How about an "Actions" Forum?

Trust me, there are ways that ATS would be allowed to have an "Action" type forum and still be relieved of any cause or blame if something questionable were to happen.

Simply put, as long as any action taken or promoted is LEGAL, there is absolutely nothing that anyone can do about it regardless. I have run the gauntlet on the issue with ATS, trying to work my way around their policy of "All activism is bad activism". It has become a taboo issue that CAN NOT and WILL NOT be questioned. No one will debate or explain a logical and coherent reason as to why it should not be allowed, and instead mods are instructed to throw the T&C at any and all offenders who might choose to question it.

It has become my belief that it isn't in ATS's agenda to promote any form of action, because, as someone pointed out earlier, action would result in less people simply complaining and sitting their ass at the computer.

In the end, it is just another business, another corporation that has no end goal in mind except for the increase in revenue. But hey, that is just one man's opinion.

reply to post by Sanity Lost


The point is on ATS we have just about as much freedom as the people in North Korea.Topics,activities,asking for support of activities that keep a mass audiance away are prohibited. Ever wonder why our alternative news section has a bunch of rules but none of those rules say that the news has to do with anything alternative or come from an alternative source? Why can't members write their own alternative news? Why do people have to depend on reading FOX,CNN and MSNBC through ATS as their "alternative news"? Why does it have to be new within the last day?
I will tell you. In order to get hits and the money you have to bring in tons of lurkers the only way you can do that is by having huge popular topics that will appeal to LOTS of people. I haven othing against making a buck what i have issue with is having pages and pages of mainstream media and calling it alternative news. They are not going to get the hits by some member writting his own news story they need everyday people visiting this site not just the ones that are into conspiracy. Conspiracy on this site will be a thing of the past much the same way we see music and MTV.
Nobody can explain to me the logic on how we can't post about the GFL (i personally don't think those guys are the real deal) because they are "known hoaxers" or about holographic planes in the 9/11 forum but we can post stories from Fox news all day long.
Im not saying the GFL are the real deal or that holographic planes are real but this is a conspiracy site and why can we post stuff from the BS MSM news agencies but not from the BS conspiracy crowds?

old ATS





New ATS
"deny ignorance"

reply to post by Darkk


Thank you for your opinion as to how ATS works. I see it's time to seach the WWW for a site more suitable to my needs if ATS will not a few changes.

Peace

reply to post by Sanity Lost


let us know what happens

For goodness sake, don't take my opinion as that of the community, or the staff.... it was just my opinion. You make good points and they should be discussed. Perhaps there is a compromise in the works... I don't know.

Insofar as what "ATS wants" being described as it has been here, I imagine there are all kinds of perceptions out there. It appears true that you cannot please everyone. Perhaps that has more meaning here than in other places.

In the end there is always the choices we make, and how they affect others... that was my point.

Meanwhile; I would like to stress my belief that 'talking' about stuff matters. Without the dialog, many people act on impulse... which can lead to unexpected, and sometimes undesirable results.

reply to post by Maxmars


Well I have seen links to petitions removed, because that violates TOC.... Something as harmless as that violates TOC tells ta something right there about how ATS feels about us taking any action.

reply to post by TKDRL


This is true. Petition and solicitation are not permissible conduct here. I know it chaffs some members no end.

But it's not like we say you can't participate in petitions... just not here within the forums.

reply to post by Maxmars


That's fine and all, but why can't anyone seem to answer "why"? Why can't we participate in petitions? Aren't we all capable of making our own decisions? Or does ATS feel that if a petition or group is posted here that people will join it haphazardly, sign absolutely anything that pops up, and go do something rash, just to turn around and blame it on ATS? Please.

Let's look at the facts. There is no reason that their can't be a forum with a disclaimer and a set of rules that would help to better the "awakening" and ignorance denying of people around the world. There is no legitimate reason, besides being "bad for business" as to why their shouldn't be.

At the end of the day, ATS is all about emboldening the truth and defining what is wrong with the world, but when push comes to shove they would rather see the world die as it is then be caught with their fingers stuck in the door when it slams shut.

By and large, ATS remains neutral regarding any particular stance.

From the T&C:

15e.) Recruitment/Solicitation:

i) You will not use your membership in the Websites for any type of recruitment to any causes whatsoever. You will not Post, use the chat feature, use videos, or use the private message system to disseminate advertisements, chain letters, petitions, pyramid schemes, or any kind of solicitation for political action, social action, letter campaigns, or related online and/or offline coordinated actions of any kind.

and

22b) Editorial Neutrality: TAN provides a forum for the open discussion of a wide variety of subjects, but does not influence editorial control over any particular theory, opinion, ideology, political doctrine, viewpoint or position on any topic in so far as those topics adhere to the rules set forth in these Terms and Conditions of Use and the Terms and Conditions of Membership. Furthermore, though operating costs are supported by advertising and promotional revenue, TAN do not officially endorse or promote any commercial product or service.

