We get it! Things are bad!!

I have decided to post this, as I have seen some really disturbing threads written I would assume for sensationalism, but are offending members. IMHO, there should not be "open" threads about child rape, rape, mutilation on people, and other crimes that may have been committed on members or their families, and are hurtful.

I as a women do not care to see videos or have topics discussed about crimes that are committed against young children. I for one have had to deal with an issue as this, and find it troubling, and am aware that many members are aware of this, but remain silent, as not to upset others.

There are many subjects that can be discussed here that we are other wise familiar with or not, but things that can conjure up extremely hurtful things is not the way to go. I myself, am writing this to make others aware that this is sensitive material, and they should be careful when writing or discussing very hurtful things.

This of course is IMHO.
Peace, NRE.

I was thinking the same thing as I saw a few thread titles indecating animal abuse. For me personally, of all the evil and hurtful things people do on this earth, any kind of animal abuse gets to me the worst. And just reading the title of a thread about animal abuse makes me want to cry. I obviously don't click on 'em and read the thread. I'd be messed up for a week! But as much as I hate seeing those kind of topics, I don't think it's fair of me to ask people to stop posting them.


Posted Via ATS Mobile: m.abovetopsecret.com

reply to post by NoRegretsEver


Rational threads with truly valuable insight and discussion are getting rare around here. Flags and stars might as well be money. The same numbskulls who gripe about the much hated "MSM" use the exact same sensational tactics as any media corporation I've ever seen. Shock sells.

An interesting note is that the rise in trash threads seems to correlate with the rise in "lols" "omgs" and other such idiotic banter. This place used to be about intelligent and rational discussion, at least more so than it is. While I hate to use age as a measuring stick for maturity and intelligence, it seems 90% of the threads around here are populated by middle-school aged kids.

On my last straw myself.

reply to post by NoRegretsEver


I see your point but should we also ban all threads about war because some members may have lost a loved one or even been injured themselves etc??

Most threads have good descriptive titles..
I'd suggest you simply don't go into a thread that may offend you..

Originally posted by backinblack
reply to post by NoRegretsEver

 

I see your point but should we also ban all threads about war because some members may have lost a loved one or even been injured themselves etc??

Most threads have good descriptive titles..
I'd suggest you simply don't go into a thread that may offend you..

Thanks for the suggestion. What I was actually discussing is those that have a thread with a "not so open" title, until you either read or see it, and then its to late. I would never infringe on someones rights to say or write anything, just give us the "non-suspicious" title and I would never click it.

Peace, NRE,

The world can be a disturbing place...

Full of disturbing people... You can put your head in the sand, but that won't change the world, or make those people go away... It emboldens and enables them... They work best when a veil of ignorance is used to obscure what we might find upsetting or distasteful... Better to shine a light ont the rats and the roaches and make them scatter...

If as topic seems unappealing to you, don't view the thread. If a thread has disturbing content that violates the Terms & Conditions Of Use then use the ATS Complaints/Suggestions Form to notify the ATS Staff.

Originally posted by Mirthful Me
The world can be a disturbing place...

Full of disturbing people... You can put your head in the sand, but that won't change the world, or make those people go away... It emboldens and enables them... They work best when a veil of ignorance is used to obscure what we might find upsetting or distasteful... Better to shine a light ont the rats and the roaches and make them scatter...

If as topic seems unappealing to you, don't view the thread. If a thread has disturbing content that violates the Terms & Conditions Of Use then use the ATS Complaints/Suggestions Form to notify the ATS Staff.

I know how the alert system works. I was not saying that some things shouldn't be mentioned, just that they should have a warning, so that those that get flags and I click out of curiosity, could be aware, I would never infringe on someones right to express themselves.

Peace, NRE,

Reply to post by NoRegretsEver

I get what you are saying. You click on a thread and the body of it doesn't really match the title of it and you end up reading something you find disturbing. Yeah, I hate that too. As soon as I realize what is really being discussed, I hit the back button as fast as I can.


Posted Via ATS Mobile: m.abovetopsecret.com

I'm not really sure that I understand why you would click on a topic if it's description doesn't serve it well. If I don't see something that gives me any clue to the general gist of what a topic will entail, I usually don't bother clicking on it.

If I click on a topic that does sound like it may be what I'm interested in and then it loads a video that clearly will not be what I thought it is about, I don't watch the video. It's not like the video's autoplay.

Unless something as painful as a mandatory drop-down box were used where each topic required the poster to pick a descriptive term from the list that best describes the nature of their post.. and if it turns out that it is nothing close to the term chosen, they get a warn.. and re-offend they get topic post banned for a period of time... But those kind of restrictions sound very controlled and possibly over the top to me.

I'm sorry that you have had bad personal experiences regarding the topics mentioned in your OP, I too have loved ones that have unfortunately had to deal with a lot of these things and it never has a great ending and the healing process is very difficult and unless you're a strong person, a lot of love from those around you as well to get through it all. I just don't know if there is much else that can be done to avoid re-opening healed wounds so to speak.

