ATS Reality: CoIntelPro, Shills, Freemasons, and Socks: The Definitive Guide

Originally posted by Societalgnorance
I was trying to make a thread about the fact that speculative threads making outrageous claims garner so much attention and response, which puts it on the front page of ATS. In turn, making the overall content of ATS look a bit "outrageous"

So outrageous that we get millions of visitors every month. Hrm.

while a lot of other threads with important research and information are put on the back burner.

Perhaps the majority didn't feel the same about the research and information as you?

You yourself, SO, made a thread responding to all of the "ridiculous" threads labeling ATS COINTELPRO and saying how it takes away from the overall content of the site,

I never qualified the CoIntelPro accusations as something that detracts from ATS content.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


This thread is a good and welcome sign. It indicates ATS is feeling and cognizant of the effects of some of it’s more questionable recent decisions and policies.

That it was laid out by a former advertising executive full of eye catching graphics to bring home the illustrated points are highly suggestive of a sales job for a product that at this point is in dire need of being dressed up.

The truth is that the only interest in conspiracies the ownership of ATS has is making money off of people who like to talk about them.

In the small lower left hand corner of the home page you will in fact see that the ownership states clearly it takes an adversarial stance towards the user generated content posted on the site.

Indeed they do, they do not and have not ever supported their conspiracy theorists, instead they simply rob them of their contributed content, claiming copy write to it, then when member/posters become too popular or stumble upon a real conspiracy they simply ban them and proceed to rob them of their reputation too with self serving slanders and lies.

The owners of the site are indeed frauds, and should be ashamed of their policies and their catch all reliance on claiming they always abide by their own Terms of Service, without ever stating the very reality the one that they most rely on is the reserved right to remove any content or ban any member at their sole discretion.

The fraud is wearing thin though as evidenced by this original piece, and while their business plan focuses simply on driving new membership because that is what drives the bigger advertising dollars, when you so disdain and give so little support to the members who provide the user generated content, that those members and that content becomes scarcer and scarcer what goes up, is bound to go down.

The owners of this site might have been well served listening to my mother’s own advice, “Be nice to every one on the elevator ride up, you might need them on the way down”

I think you are going to need a lot more than some custom graphics to dress up this pig Bill.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


I just want to be sure you know what you are saying and what it may imply. You've already demonstrated in replies to my questions in this thread that you don't have to walk your talk and comply with your own t&c's. That doesn't do much for perceptions of credibility and integrity.

I want to believe you, I really do. I want to believe your motives are purely altruistic. For the good of mankind and all. You're just not giving me much to believe in.

I guess I'm like the father of the demon possessed boy in Mark 9:24; "Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”"

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


It's interesting that my last reply got such scathing response from you. Perhaps you still don't understand my original intent.

The outrageousness I was referring to wasn't about the site on a consistent basis. I am talking about how about once a week now, we see these speculative threads promising something amazing, and then not delivering.

Are you disagreeing that the thread in question on the front page today doesn't fit that discription? Wild story and speculation, no pictures, no proof, 600 replies, 55 flags, and 30 plus pages of "throw some sand by the window and see if you can get a footprint" and "I know how to catch it....."

It's silly, and it makes the membership here look silly, plain and simple.

Also, the sour tone in your response is quite interesting, seeing as I've been a member for three years, and am voicing a legitimate concern that myself and others have.

"I never qualified the CoIntelPro accusations as something that detracts from ATS content."


So are you saying the CoIntelPro accusations enhance ATS content?

Originally posted by Societalgnorance
I am talking about how about once a week now, we see these speculative threads promising something amazing, and then not delivering.