If ATS were to allow certain types of petitions or calls for action and ignore others, it would only wreak havoc. The neutrality stance is the only fair way to go. Consider it the no harm, no foul approach.

so what is wrong with an actions forum? Whenever anonymous says they are going to do something people come out in droves to support it have not seen anyone say anything about that.

reply to post by getreadyalready


appeal to paranoia...nice. low but nice.
i guess we should all be thankful for being protected from starting small groups

reply to post by Darkk

reply to post by getreadyalready


OMG quick write SO and tell him about the street view team. Imagine what could happen if someone on the streetview team killed someone.

It is a double edged sword for sure and it would be nice to find some sort of compromise and meet in the middle. After all, talk talk talk, never solves anything, its the actions that make the difference. In order to fix things, we must first talk about it, but then if nothing is done about it, then it all becomes cyclic redundancy, maybe that is why threads keep repeating themselves and showing up again weeks or months later all saying the exact same thing again, because the problem resurfaces because nothing was ever done about it.

Originally posted by Skewed
It is a double edged sword for sure and it would be nice to find some sort of compromise and meet in the middle. After all, talk talk talk, never solves anything, its the actions that make the difference.

*ATS sponsored actions you mean

reply to post by maria_stardust


Congratulations. You did as I said all mods do. You throw the T&C at us with no rhyme or reason except because "that is the way things are done"... but WHY?

If ATS were to allow certain types of petitions or calls for action and ignore others, it would only wreak havoc. The neutrality stance is the only fair way to go. Consider it the no harm, no foul approach.

No it isn't! What are you talking about? Why would ATS even be involved AT ALL in what actions were posted on such forum? The only thing that ATS should be involved with is considering the legality of issues that are posted. If they are legal, there should be no reason why action can't be promoted and people should be allowed to make their own decisions on whether or not to take part in it.


reply to post by getreadyalready

I think the major problem with any "actions" is ending up on the governments radar!

Honestly, to think that ATS is not already on the governments radar, that is a silly proclamation.

It would be site suicide to allow the membership to organize into committees or gangs. The admin can simply not allow that to happen.

No, it wouldn't. That is what a DISCLAIMER agreement is for. ATS obviously would take no action to promote anything that is said on such a forum, and as they always have been, will take no side on the discussions therein. There is no risk whatsoever with the exception of financial risk.

Everything here has to be in hypotheticals or opinions, because if it was anything more than that, and if some unfortunate loon decided to take action, imagine the liability for the site owners, or the folks that egged him on!

You seem to not understand that the site owners would face no liability whatsoever so long as their disclaimer is clear and the staff themselves did not show any support for such actions. Not to mention any "loon" action that could be considered illegal, would not have a place on such a forum any way. It would be the mods jobs to take care of anything posted that promotes any illegal activity.


reply to post by Darkk


True story. The Street View Team is a group that is taking action that ATS seems to support with open arms. Exactly what would happen if they went and did something? What makes their action any better than any other members might provide?

Answer: The Street View videos draw viewers to ATS and thus ATS makes more money. Sorry but I seem unable to get away from the fact that ATS is in it only for the profit of a currently trending fascination with conspiracy and new age thinking.




Even yet there has not been an official answer as to why there is no Action forum, but you can be rest assured that with all previous attempts, a topic like this usually ends with a staff member posting about the Terms and Conditions, the agreement you made when you joined, yada, yada, yada... no better then the police state we live in today. Do not question us. The choices we have made for you are the best. If you question us you will be ignored and banned. Topic closed.


That is how is always ends. No "why", no explanations, no advanced discussion or an "open of future ideas" comment - just the same old - shut up and live with it.

It will be here sooner or later.

reply to post by gwydionblack


Yeah i guess it is all about money now, i wonder what ever happened to simon gray? I read a lot of his conspiracy stuff but now all I see comming from ATS officials are SO (a marketing genius that has a backround in the government and playtex) and the brown shirts.
Why no content from the conspiracy writter that started all this?

reply to post by Darkk


He is still around. He commented on something for the Admin just last week I think. I don't see any public posts from him since 2010 though.

SimonGray Profile, last visit 03/31/2011

reply to post by gwydionblack


Honestly, why is there the need to even argue over this issue? This is a private site and these are the terms each and every member here agreed to when joining. ATS maintains a neutral stance, it's as simple as that.