We are ATS! (Updated 3-13-11)

Originally posted by Versalife
do you think it's safer to be a civilian or military right now? Im signing my contract in a week or so, and will ship off in july probably. I'm not joining because of fears of SHTF, I just dont have many options right now.

I mean, if the dollar we're to collapse, what would TBTB decide to do with us? Continue to fund us with another currency, or cut us loose and just use mercs?

If a country's currency tanks, that's really not the right time to try to hire mercenaries... The conversation goes like this:

HR guy #1 (to prospect): "Our currency is tanking right now, so we can't really pay you or anything like that... "

HR guy #2 (to HR Guy #1): "Where'd he go? Wasn't there a guy sitting there just now? Is that a hole he left in the air where he was?"

reply to post by JonoEnglish


My friend, it's not about being offended it's about why someone thought that producing and posting a video like this would be a good idea! I don't have an avatar, and I'm a recent member, so being included doesn't matter to me. What I feel is wrong is the notion that a someone on a site which deals with how some are disenfranchised, or excluded from the mainstream, could possibly think it was a good idea to produce and post a video called "We Are ATS" knowing full well that some would be forgottten about, some excluded on purpose while some just never cut the grade... Many of us on here agree that we dont want to be pigeon holed or forced to be included in some "club".... I'm astounded that so many realise that we should rebel against being forced to belong to a clan, group or association which we chose not to belong to yet, quite against are say so, someone can come along and herd a certain amount of the members into a video which claims to represent ATS membership! Forgive me if I'm wrong but I didn't realise that there were any second class citizens on ATS!

reply to post by CholmondleyWarner


Maybe you should look at it differently. Instead of thinking "He's saying only these people are legitimate ATS members", try looking at it like "Wow, ATS has such a variety of people." There's 192,045 registered members on ATS. Your logic is that because he couldn't include every single avatar from those, that he shouldn't have made anything at all. Sorry, but if people followed that logic for everything we would never get anything done.

Originally posted by warbird03
reply to post by CholmondleyWarner

 

Maybe you should look at it differently. Instead of thinking "He's saying only these people are legitimate ATS members", try looking at it like "Wow, ATS has such a variety of people." There's 192,045 registered members on ATS. Your logic is that because he couldn't include every single avatar from those, that he shouldn't have made anything at all. Sorry, but if people followed that logic for everything we would never get anything done.

My friend, I understand what you're saying but I just can't understand the mentality behind producing such a vid. I'm not saying its right or wrong, and |I'm certainly not having a go at the person who produced it, I'm just saying I don't get the reasoning behind making such a vid. There's a saying that you can't please all of the people all of the time, but I think that's what this vid tried to accomplish from the gecko. Its a propaganda tool which the producer of the vid has decided to use what he see's as the main members of the ATS forums, to promote the site, and hopes (I think so anyway) that those not included will fall into policy line and support the message of the vid. However, one of the main ideals behind ATS is for people not to be taken for granted, and not to tow the corporate line. This vid uses both to advertise the site!!! Its a supreme irony that the very models which provoke response from the ATS faithful are being used to promote ATS!
The one reason why I love this site is that it doesn't ask me to conform to someone elses ideals. It allows me to promote my views and give me opinions without recourse yet the WE Are ATS video somehow promotes conformity... Its giving the false impression that we all agree ... and lets be perfectly honest- we don't do we, and it's that coming of minds that makes this site a one off and attracts those free thinkers to involve themselves in the forums.

reply to post by CholmondleyWarner

The one reason why I love this site is that it doesn't ask me to conform to someone elses ideals. It allows me to promote my views and give me opinions without recourse yet the WE Are ATS video somehow promotes conformity... Its giving the false impression that we all agree ... and lets be perfectly honest- we don't do we, and it's that coming of minds that makes this site a one off and attracts those free thinkers to involve themselves in the forums.

But this EXACTLY the point of the video, IMO. The avatars speak for themselves in many cases. They are as varied as the mebers themselves are here. And no, my avatar wasn't included. either. So?!

Do you remeber the "we are the world" video? Same thing here. The OP was trying to give an idea of the diversity of ATS and just a small sampling of the difference in avatars.If we followed your reasoning, the whole point of the "world" video wasn't about our diversity, but our conformity. I don't think that reasoning is correct.

