Is being anonymous on ATS the right thing? I dont think so.

reply to post by MrRed

I think everyone should be required to use their own name and pay a $1 dollar a year fee (that is [snip] all) to register by credit or debit card through paypal. This will make signing up to this site and using this site a bit more authentic and carry a bit more weight to those who look on from afar. Plus it will be harder for banned people to return countless times and cause more havoc.

You sir...have lost the plot...

*throws teddy into corner*

Is anybody else creeped out that he needs our identities to read our BS?

I think that since you obviously take someone you don't even know so seriously that knowing our identities isn't a good idea...

reply to post by MrRed


Interesting idea. My take on this, as far as anonymity, is that you can present some seriously"out of the box
opinions," without the oppression of mainstream thought and the automatic blackball judgement call. Sure, posters
may slam you, ask your sources, expect intelligent reinforcement , or flame you, but this site still allows you to
"throw it out there" and see what happens. I've made my mistakes here, it's part of the learning process. This
keeps me grounded to the fact that I am only Human. An occasional dose of humility can add flavor to ones character.
As some of us present angles of thoughts and ideas at times to see how others react, ATS is a great "Proving Ground" or "Testing Ground." As far as anonymity, I don't think it really exists here. I consider this site more of
a "Masked Ball" especially now. Especially with The Pentagons Total Information Awareness Program.
The main problem I have with the "privacy" is that if an entity is Data Mining my personal information, or stealing
my thoughts, ideas, or statements so as that entity can profit without compensating me or even notifying me
of this fact, Legally this would be subject to infringement of intellectual property rights and/or personal property
rights. If you read the agreement/terms of membership to this site when you sign up as a member, you will see
that the site itself feels that anything you post becomes their "property."I beg to differ. As far as their right to privacy statement, well it is only as good as you can "trust" a stranger, and only as good as their Hacking/Scanning Protection. I am sure the owners of this site are subject to the pressures. How willing to stand firm their ground
is unknown to me. So unless proven otherwise, I would lay forth that there is no real anonymity at all, as long
as an entity is willing to take the time and process to remove your mask.
Without even proceeding with this measure, it is beneficial to the observing entity to make the subject(s)believe
that they are anonymous. For a subject that feels they are "anonymous" is more likely to present unrestrained
opinions that they may not reveal in normal social structures. This gives the observing entity a closer look at
the inner workings of the subject individual.

That is something that you may want to consider. Good Thread,,,S&F

By The way, I still am an ATS fan. But, if someone wants my fine goods,,,,,Pay Me. ATS Rocks

I have a better question.

Would you advise a 'tryant that be' with the same logic?
He'd probably think you were a spy and have you thrown you out to harbor.

Just a thought.....

Hmm MrRed might need to invest in something I came pre-installed with called a 'BS meter'... its this little thing inside my head see that tells me if the Thread im entering is of practical use to me or a complete waste of my time, its a little slow sometimes and wont kick in until a few minutes into the thread but most of the time it works just fine and dandy saves me a lot of hassle...

I dont know if you can install a BS detector post birth though, might be harder than coming pre-installed with one... I know it often goes by the brand name 'Common Sense' also. Works well in conjunction with the 'Thick Skin' and 'Apathy' package... my apathy however has a slightly faulty switch which tends to turn off on occasion.

I mean sorry for being flippant but if you require we all give out our personal information (first name and photo are VERY easily abused, hell first name is my limit if I can withhold my location, yes im paranoid... im on a conspiracy site, im that kinda person) so that those you have umbridge with can be identified, then ... well, ugh just no.

Then again why exactly will giving out this info reduce the tripe we get at ATS... yes alot of poop gets posted but again, just use your common sense and ignore it, no ones forcing you to follow a thread or click on a link entitled 'Im a purple pumpkin eater from Bibillox 4 come to warn you of planet X'... its like complaining that every morning you can smell the marmite your neighbor uses on their toast through the open window and you dont like marmite... just close the window.

I have nothing to hide, but I dont want to show every tom,dick and harry it either since Im pretty sure one of those 3 buggers is an identity thief heck I do my best to make sure I dont even make mention of where I live, only the nearest city or my country of origin... hell ive never used a real date of birth when registering on a site either, although ill set it 'near' to my real one... that sort of info is just to damn sensitive these days on the net, and even just passing in comment in the real world.

Originally posted by IzzycomesinPeace
Is anybody else creeped out that he needs our identities to read our BS?

I think that since you obviously take someone you don't even know so seriously that knowing our identities isn't a good idea...

Yes... although more quizzical than creeped out

That being said, your entitled to your idea... we just dont all have to like it.

Edit:- and yes I two am sick of the rubbish ATS is being infected with lately MrRed, I sympathize with you there, i just dont let it get to me in any way that it ruins my day. I do though take umbridge at ideas that could stop me posting on a site I enjoy due to a conflict of personal principle.

Originally posted by IzzycomesinPeace
Is anybody else creeped out that he needs our identities to read our BS?

You said it right there. Your BS.

I read so much BS on this site the point is lost. More and More outlandish stories are being banded around by people with no regard for truth or honesty.

They do not even try to provide so modicum of proof now. They all expect us to take their word for such nonsense. It has become a joke trying to sift through the sites contents and just tripping up on so much BS.

The site is spoiled by countless people just thinking that because no one know them they can write whatever pops into their tiny minds.

I was just trying to come up with a way that this may be reduced.

Originally posted by MrRed
reply to post by discolo

 

Because you grow some apples and don't have a job that can be verified does not mean you are worth more than a person who is actually properly employed.

No one is forcing you here. Do you use a public computer to visit ATS or do you have internet at home. I use "home" in the loosest sense of the word.