We (ATS ownership and staff) have no control over what threads our members choose to create (outside T&C violations), nor how other members choose to flag threads they find interesting.

reply to post by Societalgnorance


Oh man ..you dont understand nothing of this site and internet. I dont like also doom and gloom prophecies and humanoid stalkers threads and what i do ... avoid them or have a fun reading some of the posts. Have a fun man ..this is internet ...you have thousands of pages and threads which you may find on ATS search engine ... or many boards . If you dont like it ..no one is forcing you to be here.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord
There is a fundamental paradigm shifting (sorry for the cliche) idea here that is worthy of a full-in effort. If we (The Above Network) can foster a meaningful smart crowd (ATS) into other media extensions such as radio, books, video, television, and more, then we have created a means whereby the online user-generated ecosystem has the opportunity to not just influence but dictate aspects of offline media. And we're well-more than half-way there.

Consider the potential ramifications of a "smart crowd" with the topical mix ATS which has been elevated to a position of clout such that it can dictate the content of mainstream media properties. Think about it.

It's what keeps me going.

I can only concur with this. I imagine that, if you think about it, you might understand why I am so determined to try to keep this site genuinely influenced by its real membership. I'm not just some nut job. Similar things motivate me too.

Originally posted by Icarus Rising
You must have had a lot of fun on your break. Or else you are now letting the single malt do the talking. Based on the quote above, you let your hubris run over your premise. Now compare what you wrote to the stated goals of mindwar.

Yes, that premise is similar to that of many intelligence strategy documents that I have posted myself. However, that isn't necessarily suspicious. It means that SO (and myself for that matter) has identified the importance of user generated content. The important thing is surely whether the truth is allowed to shine through. That's why it matters so much to me and hopefully SO.

Of course, the blindingly obvious conclusion to draw is that other forces can see this potential too and are here.

Ironically, SO, has just posted one of the main reasons why it is certain, beyond doubt for me, that alphabet agencies, agents of private interest groups and religious groups operate on here. As I have stated before, it would be dereliction of duty not to. It stands to reason and I disagree with anyone naive enough to say otherwise.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord

Originally posted by Societalgnorance
I am talking about how about once a week now, we see these speculative threads promising something amazing, and then not delivering.

We (ATS ownership and staff) have no control over what threads our members choose to create (outside T&C violations), nor how other members choose to flag threads they find interesting.

Societalignorance,

You are getting this wrapped around your neck a bit. It concerns me too but you're approaching the problem in the wrong manner. Do you really want the staff to censor content or not?

If the thread is flagged by a load of kids and sock puppets then we need to make members aware that sock puppets may be behind the distortion of what is on the front page. Blaming the the staff makes no sense. Follow some of the links in my signature and educate yourself.

The only thing the staff could do is remove the thread when it hasn't been shown too violate T&C yet. If it's a hoax the user will be warned. I would ban them outright but they give you a chance I think. However, that is not the problem, distortion of content importance might be.

Originally posted by Pimander
I am so determined to try to keep this site genuinely influenced by its real membership.

Sock-Puppets manipulating threads is a T&C Violation and dealt with accordingly.

Rather than being so concerned at what others post, Ive found that you can make a greater impact by being concerned about what you post. You cannot control the flow of information, although many would like to determine who gets flags, stars and replies. Its not possible. The Internet equals Freedom and will never succumb to demands for control. The real impact you can make is to post quality threads that will attract a lot of people.

reply to post by Skyfloating

Originally posted by Skyfloating

Originally posted by Pimander
I am so determined to try to keep this site genuinely influenced by its real membership.

Sock-Puppets manipulating threads is a T&C Violation and dealt with accordingly.

Not if they aren't identified as sock puppets. If they are created by a sophisticated online persona management system it may not be possible to identify them.

What everyone else posts is as important as what you post yourself. Otherwise you may as well just have a blog of your own.

I will continue to try to post quality content of my own and pay due attention to what others post. That is the surest way to influence content for a single member.

reply to post by Dw2881


How does ATS generate revenue by doing what you suggest?
I'm really curious? What is it you see/know that brings in the dollar on this free site?
I'm not being confrontational or sarcastic I really want to read your answer.
I'd like to see your entire hypothetical P&L not just a hesaid/shesaid vague guess.
Thanks.