Sounds to me like you are having a slow night and are trying to stir a little contoversy with a weak argument.

reply to post by CholmondleyWarner


A "propaganda" tool. Propaganda means it's trying to influence what we think. What is he trying to influence us to think then? That there's a wide variety of people on ATS? He didn't say "These are the only people that matter on ATS." I said it before, it seems like you're unhappy that the video wasn't made exactly the way you think it should have been. Funny, coming from somebody arguing that it's promoting conformity. Also, care to explain that one? I don't see how showing the diversity on ATS means he's trying to make everybody conform. How does it give the impression that we all agree? What is it saying we agree on? Honestly, you're pulling arguments from nowhere.

reply to post by jennybee35

Sounds to me like you are towing the corporate line and meekly conforming to someone elses ideals... The very thing which you, as a ATS member shoud be trying to avoid! Its of the most supreme irony that so many people outwardly profess to detest conformity yet quite without thei wishes simply fall into line with the wishes of this video... "We Are ATS! NO we're not! There is no corprate thinking behind ATS. We are a bunch of individuals with are own ideals and thoughts and many topics ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime. The most ridiculous thread in recent times promoted on this site is that somehow, we all conform under the banner of "We Are ATS!"

reply to post by jennybee35


Rock on Jen. I could not have said that better, or even as well.

I think it rocked as well and my avvy wasn't in there.

Slow night for sure ................... Good times, I love this site.

reply to post by CholmondleyWarner


I can guarantee you 100% I am nowhere near mainstream, and I feel honored my avatar was in there. My avatars are my own artwork, I appreciate that it was included. To tell you how nonmainstream I am, I was defending a pedo's right to write a book lmao. Yeah most people in that thread wanted my head on a platter.

One thing I can say about this video, it made me realize how noticable avatars are, even flashed really quick like that, I recognized a majority of them. I thought it was particularly funny when badwolf was eyeballing bigfoot

Sorry for the (possible) double post, but I feel we are just giving this guy more kindling and we should stop. Just like the sign says at the zoo " DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS"

reply to post by CholmondleyWarner


Wow. Way to conjure up some injured dignity. You know your argument sucks.

Nuff said.

reply to post by warbird03


Seriously... "What!?"
The video promotes conformity. It does and you pretending to not understand what I'm saying doesn't make it any less of a fact. If I was to unilaterally create a vid called, We Are Sexual Perverts, and then, without asking you, include your avatar in the video would you be annoyed? Of course you would, I wouldn't for a minute blame you. What makes this site brilliant os the fact that hardly any of us agree with one another. Its watching the debates unfold which makes this place the great place it is but if you want to start grouping us together and listing us as "ATS" then I think this site will lose some of its ability to get at the truth.

reply to post by CholmondleyWarner


What ideals are you saying Slayer is trying to promote here? What is it that you think he's trying to make us conform to? I don't see how demonstrating the diversity of ATS is an attempt to make us conform. What you're trying to argue here is so far from the obvious truth, it's bordering on hilarity and makes me honestly wonder if you're nothing more than a troll. You said it yourself, "many topics ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime." That's exactly what this video demonstrates.

Edit: That "sexual perverts" point is nothing like this. All of those avatars are from members of ATS, which means they are indeed a part of ATS. Including me in a compilation of pictures of sexual perverts would be more like defamation because I am in no way associated with something like that.

Originally posted by jennybee35
reply to post by CholmondleyWarner

 

Wow. Way to conjure up some injured dignity. You know your argument sucks.

Nuff said.

Mr Pot, meet Mr Black!
Injured dignity! I think you mean injured self respect.

I love this thread...

Originally posted by LadySkadi

I love this thread...

Yeah, isn't it great how simple creativity pisses some people off?

reply to post by CholmondleyWarner

but if you want to start grouping us together and listing us as "ATS" then I think this site will lose some of its ability to get at the truth.

LOL... So now that we are "grouped together" I guess the site is doomed!

Might as well all abandon the site, folks. We are no longer an effective truth-seeking community!

reply to post by SLAYER69


Oh My god Slayer I love this!!!

Got to check out the video at home tonight, and yes sir I was bouncin!

I do believe you deserve a flag, a star and a great big cyber hug!

reply to post by warbird03


He is promoting us as a whole instead of a group of singular people with are own ideals, theories and outlooks. I don't know if your avatar was included in this video but if it was did you give permission? If not are you okay with people using your name to advertise things without your say so? Once you start to go down that road where do you stop? How about if the owner/s of ATS decided to support a bill, or add all the ATS members names to a petition supporting something utterly contrevertial like euthanasia... Would you be happy to be included just because you are a member of ATS? To have someone speak on your behalf without you being asked for your permission...

Originally posted by CholmondleyWarner
reply to post by CholmondleyWarner

 

Mr Pot, meet Mr Black!
Injured dignity! I think you mean injured self respect.

The first part I don't get in relation to this discourse.

The second part: if your self respect is so easily injured, you seriously need to work on your self-development.