Posts like this discredit your main premise, imo.

second

reply to post by XXXN3O


Your signature makes sense for some reason.
Perhaps it Is.

reply to post by BigfootNZ


A BS meter!! Yes I do have one..but to the extent I do not believe anything unless I see it.

Its hard when people are taking about Being snatched away and probed and then returned, but offer zero evidence. Among the many posts on here I just cant seem to believe people. People give themselves names on here, so why not use your own name? I am maybe just not seeing a conspiracy everywhere.

I only wanted basic info on profiles like name and confirmed picture. No addresses, no DOB, no life story and no shoe size.

This sort of got out of hand. It was merely a suggestion to weed the many lemons out. I see so many threads that are clearly lies. Bit they remain and people lap it up.

i think the only practical way to achieve any 'standard' of speech is to belong to a forum that has moderation standards that suit your need. The numerous reasons why most would refrain from posting if they had to use their legal name has been well-described in this thread. IT would diminish the conversation as much as it would improve it. Yes, you have to put up with a lot of crap on an internet forum. Thats the internet. Welcome to it.

Originally posted by MrRed
Right, some of you ATS members are now going to throw one of your famous tantrums and throw your teddy in the corner.

Hey bub!, for your information, some of us have matured enough to do away with teddy bears. . .I happen to have a Marmaduke, thank you very much!

reply to post by MrRed


I have two questions for you. You have mentioned, more than once, people talking about being abducted by aliens and being probed. My first question is, why do you read those threads?

And to take the side of the posters who make those threads, how would seeing their pictures change anything? Would you only believe them if they were famous or had a fancy title?

Originally posted by MrRed
reply to post by BigfootNZ

 

A BS meter!! Yes I do have one..but to the extent I do not believe anything unless I see it.

Its hard when people are taking about Being snatched away and probed and then returned, but offer zero evidence. Among the many posts on here I just cant seem to believe people. People give themselves names on here, so why not use your own name? I am maybe just not seeing a conspiracy everywhere.

I only wanted basic info on profiles like name and confirmed picture. No addresses, no DOB, no life story and no shoe size.

But why does it matter to you what these people you wont believe anyway without evidence they cant give you are saying... they cant offer you what you need to believe them so ignore them outright, most of us do. Or better yet show them a short sharp slap of logic where they are wrong and leave it at that... if they continue to spout off their rubbish so be it, the only ones who'll follow them are people just like them and you have a user name you can avoid in the future.

If you smash your head against a wall in attempt to make it fall, the wall isnt going to fall down, if it ever does you'll be brain dead long before that happens. Ive seen some of your other posts and your a level headed guy... ignore the monkeys giving you the brown eye, they do it to all the other tourists also :p yelling at em or screaming for them to stop just makes you look like you should be on their side of the fence.

If its the integrity of ATS your defending and trying to help, i wouldnt worry to much really. The outside world looks at this sort of place like a nut house still anyway, thats never going to completely change and anyone who joins up with any real dedication will quickly learn the ins and outs, who to avoid who to trust, whos the local village idiot, if not they disappear back where they came, from no biggie. If they dont have the sticking power to weather the run they might not have been the kind of person ATS requires anyway.

reply to post by Wyn Hawks


And he wants our names and pics so he can probe us!!

Originally posted by MrRed

You said it right there. Your BS.

To use a NY aphorism - not for nothing, but my BS is just as relevant as your BS. (That was my daily tribute to HomerinNC - now send my check dude.)

Originally posted by MrRed

I read so much BS on this site the point is lost. More and More outlandish stories are being banded around by people with no regard for truth or honesty.

Being offended that you've read anything, of your own volition, is kind of a moot point. There is a tried and true method of avoiding reading BS - and that is to NOT do so.

There are good posts, there are bad posts, and there are the posts that fall somewhere in between. It's our choice, and frankly it is our personal responsibility, to sift through it in order to find that which appeals to us. To complain that it all doesn't meet your standards is superfluous and pointless.

Originally posted by MrRed

They do not even try to provide so modicum of proof now. They all expect us to take their word for such nonsense. It has become a joke trying to sift through the sites contents and just tripping up on so much BS.

"They" is a broad term and generalizations are usually an indication of a failed argument. People who provide no proof are quickly called out for it, and lose credibility quite rapidly if they cannot substantiate what they offer.

Originally posted by MrRed

The site is spoiled by countless people just thinking that because no one know them they can write whatever pops into their tiny minds.

Here's a clue. This site is built upon the posts of countless people. WE ARE ATS. 100% user generated content. And I do assure you that there are many, many minds here which are anything but "tiny".

Saying that user generated content spoils this site is like saying that the Bible ruins Christianity. We are the source, the life, and the body of ATS. So if thine eye offends thee....

Originally posted by MrRed

I was just trying to come up with a way that this may be reduced.

As I think Proto suggested earlier - reduce it by posting quality and thought provoking threads and replies. This present attempt is, frankly, counter productive, judgmental, and part of the problem. Be the change you seek.

~Heff

reply to post by InvisibleAlbatross


After reading your Avatar.
French'ed fries and a coke?
We know Mr. Ronald McDonald knew how to make fries, though no one ever knew why he had such a creepy look aboutmm.

This may help. After viewing this clip, perhaps you see the clown in a new light. You could call it a deprogram if you like.

reply to post by Perseus Apex


I was starving when I did my profile. But not for Rotten Ronnie's; the cafe down the street is way better.

I wouldn't mind paying a yearly fee of $20 dollars and full name displayed as your user name. It would be better than reading a post by Jimbo30454 making outlandish claims.

Originally posted by InvisibleAlbatross
And he wants our names and pics so he can probe us!!

...cleatus, is that you?...


...second line - the above is a plug for the ats live show...