Is ATS Devolving?

I used to be just enthralled with the content here, and the painstaking efforts put forth by people creating threads, they were so well crafted, so informative, and then the discussions, wow, absolutely first rate for the most part, and there was a real depth of maturity among the participants who seemed almost to a one to be extremely well educated and very thoughtful and considerate in their replies. It was a veriftable palace of words and ideas to be much admired.

Now, OTOH.. it appears to have become, for the most part, little more than a giant chatbox for highschoolers mostly, who as American highschoolers are at about a grade eight level in terms of their reading and writing skills, and like where did all those other posters go?

It looks like all the good content contributors have all packed up and left, overnight, to be replaced by semi-illiterates, who can't even compose a sentence.

I'm thinking of leaving myself.

When did ATS start to become nothing but a giant chat box for highschoolers who can barely read and write proper English?

It's very disheartening, given the quality of this community and content in the past.

It's going downhill very FAST.

They say the English language too is devolving..

What will become of us in another decade if this keeps up as a general trend..?

It's almost frightening in its implications.

Later!

Well, like they say, Create a super interesting, well written and thought-out thread, and be a part of the solution...

Or, continue your rant, carry on.

Well I for one have not seen a better site - take a look out there before putting down ATS. And as one poster mentioned - contribute - start some interesting threads. High school kids can learn a lot here and we can learn from them. Lots of educated, mature adults here as well. Depends on your interest what you read and post to, nice variety here. Go ATS!!!!!!!!!

reply to post by NewAgeMan



More emotioncons! One of your threads - who's in high shool?

No, ATS is not devolving. It's just you. If you take a break and leave ATS for a few months, you will come back and be "enthralled" yet again.


Or you could try and simply be one of the better posters by upping the quality of your posts and threads instead of griping about it. It seems like the people who gripe most about ATS devolving are the ones who follow more than they lead.

reply to post by crazydaisy

A few more emoticons would provide more context and meaning where needed, sure, there'd be nothing wrong with that and forgive me regarding the highschool comment, as we all need to be there at some point and you've got to learn somehow, I didn't mean to put down young people.

Just the quality of the content is on a fast downward slide, that's all.

I notice the same trend all over the Internet, and I'm not getting any smarter or more eloquent, so it looks like whole human intellectual capital infrastructure is crumbling.. and that's SAD!

ATS has its pros and cons just like any other site . But were here to share information and deny ignorance as much as possible and for that much ATS wins the cupcake .

reply to post by NewAgeMan


Instead of complaining about what others are doing, why don't you DENY THE IGNORANCE and keep the good posts coming? Isn't that what this website is all about?

When I read this post, I imagined a rapper rapping about how bad rap music has gotten. What's the point?

Don't complain. Instead, spread love and truth.. those are the only two things that can truly conquer anything and everything.

Oh yeah...well...that's like you're (intentional) opinion, man.

You have to hunt and peck, but you'll find gems in the wasteland of fan-fiction, New Age Messiahs, and simple wackos.

Go ATS!!!

You have been here a little over a month...I think the problem is, your just easily bored maybe...

As far as ATS going downhill..meh, anyone can make a thread, and given the population average is a IQ of about 100-110, most threads and comments will be pretty mundane overall given statistical likelyhood, with the occasional gem, and occasional really dumbarse postings.

Once in awhile, a thread comes through that truely shines, and its unfair to compare all threads made to the truely exceptional

ATS to me is more like a place to toss out some ideas or perceptions, then get others to look at it and either build it up, or rip it down as its first function, and often, such threads aren't going to be the most profound unveiling of truth out there...

So, I would venture to say do as you do in life. Take the good with the bad and choose what influences you for your experience.

Growing pains are common on many sites. You never know, after the driveby's are gone. Maybe the site will grow with intellectual input.

Originally posted by WickettheRabbit
Oh yeah...well...that's like you're (intentional) opinion, man.

You have to hunt and peck, but you'll find gems in the wasteland of fan-fiction, New Age Messiahs, and simple wackos.

