Question for ATS members - Facebook or "Conspiracy" Book?

Not recommending any intergration with Facebook. You see stories all the time on the net about prospective & current employers and their background reference companies checking Facebook for
negative items- intermingle that with some of the posts people make here, and problems wiil start.

Really the only aspect I don't like about the current format is the
constant barage of ads, and knowing that the site uses Google
Analytics which actually slow down the pages, and cookies are required, one can not really expect that it is a "private" environment. I do like the profile pages idea where people can choose to remain anonymous or not. I do understand however that the site has to make money to survive so advertising is a necessary evil so to speak.

One other forum I am a member of dealt with that problem however by offering a small annual membership fee to eliminate all ads.
The fee is 100% optional however so those who don't want to pay, don't have to, but they will continue to see ads, so it keeps everyone happy.

In summary, "if it ain't broke don't fix it." You have an excellent
product which just needs some tweaking & minor improvements vs. a total makeover. (let's save those for TV)

[edit on 10-5-2010 by manta78]

I honestly don't know about this, I hardly use my facebook account as it is [though not sure how it is for others]. Though honestly what would be it's purpose? What would it hope to accomplish? I know Facebook is to connect old friends with one another, what exactly would a facebook representation of ATS do? . Don't want to shoot down an idea before it gets expressed fully because as of right now it just seems like only a small portion is being expressed.

I would say a ATS version would be your best bet. It sounds like an ambitious plan overall, although I wouldn't use it. Not a big fan of the whole social networking thing. Good luck though, would at least like to see it in action. ♠

Originally posted by manta78
knowing that the site uses Google Analytics which actually slow down the pages,

On what are you basing that statement?

and cookies are required,

Every site with a log-in requires cookies to manage sessions. This is not unusual... and there is nothing inherently wrong with cookies.

one can not really expect that it is a "private" environment

Why are you making this statement? Have you reviewed our privacy policy?

We definitely need polls on ATS

I say conspiracy book would be pretty neat. I say go for it.

Would Tinbook replace the profile page....or be in addition to it?
Sorry if this question has already been addressed.

My wife and sister-in-law convinced me to sign up on Mugshot. I was on it long enough to smell a rat and I've not been back. Nor will I ever go back.

The way I see it the internet is infested with profiteers (if the shoe fits...) and with that in mind if I were given a choice I'd prefer whatever was done to be a creation of ATS than piggybacking a ongoing enterprise.

I am definitely one of those who prefers the devil I know over the one I don't. If I must wade through advertising and the Netflix popups that push me to the edge of homicidal I'd prefer the jing end up in the ATS coffer.

With that said I'd add that I'm not into the internet social scene at all. If your vision is an ATS Facebook or Myspace sort of thing I'd probably not use it. When I was on Facebook I thought it to be a honey pot for the mentally and socially challenged.

I come to ATS for the offbeat news, reader views and opinions and the open discussion. The social aspect is like the "company picnic".

I've never gone to a company function and when asked why I wouldn't attend I ask one simple question. Will I get paid to be there? When I am told that no I wouldn't be paid to attend and then when hit with the follow up question of "why would you expect to get paid to attend a company function" my answer is always the same.

I inform my supervisor that I expect to be well paid to suffer the wit of a room full of low grade morons for eight hours a day and that the idea of doing it for a plate of cold baked beans in a public park on my day off just to rub elbows with people I don't like is repugnant to me.

As you can see I am antisocial so a social networking component of ATS would be wasted on me.

TinBook, FB, there is already a great multitude of social networking sites. IMO we could use some improvements on the search button, for instance. Or ressurection of ATS News. For an anonymous conspiracy website, why would the posting of day to day personal updates be encouraged?

Originally posted by dashar
ATS will end up with more users with facebook links but what kind of user people or sheeple,Sheep just joining because johnny sent them a link at school,sheeple who buy the way are only interested in the ptb version of life and the new designer trainers,hoodie,

Your post represents so much of the wrong attitude, I don't know where to begin.

First, and foremost, anyone who seriously cares about the type of topics discussed on ATS, and especially seeking broader acceptance of those topics, would never refer to the uninitiated as "sheeple." It's denigrating and counter-productive to the goals of educating those who are unaware of the opinions expressed here.

And as I previously expressed here, we have a collective obligation to show empathy and polite tolerance of those who may not understand or completely reject the ideas expressed here on ATS and on similar conspiracy/alternative web sites. We should embrace and welcome the tentative newcomer... not drive them away with derisive language and scorn.

The overriding idea behind a "tinbook" is a secure and privacy-fanatical environment where those who are skeptical (defined as a person inclined to question or doubt all accepted opinions.) of any "official story" may find a place to flourish among like-minded people, share, and grow with absolute confidence in their privacy.

I have a facebook page.
I don't keep any secrets, so it doesn't bother me that it spies on me. I spy on it, so we're even. (when in Rome...)

I have an ATS membership, where I can have a discussion with any willing member and can post non-conspiracy type material in BTS, so I don't think I need to be anymore social than that, particularly if ATS is about to become "more social-able" anyway.

