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Well I just figured out who two of the members in question (regarding being banned) were, all on my own.
I feel like I deserve a cookie or something.

It didn't help that everyone here held fast to "not naming any names". I was sitting here scratching my hear for a while, trying to figure out who was unaccounted for recently.

Well once I figured it out, it all made a little more sense why ATS has been lacking a little in new/fresh quality content, as of recently.
Guess I should try to create some of my own before I start complaining.

It's a shame that the Admin staff here at ATS & these particular content contributors could not resolve their issues through clear/open dialogue.

Originally posted by tothetenthpower
I am a little amused by this thread.

...

Thanks for discussion and the great website SO.

~Keeper

Ahh I started a post twice trying to relay the exact sentiment you just did.

I Agree, it appears to run the same course, people who should have read the T & C but obviously didn't come out having a go at the Admin about some evil censorship tyranny...

Seen it more than once over the years lurking..

reply to post by PrisonerOfSociety


The only subterfuge that happened was the spamming of links on our site and the abuse of our U2U system trying to recruit our membership and steal our traffic.

The lack of class and ethics is squarely on the shoulders of those who seek to pirate, rather than EARN traffic to their website through hard work, years of sticking with it, and honest and open collaboration.

I guess if we wanted to really enforce our TAC, and be total jerks, we could have our law firm send them a bill for the advertising they got. They agreed to pay the bill when they joined the site and agreed to the TAC.

But...

We included that clause in the TAC for "professional spam operators", not low level wannabe traffic pirates necessarily, so we have decided not to pursue this at the moment. It is certainly a remedy that is open to us should the underhanded cheating continue however.

Subterfuge in deed...

Springer...

it seems every few months a reason pops up to ban members.

as much as i would like to stay out of this i really cant.

this is getting ridiculous.

SO made a point. He want to help people with their sites as long as they agree with what is on that site.

i agree that they shouldn't do that. but in the end of the day this is a private site with people here who work there ass off only to be undermined. it would piss you off too.

anyway im not taking any sides i just see how both sides have a point.

[edit on 27-10-2009 by Doc Tesla]

reply to post by Springer


Just so you know, I was NOT recruited. I did what most people should be doing. I researched and found them all by myself. I have not and never will recruit so why the sudden harsh treatment of me and my posts which have NEVER been trouble in the past except when BH complained.

This thing doesn't have to be a matter of loyalty does it? I thought it was about proper use of your site.

Using the old I'll sue threat isn't very nice. Sheesh.

reply to post by Hazelnut


I wasn't directing that at you was I?

Springer...

If people are banned then they may need to ask themselves why. If people choose to leave ATS then LEAVE. But be adult about it. Many of us here don't care for the Elementary school yard level mentality of some former members who simply attempt recruitment of active members so they can have a bash ATS fest on other sites.

I've witness this first hand. It's quite childish actually. As been stated previously if they are as good of thread starters as they claim they will do just fine. This should lead others who have the ability to be good thread starters to step up to the plate and be more active and fill the void here at ATS.


Why the need to attack ATS?


[edit on 27-10-2009 by SLAYER69]

This thread = we're trying to monetize ATS, and any form of advertising needs to be paid advertising. Nothing more, nothing less, and having been silenced twice (docked 2,000 ATS points) I can agree with those who've said they've been censored. However, I've never been approached by anyone here to join a site, have read no such thing on the forums, and really couldn't care less. Some people may have legit complaints, and to pass those complaints off as "typical", without being objective only fuels the belief that this site caters to insanity, racists, biased individuals, nazi modders, etc.

reply to post by Hazelnut

Using the old I'll sue threat isn't very nice. Sheesh.

And the reason it was brought up is? Ad Piracy isn't very nice, sheesh!


I, myself, have not recognized who got banned. I, myself, have NO idea what the other sites are.
I am, delightfully objective in this thread.

Cuhail

reply to post by Springer


I wasn't directing my reply to you either. It was directed at the audience at large. Sorry for not clarifying that in the first place. Gotta mind my manners.

I guess you all missed my question.

How do you determine that someone is advertising their own blog or site, or merely providing a link to something of interest? Or are you talking about spamming and U2Us?

Sorry, I'm not up on the drama and would like some clarification.

Originally posted by Springer
reply to post by PrisonerOfSociety

 

The only subterfuge that happened was the spamming of links on our site and the abuse of our U2U system trying to recruit our membership and steal our traffic.

The lack of class and ethics is squarely on the shoulders of those who seek to pirate, rather than EARN traffic to their website through hard work, years of sticking with it, and honest and open collaboration.

I guess if we wanted to really enforce our TAC, and be total jerks, we could have our law firm send them a bill for the advertising they got. They agreed to pay the bill when they joined the site and agreed to the TAC.

But...

We included that clause in the TAC for "professional spam operators", not low level wannabe traffic pirates necessarily, so we have decided not to pursue this at the moment. It is certainly a remedy that is open to us should the underhanded cheating continue however.

Subterfuge in deed...

Springer...

Ahh yes and that is what it boils down to.

