Regional Forums

Back in the '90's when I was in high school (what feels like an eternity ago), when the Internet was in its toddler years, we had these things called BBSes, or Bulletin Board Systems--archaic versions of ATS. Most of these were locally-based, and one in particular that I was a member of used to hold what we called GTs, or "get togethers". Members would meet up to put faces to the names. It wasn't officially endorsed by the BBS itself, just thrown together by the members--of which I have fond (and some not-so-fond) memories. Do ATS members ever do anything like this? I'm relatively new here.

The reason I ask this is that--because ATS has a worldwide membership--if its members ever were to do something like this, it may help if there were regional forums to make it easier to find people in your particular area. I live in Arizona, so if there were an "Arizona Forum", or even a "Southwest US" forum, it would make it easier for members out here to organize.

I realize this would be incredibly tedious and time consuming (not to mention resource consuming) for the staff to set up regional forums on a worldwide level, but has this ever been considered? Is it even worth exploring, or would it just make it easier for men in black suits to give us a hard time?

Maybe there's already a feature I'm not aware of that addresses this, or I just can't find them, but I thought I'd ask.

reply to post by NthOther


Lots of members know each other personally, there have been meets, and even a road trip.

Memoryshock or S-dog did a thread about theirs.

Members interact on social network sites, do radio shows together, and generally get to know each other.

UK members might even get together this year - maybe, depending on a number of factors.

In a sense, it's no different from other sites in that regard, except members meet up at various conspiracy expo's and still share the bond of common interest even when interests diverge, and in those cases it's about mutual respect.

Hell, a while ago, SO, Springer and a few others met up in NY along with Jim Marrs for a launch party - it all depends on the situation, the members concerned (and SO and Springer and the mods etc are all members here) and convenience.

ATS can be whatever you want it to be, as long as you are willing to be a member of this great community.

I think this is a wonderful idea. I started a thread ahwhile back asking for other Philly area members to chime in, didnt get a lot of traffic, but I still like the idea. It would be a way for locals to keep track of events and news that are relevant to themselves instead of just happening across them in the forums.

I do see a potential problem with anonymity though. Many members might want to keep their area anonymous and therefore wouldnt contribute, but then again, if they value the anonymity then I suppose they dont have to contribute.

reply to post by youdidntseeme


Voluntary means no-one has to join in who doesn't want to

I've made some good friends here, and even though it's online, I'd love to meet them in RL - of course I don't mean any of those people on the radio show (just for nef and semper )

Ah BBSe's...

I'd happily buy the majority of ATS members a pie and a pint if we met if real life

Originally posted by youdidntseeme
I started a thread ahwhile back asking for other Philly area members to chime in, didnt get a lot of traffic, but I still like the idea.

I've thought about doing the same thing but figured it wouldn't go anywhere, as was your experience. What forum did you post it in?

Grooving to the old modem squelch and watching those ANSI graphics load in horizontal lines on the old front doors, wwiv's, wildcats and majors might be what we're all driven too if the gov's keep pushing for caps and regulations.

I miss that sound. I miss the old lists. I miss the super local communities.

This whole online thing jumped the shark a long time ago. Death knells include the pervasiveness of porn and endless emptiness of crap like facebook.

I'm firing up the telnet right now.

Oh man, almost forgot one of my absolute favorites. Disconnected BBS's and the faint voice over the modem buzz going "hello? hello? Is anybody there?" when all you can do is stare at the box and try not to laugh.