Originally posted by Pimander

Not if they aren't identified as sock puppets.

So what? Some take a little longer to identify. Just like in society, some criminals take longer to find, some are found more quickly. Thats the way the world works...unless one seeks a totalitarian system of full-control-at-all-times.

reply to post by Skyfloating

So large numbers of sock puppets could influence content. It isn't complicated.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord
There is a fundamental paradigm shifting (sorry for the cliche) idea here that is worthy of a full-in effort. If we (The Above Network) can foster a meaningful smart crowd (ATS) into other media extensions such as radio, books, video, television, and more, then we have created a means whereby the online user-generated ecosystem has the opportunity to not just influence but dictate aspects of offline media. And we're well-more than half-way there.

Consider the potential ramifications of a "smart crowd" with the topical mix ATS which has been elevated to a position of clout such that it can dictate the content of mainstream media properties. Think about it.

It's what keeps me going.

I can only concur with this. I imagine that, if you think about it, you might understand why I am so determined to try to keep this site genuinely influenced by its real membership. I'm not just some nut job. Similar things motivate me too.

Originally posted by Icarus Rising
You must have had a lot of fun on your break. Or else you are now letting the single malt do the talking. Based on the quote above, you let your hubris run over your premise. Now compare what you wrote to the stated goals of mindwar.

Yes, that premise is similar to that of many intelligence strategy documents that I have posted myself. However, that isn't necessarily suspicious. It means that SO (and myself for that matter) has identified the importance of user generated content. The important thing is surely whether the truth is allowed to shine through. That's why it matters so much to me and hopefully SO.

Of course, the blindingly obvious conclusion to draw is that other forces can see this potential too and are here.

Ironically, SO, has just posted one of the main reasons why it is certain, beyond doubt for me, that alphabet agencies, agents of private interest groups and religious groups operate on here. As I have stated before, it would be dereliction of duty not to. It stands to reason and I disagree with anyone naive enough to say otherwise.

Originally posted by Pimander

So large numbers of sock puppets could influence content. It isn't complicated.

Emphasize on could, if we werent dealing with them properly.

reply to post by Skyfloating

You can't know whether you are on top of it. You may try to deal with it but you can only deal with sock puppets you know about but that is as far as it goes. If you knew about every sock puppet you might be right. However, I'm fairly sure you don't.

You are intelligent enough to know exactly what I mean. Please don't insult mine by pretending not to understand what I mean.

Sock puppets can, have in the past and currently influence content. Simple.

Originally posted by Pimander
it is certain, beyond doubt for me, that alphabet agencies, agents of private interest groups and religious groups operate on here.

Let me put it this way: The Internet and Discussion Boards are open to an unlimited variety of people, groups, views, beliefs. Each is competing for the attention of the readers. Some are more skilled at getting that attention. In this process, the reader learns to sift through enormous amounts of data, evaluate that data and even contribute some of their own. As this happens, mass intelligence evolves overall.

The information you personally disagree with need not be controlled, drowned out, stopped, removed. That will only lead to someone disagreeing with YOUR information some day and attempting to remove it. The best way forward is therefore to leave it up to the individual what information to look at.

My own method of getting what I want out of ATS is to judge by a headline if something interests me. And then to read the OP, and if my interest is not satied yet, to read some of the posts, first by the posters (recognized by their avatars) that I trust (whether I agree with them or not).

Thus, the totally open and free flow of information teaches us to learn to sift through things and learn how to prioritize and evaluate levels of accuracy.

Originally posted by Pimander


Sock puppets can, have in the past and currently influence content. Simple.

I can list a few MILLION things that influence the content on ATS. Sock puppets is one of the most minor influences because Staff have methods in place to detect most of it.

As with society, some leeway must be given that ATS is not perfect and does not immediately spot ALL T&C Violations. Again: SO WHAT?

reply to post by Skyfloating

Agreed. Those forces still operate here though. They influence content here. That may not be a good thing in many cases. It matters to many members for reasons I have given oh so many times. Simple.