I think if ATS wants to do something new, they should make a site they don't tell anybody about. Giving us the opportunity to actually do something, outside the confines of ATS T&C. To build a community from the community up. To have the community decide what common purpose it will share. What information it could post. What T&C it had.

Some would say this is the wild west, voide, or 4chan, or whatever. I think there are ways around this problem of "chaos" or "danger" If you provide for only the sharing of information.

The issue of trust, however, is worthy of a thread all it's own, so I'm off to publish yet another fine ATS article...

I look forward to whatever changes you bring ATS, but I need another membership to something useless like I need to finish cliched expressions.

If you're an ATS member without a Facebook page, have these recent news articles and related information caused you to no longer consider using Facebook (if you ever did at all)?

I have never had a Facebook login and Ive never been interested in it either. I guess im not all that into knowing what all my friends are doing or thinking. I use the phone to talk to the people I care about. Call me old fashioned, but its a lot more personal to me.

The latest development with Facebook privacy absolutely reinforces my choice to not be part of Facebook and I would be grateful if ATS kept away from Facebook completely.

I will most likely not use most of the new social tools you have coming up even if they are private, because all I actually need is the current discussion board. I have never missed any functionality here. Well, maybe the ability to filter out all posts in a thread by a single person. That would be a time saver.

In the end, its not the people here Im interested in. Its the topics.



[edit on 10-5-2010 by Copernicus]

Being a person that uses the web for business. I like it that I can drop into ATS on a daily basis without everyone and their 3 eyeddog knowing I was there.

Too many in this world have forgotten that there still is a device called a telephone. I, like not so many anymore prefer topick it up and call somoen and actually discuss whats going on in their lives without all the Boo Ha!

I was dragged into Facebook kicking and fighting and quickly jumped ship while others we're sleeping. I am sure that a small Island somewhere disapeared that night as well.......

This is whatI like, People taking time to think, breath and examine this world. This IMO does not happen on Facebook.

Besides coming from a longlife in the music industry slutting around the country the odds are far higher for someone from my past slipping in for the whole world to question me about.
Not going to happen.

Maybe some means of finding out more about the people I see daily wondering about the world and the way it works. I dontneed toknow much just what they think is cool andmaybe what tunes their listening to while cruising ATS.

Thanks for asking


Unruly1

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


SkepticOverlord.....

My strong preference is that ATS does not implement the Facebook "integration".

I also do not see a strong need for the "Conspiracy Book" "integration.

My concern with the latter is that members could focus on that, rather than ATS thread content.

Kind regards
Maybe...maybe not

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


I was asking this out of concern for what may or may not happen in the future.

Do you think, with the increased traffic, coupled with a social networking addition to this site there might be a possibility of an age limit etc in the future.

The reason I say this is due to the stories that float around in the press regarding under age kids being stalked by predators and this can and does happen on other sites that promote social networking.

I can see a lot of potential problems, if members want to keep their privacy.

I understand that the site has to grow or its most likely to die but I see quite a few hiccups down the line if this is the way forward.

Cheers



[edit on 10-5-2010 by XXXN3O]

I would not be interested in a ATS/Facebook mashup. The two sites serve two different purposes. I understand the need to keep pace with the latest trends. I think that building a Facebook like interface for profiles would be successful if it was still part of ATS its just that I am not interested in what members eat or what they do during the day and such.

reply to post by staple


Agree, it should be something like conspiracy book, but conspiracy book seems a little bit, corny to me. I think there shouldn’t be any, but we should try it out though, like a test run (for conspiracy book). Face book and ATS are to different in my opinion.

I am very suspicious of social networking sites especially Face Book. I do not have a 'page' on any of these sites. However, I have often been tempted and would like to join a like minded site. If ATS were to provide a similar service I am sure I would use it, seems just the thing.
I do have concerns with the growth and the lack of being almost anonymous, I tend to not like change in the things I like but everytime ATS has tried something new I have always liked it and learned to utilise it.

I say do it. If its crap then pull it. You guys are great at inovating and taking ATS further, this could be the logical next step. Good luck either way.

I have a facebook page - their privacy issues don't bother me. I mean, Gmail mines just as much information.

I love the idea of a Tinbook! I'd use it as well as Facebook and MySpace. Just please don't have a Farmville application. That stuff drives me crazy.

This is an excellent point!

Lets open up and get some more of the like minded here. I would love to see PHD's in all avenues of science and technology or just a single mom who wants to know more about what her childs future holds.

KNOWLEDGE IS A POOR MANS WEALTH! This is my signature and I believe the poor like in the past era's are the ones that see it as it is.

BTW Skeptic Overlord (always loved that title) Great site Keep up the great work. Whatever you think is good for us IM IN!

Unruly1

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


I'd like to see a new social networking site by ATS were the people are inclined to bring up the real news of the world. Not the lies of the mainstream media. It would be pretty neat.


This could be one of the best things ever to come out of ATS!

I don't trust Facebook at all with what I've been hearing and experiencing with it. It's becoming so offensive how tricky they've gone about confusing people into not knowing what to do with their privacy settings.

Leo Laporte pointed this out about FB yesterday, it's time that people start showing FB that were gonna move away from them for their shennanigans.