Go ATS!!!

Did I detect a bit of a JAB there..?

I'll take it as a compliment.

I never new that grammatical inability and/or language barrier should justify someone’s intellect… English is my third language… Learned in late teens… I will never be 100% proficient, however I don’t think it makes me any less smarter…

reply to post by NewAgeMan


For someone who's only been here a couple of months as a member, you are hardly in a position to address the subject of the devolution of ATS.

Just saying......noob.

Originally posted by nerbot
reply to post by NewAgeMan

 

For someone who's only been here a couple of months as a member, you are hardly in a position to address the subject of the devolution of ATS.

Just saying......noob.

edit on 12/1/2011 by nerbot because: (no reason given)

LMAO

Originally posted by nerbot
reply to post by NewAgeMan

 

For someone who's only been here a couple of months as a member, you are hardly in a position to address the subject of the devolution of ATS.

Just saying......noob.

I was here in the past under a different name, but it's gone downhill in a big way, just within the last few months.

Originally posted by NewAgeMan

Originally posted by nerbot
reply to post by NewAgeMan

 

For someone who's only been here a couple of months as a member, you are hardly in a position to address the subject of the devolution of ATS.

Just saying......noob.

I was here in the past under a different name, but it's gone downhill in a big way, just within the last few months.

And why is it your not logging in under that old name?

reply to post by SaturnFX

I was part of one of the past "purges" which eliminated whole swaths of people, many of whom were valuable content contributors, myself included, and I'm sure the mgmt here knows that and are ok with my return, that's why. It was also in my case a severe misunderstanding, and I'd rather not have to rehash that if that's ok with you?

Originally posted by NewAgeMan
It looks like all the good content contributors have all packed up and left, overnight, to be replaced by semi-illiterates, who can't even compose a sentence.

I'm thinking of leaving myself.

When did ATS start to become nothing but a giant chat box for highschoolers who can barely read and write proper English?

It's very disheartening, given the quality of this community and content in the past.

It's going downhill very FAST.

They say the English language too is devolving..

What will become of us in another decade if this keeps up as a general trend..?

It's almost frightening in its implications.

Julia?!? Not you too?!

I had a very similar conversation to this with my work colleague today, very similar, though not about ATS specifically...but spooky enough...she's very worried about the demise in spelling and punctuation in emails not simply because it doesn't meet her 'standards', but because of the failure to communicate it can cause gross misunderstandings (the conversation was sparked by me s'n-word'ing over an email entitled 'Reponces'...hehe! Still funny!). She, and you have fair points, the English language is very subtle, but for the most part, I find a bright mind shines through and those who wish to improve will. I only do English, so I appreciate all those that struggle to learn English so that I can read their posts, because I am too lazy to learn their language.

And as far as the young folks go, in the UK they haven't taught grammar for years. Many of the teachers can barely string a sentence together without errors, it doesn't bode well...assuming that the parents aren't taking up the slack that is, we will have a generation who spell words with numbers. I don't think you get tested or marked for spelling or punctuation after a certain point because they are currently talking about reintroducing it (or so Julia told me). From a conspiracy point of view, it is simple, English is a very complex language and can be very subtle, as I am sure are other languages, if you can't dazzel them with style, baffle them with bull #. Some people get to learn the whole language, because they can afford to go to those 'schools', the rest of us are in the rat run and it is down to us to gain the skills that we need or that are important to us. You can only help or do so much, accepting those things that are outside of your control, and let's face it, not really that important, and enjoying them for what they are, where you can, is part of that. There is plenty to cry about without going looking for things. Ya know?

Originally posted by NewAgeMan
...but it's gone downhill in a big way, just within the last few months.

Oh I do hope it's not my fault, my Mum says I lower the tone wherever I go. I consider it a gift

Don't worry, it'll be Spring soon enough...

Originally posted by KilgoreTrout
(the conversation was sparked by me s'n-word'ing over an email)

See that's very funny!

I was doing nothing of the sort over an email!