ATS: The Enemy Within

I have been a reader of ATS since November 2000 and a member since May 2009. In that time I've watched this site change significantly and, unfortunately, for the worse. Many older members (who haven't ceased coming to ATS) will agree; much of the glut of new members that joined since the most recent presidential election will not understand.

The basic change that I have noticed is an increase in how argumentative many of the threads have become. More specifically, the degree to which members' sole intention is to prove that they are "right" is substantially greater than it was in years past. They come in two primary forms, what I call "Ideologues" and "Predictors".

The Ideologue's mind is made up even before he reads a thread. He is rigid in considering that things are right and wrong regardless of context and knows what is right and what is wrong (usually because his parents/religion/political party/vocation/ scientific inclinations say so). The Ideologue is prone to stating that any action he considers wrong corroborates the wrongness of the person committing the act. Furthermore, he frequently states his opinion that the person has bad intentions, or is at least incompetent.

The Ideologue's critical mistake is his assumption that he knows best and that anything and anyone that disagrees with his consideration of "right" is inherently wrong. He frequently wonders why people "just can't see it my way". There is much ignorance in this man, however, his intention is good. By imposing his opinion on others he believes that he is making the world a better place. The Ideologue's primary flaw is a misunderstanding of ethics.

The Predictor is one who often makes dire predictions about impending tragedies or supposes a dire meaning to a particular action or event. The source of their prediction is usually someone they assume is an expert leading to the further assumption that the prediction is accurate. Unfortunately, these predictions so rarely come to fruition that one begins to wonder why these threads are still so common.

Basically, Predictors subdivide into two groups; I'll call them Group A and Group B. Group A, which comprises about 15% of the Predictors, is essentially well intentioned as they dessiminate information in an effort to help others survive the tragedy that they predict. They confuse alleged credibility for expertise, but their intentions are altruistic. After observing a few predictions come to no avail, and altruistically taking responsibility for disseminating the false information, they stop making such predictions.

Group B, however, is far more selfish in its intentions. They predict and suppose many more tragedies and strife than Group A and less likely to substantiate their claims. See, they actually want those things to happen. They wallow in a world of strife and desire for the rest of humanity to experience it too for only then can they validate their consideration that life is unfair and inherently painful. Usually life has not gone the way they planned and they always view the glass as "half empty". Their primary mistake is assuming they're always right, not taking responsibility for their own pitiable condition, considering that the world is to blame.

You'll be able to identify a few members of Group B as they attack this thread. As this is an act intended to improve ATS, they, being nothing more than a dark cloud on these boards, will consider that I am labeling them "wrong" and, as a result, will attempt to prove their rightness by making this thread or me appear "wrong". They would rather drag everyone down to their pitiable level than consider any word of advice. In the interest of your sanity, simply ignore them from now on whenever you recognize them.

So is our enemy these members of Group B and, to a lesser degree, Group A and Ideologues? They would probably say yes, but they would be wrong. Our fellow man is never our enemy, it is that which makes our

fellow man transgress against us. Their transgressions may vary, from forcefully imposing their opinions, to disseminating false and intentionally depressing information, but each is only acting rationally within the scope of their limited understanding and ability. In the interest of ourselves and this organization of which we are a part, ATS, it is prudent to identify the cause of that limitation for that is our true enemy.

Ideologues don't know that ethics is relative to context. What is right and just in one situation isn't necessarily so in another.

Predictors of Group A don't know that many people, even so called authorities, have a vested interest in dire predictions coming to fruition for their own personal validation. They also don't know how to recognize an expert.

Predictors of Group B don't know that they are responsible for their own problems, regardless of how the sorrowful state of the world seems to be the cause.

Our true enemy is ignorance and therein lies the beauty of the purpose of ATS.

Today we can recognize how pervasive this enemy has become in our midst and each of us , as members of an organization, has the responsibility to effectively deny ignorance with renewed passion in the interest of constructive dialogue.

Using the knowledge about the most ignorant groups listed above, I will suggest 3 workable techniques:

1. Don't argue with the ideologue, even when he tries to argue with you. Do, however, acknowledge his intention to improve things (if it exists) and remind him that your intention is the same. Ideologues are fond of accusing those that disagree with them that their intentions must also be counter to their own good intention.

2. Ask the Predictor to independently verify the information supporting his prediction and explain his precise reasoning. What an alleged expert says simply isn't good enough. More often than not, a member of Group A will mitigate his claim and reconsider making future claims. Members of Group B will probably react emotionally and simply insist that the prediction will come true (which we know in hindsight is almost never the case).

3. Ignore Predictors of Group B.

ATS is a great and wonderful website with a fine purpose. It is sustained and defined by the contributions of each of us. Today, let's take responsibility not only for our website but our fellow man as well. The world, and the website, that we create today will be the one that we inherit tomorrow.

-Shane