usually striving for that, but I'm sure there are some who are. Craving? Well, I know that ATS can become "addictive" so, I guess that could be considered a craving.

When someone only writes a response to agree with your thread, how does it make you feel?
When someone only writes a response to disagree with your thread, how does it make you feel?

I don't like it when someone just agrees, but that happens rarely. Usually people have their own thoughts to add and I appreciate that. I appreciate when someone disagrees with me, too, but I usually look for what I consider a flaw in their argument. I love debate. That's why I'm here.

I don't know if this question is going to come out right. Do a lot people on ATS NEED encouragement and positive feedback from other people to make them happy?

I do this for entertainment. It doesn't "make me happy", but it's fun and educational. Sometimes I get caught up in a good debate and spend the whole day here off and on. Other days, I barely come on at all.

When YOU visit ATS and get involved in threads, do you do it to make yourself feel better, learn something, or to help someone else out? Do you do it to try and learn something new, or to try and share what YOU have learned with us?

All of the above. I do it for the same reason I watch TV. Because it's fun, entertaining, educational and *bonus* it's an expression of myself.

I have to be careful, though. When I stop enjoying myself or find that I'm being confrontational or pissy in my real life, I have to take a step back and wonder if I'm getting "too involved" in disagreements on ATS. In the past, I've had to take long breaks to "detox" and then approach ATS with a renewed attitude and a commitment to NOT get so emotionally involved in what people think. I've been able to keep a really good balance for a while now. I think I've got the hang of it.

If you have a freind on ATS (Im looking for some more!) and you read their thread, do you star and flag it just becasue you are friends?

For the most part, no. I only star and flag posts and threads that affect me in some way. It can be a really well-written post that I disagree with, but if they present something that makes me think, that's a sure way to get a star or flag. I said "for the most part" because I do star my husband's posts all the time. But of course, they're really good!

Like a few others have said, it depends on the topic of discussion.

I get emotional when I get involved with threads that talk about a need for punishing children by hitting them, or threads that talk about drug usage, because both of those situations have affected me in life.

As for stars and flags, they don't mean much, in my opinion. Some people get stars and flags for simple one liners, while others who have put a lot of thought and words into a reply, or a thread get nothing.

The issuing of stars and flags on ATS, seems nothing more than a popularity contest on ATS at times, so I could care less about them.

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic


Thanks for that BH, I really did find your thoughts on this as an eye opener for me. I read my husband's as well because his stuff is awesome. (i flag it too...) lol

Thanks for replying...

Originally posted by mblahnikluver
I love ATS! Its a great site but it doesnt influence my mood at all

This kind of comment confuses me. There is no mood change to doing something you love?

I'll say this for ATS. It never fails to crack me so consistantly up. So much psychosis in one place. And it's free!