I don't think that there are that many poor quality topics out there, most of the ones I have found recently had really good information and mature members posting in them. It's expected on any forum to have to deal with the occasional topic troll, but that's how things are in this day and age. Just got to learn to adapt and be more particular about which topics you risk viewing/participating in.

reply to post by NoRegretsEver


I understand your point. Although...

Can't you just not look at the thread? I mean that's what tittles are for, to know if you want to read it or not. The social unrest forum is one of my favs, and a lot of those threads are very heavy duty and out of my league, but that doesn't mean they won't help somebody else.

That being said, threads on certain taboo issues (cannibalism, child pornography, bestiality etc.) Should be closely watched. none of us want to give anyone a reason to shut ATS down because of a few crazies or pervs (except the disinfo guys of course).

I think that its true that some of the subjects discussed here are not for the faint of heart, and further more, that not everyone who starts a thread or writes a responding post , is thinking of the psychological well being of the members when they post thier thoughts on a topic.

However, this site is not here to keep its membership isolated from reality. It is not a cotton wool wrap, and it should not try to be. The key thing to remember is that if one believes that they might come to some harm by reading a post, or interacting with the subject matter concerned, they have every right, and are responsible for choosing to simply not partake of that discussion. That is the correct place for responsibility to lie, with the person who may be negatively effected.

It is not the case that the subjects should not be discussed. This website is a forum for debate on any and all subjects (apart from drugs apparantly) which have a baring on our current status quo as a planet, and as a people. Within that , people are expected to be responsible for thier own saftey when using the site to a certain degree. We already have rules about the language one may use when posting ones truth, and those prevent allegedly toxic language from being used on the site , removing one of the thorny realities of life from the boards.

To remove entire subjects, some of which ARE very important in these times, from the pool for discussion, would , I feel , represent a massive failiure of the denial of ignorance. It is only by everyone knowing that these things happen, and being able to discuss the solutions in a wider sense, that the world will ever be righted from this broken path it is on, and to restrict the process of dialogue which might free it from its current predicament, is somewhat foolish.

Rather than further censorship of the offending subjects, those who can be offended by the discussions being had here, must feel free not to engage with subject matter they find distasteful. I have sat here on this site and veiwed pictures of beheaded men, mutilated animals, burns victims, stabbing victims , gunshot victims. I have seen the Saddam Hussein hanging video, watched mens heads being parted from thier bodies, and all of this I have absorbed in a clinical fashion. That is not something which should be censored against.

Put another way, if you do not like the subject matter, and where it is headed, do not partake of it. That is your freedom, and you must use that freedom for yourself, rather than using it to change peoples habits.

I know I've only been here a short while, but as long as posts are adequately labelled to allow the user to make an informed decision to whether it's for them or not, I think anything should be allowed.

Originally posted by Skerrako
reply to post by NoRegretsEver

 

Can't you just not look at the thread? I mean that's what tittles are for, to know if you want to read it or not.

And herein lies the problem. Over-sensationalizing, and misleading titles have become the norm. I would suggest that either an OP is requested to change a title when it's misleading, or take a point penalty. Some type of punitive action, because it's one of the most annoying things I come upon.

The worst, to me, are the questions, which lead you to believe there is substantial content. Such as:

Title: "New Comet Headed Towards Earth!!!!"
OP: Does anybody know anything about this?

Grrrr. I just made this example up, obviously (or maybe it's not so obvious), but it's junk.

The title should read: "Question: Is There a New Comet Headed Towards Earth?"

I don't favor censorship (except for hate-speech), as long as I have a clear picture of what I'm clicking on.

NRE, I find offensive material almost everyday. Yeah, I just have to click off before it gets to me, and make a mental note to avoid that particular poster in future threads. When "sensitive" material is covered, it would be nice if people were indeed sensitive, but as you well know, they can be very brutal.

I have to rely my personal choices, as to whether to participate.

My first thought when reading your "rant" was the twin towers, and how they removed them from movies after it happened... they claimed it was because they wanted to be "sensitive" towards the families involved, or something of that nature. To me it was erasing history. Take it away so we can pretend it never happened...

Then I read from from Shawny about animals, and I have the same problem. So I will avoid topics about animal cruelty - and yes Im burying my head in the sand there because in most cases there's nothing I can do about it - and that just hurts me more...

So at this point I'm thinking, you're wrong, because you have a choice not to read those topics.

I disagree with ateuprto, but I don't want to get into that - and I wholeheartedly agreed with backinblack, and super mod Mirthful Me pretty much summed up everything I was thinking - so I wasn't going to reply at all.

But then I realized, you're absolutely right - I have been sucked in by misleading titles, and found myself reading things I didn't want to. I starred the posts that send this message, and I starred the original post because this is the RANT section - I would expect you to take an extreme point of view for the purpose of a rant, doesn't mean you think this way all the time.


I decided to reply to show the process of how this thread got me thinking, and how I started out completely disagreeing with you, but ended up at least agreeing in part.


I personally have not yet used to alert button, but after this thread, I might make use of it in the future ♥