Not truth seeking not waking people up, $.

All hail the mighty $.....

abovetopsecret.com Estimated Worth $487318.8 USD Title AboveTopSecret.com: Conspiracy Theories, UFOs, Politics, and Many Other "Alternative Topics" Description Daily Pageview 221774 Daily Ads Revenue $667.56

Source

While I believe wholeheartedly in reaping the reward of labor, let me ask you this, what comes first?

The truth or the $, because from where I'm standing it sure seems like the latter.

Will this get me banned or deleted for being off-topic?

Don't worry I got a screen shot and Google caches everything.

reply to post by Gaspode

Sorry, I can't help but laugh at this. They are (yes I know who they are) going around calling themselves "the best posters on ats"... No-one else ever called them that.

Did they call themselves "the best posters on ats"? It's a rather subjective term, but they were veracious thread creators and were vilified unfairly in my (subjective) opinion.

If they were really the best of the best of the best (sir!) then their new site will do just fine on its own - without having to spam ATS. (And yes we've all seen the spam, and we all hate the disgusting tactic of their spam in our threads.) Good luck to them. Surely you can't blame SO for enforcing the t&cs?

I completely understand SO's t&c enforcement. What i question is the reason for banning 'respected' members within days of each other. I'm just curious and suspicious in all honesty. Was their content becoming too truthful? I'd love some kind of overview from SO, so existing members know which boards they can & can't tread on, for fear of any repercussion.

Ignorance truly is bliss

reply to post by PrisonerOfSociety


It's no dilemma that you did not read the T & C since you apparently have not read the posts you are replying to in this thread, either.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

reply to post by lucentenigma


money is important and dont even start with all of this ATS is corrupted BS. ATS does make alot of money but its because they have a website that people are interested in going to and they reap the rewards.

if they were only in it for the money then would just ban everyone they dont like or find offensive.

your still here. that means they are allowing you to make your argument in an unbiased manner. if they remove a post then think about what you wrote and maybe you can see you were at fault too

reply to post by Springer


I found out about "the website" because I saw friends leave and had no idea where they went. I had no contact info outside the U2U system (why would I need to?) and contacted as many people as I could to see where they had run off to. A lot of posters post in multiple places, and I was hoping to hop on wherever they went because I missed them. I found out about their website and have been posting in both places since they opened for business.

I haven't broken any T&C. I have not been rude to other posters. I have not been profane or written anything that could get ATS into trouble. I have tried as best I could to bring my A-game and post in such a way as to educate, entertain, and support those posters I saw faltering. When I felt someone was being rude, I U2U'd them prior to mentioning anything on the boards. I took my lumps without complaining. I am proud of my behavior on here, and that is a fact.

So as a good ATS'r I am stating my arguments now, and that is that I do not believe that the "owners" of that other website were recruiting from ATS. How could they? They cannot U2U with banned accounts. If members are recruiting their friends I don't see how that is different than us presenting our favorite websites on our profile page. Those people juvenile enough to flame a pro "sheet" post did so on their own.

The threat of legal action, granted untaken, makes me very sad because I remember when we were all out there denying ignorance together. We've all debated on this site, sometimes rough and rowdy, but it always felt familial.

I hope that it does not come to that. It will be a very sad day indeed.

reply to post by lucentenigma


This is getting childish now... For starters, ATS is worth a WHOLE LOT MORE THAN THAT.

Secondly, what good does it do any of us if ATS is gone? Don't you understand how basic business and economy works?

If you can't pay the bills you can't spread the truth can you? Those who seek to cheat and steal to pay the bills are not who I want to "seek the truth with".

Edit to add: If this were "all about the money" we'd have quit long, long ago... S.O. and I know how to make money a WHLOE LOT easier than this.

Springer...

[edit on 10-27-2009 by Springer]

Originally posted by Doc Tesla
reply to post by lucentenigma

 

money is important and dont even start with all of this ATS is corrupted BS. ATS does make alot of money but its because they have a website that people are interested in going to and they reap the rewards.

I don't think they're raking in the money. I said that before on another site. Like any good business they would like to make money. Nothing wrong with that.

if they were only in it for the money then would just ban everyone they dont like or find offensive.

No, they wouldn't. Everyone knows that sensationalism sells. Ask Fox News.

your still here. that means they are allowing you to make your argument in an unbiased manner. if they remove a post then think about what you wrote and maybe you can see you were at fault too

I am still here, as well. No one has banned me because I keep to the T&C. However, my argument has been that there is sometimes an inequality in moderation and warnings, and that is the reason for some of the exodus.

Again, we needn't be "us" and "them" if this is really a quest to "deny ignorance". We ought to all be in this together. Oughtn't we?

The problem i have with all of this shambolic affair is that we are left in the dark. If i had the full story maybe i could form an accurate opinion.

Why did i receive the original u2u?

Names, reasons, examples etc etc.....

Instead i get 'they', 'them', 'recent events'

Can we please get more specific?

Peace.

reply to post by A Fortiori


my post was not directed at you. getting a little defensive there buddy.