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

Originally posted by Pimander
That's what you think is it, big man?

If people don't agree with you they're some kind of social misfit that society is better off without. Or is society better off without the sort of people who have extreme right wing views like that?

I'm surprised you posted that. Your insult to conspiracy theorists is completely out of place on ATS if you ask me.

"Big man"?? You're stooping pretty low, there, Pimander. What, did I hit a nerve? Man up, buddy.

It's not a matter of agreeing or disagreeing with me and further, I don't see it as being right wing at all. Everyone here has some small expertise in certain areas, many of them in areas I know precious little about, which I will readily admit. You may very well have the insider scoop on the differences between a Springfield XD and a Glock. If so, you have my rapt attention and thanks. Once in a great while we touch on subjects in which I have a wee bit of experience or knowledge. Here's one right here, for example. This fits the pattern I was talking about here. If you DO happen to know something, people won't even recognize it because they are so vested in their little world view that there must be a conspiracy involved. If you do happen to wade through that thread you will see that everything I said was proven correct. Of course, it took over six months to prove it, but nevertheless, I was 100% right on the money. But this upset the OP because reality did not fit his conspiracy worldview. I trampled on his Jesus and he didn't like it. All together now: Awwwwww!

So you're telling me I'm not allowed to have a point of view differing from the usual garden-variety conspiracy views expressed here? Aren't you doing the same thing you're accusing me of doing? I know what I have to say is disturbing to some people in the playpen. Hopefully it will wake some up. But if not, that's OK. The playpen is useful because it is a diversion, kind of a honey pot that makes sure the residents are sufficiently entertained so that they won't go postal on us. Seems to me it's working pretty well so far.

let's get back to facts :

ats is a corporation

the objective of ats is to generate profit

ats generates profit from advertising

ats first policy is to "please" its advertiser

ats is controlled by money

And who control money ? hmm ?

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord
the systems use standard browser technology on top of a proxy management system.

Since browser fingerprints can be more unique than IP addresses, the same browser fingerprint from multiple IPs would be a huge sign the type of effort you described.

it's way more elaborated than that with every sockpuppet having its very own client profile (fix vpn unrecognizable as proxy, os, user-agent & whatever they wish to personalize...) all run however by the same software and i bet the browser they use is embed in that software.

they would not spend millions for just a proxy management system + even amateurs can change/alter the info send by the browser, wake up.

Originally posted by schuyler
I know what I have to say is disturbing to some people in the playpen.

I think you might find you're in the "playpen" yourself.

My guess is that most members we have are fairly balanced and are unlikely to cause any ill to society. I prefer your meaning in this post to what you meant in the last. Surely it's obvious why?

some one took the time to make this: atswatch.com...
Are they just feeding off of ATS' popularity?

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


Dear SkepticOverlord,

Good post. I personally never really thought the owners were anything other than regular people. Having said that, I wouldn't care if the site were run by the CIA; but, I cannot imagine why they would want to. There is nothing that I have posted that I wouldn't say in person and in fact do say in person. There are plenty of opportunities on the internet for people to post these "conspiracy theories" so I cannot imagine why the CIA would need to create this site to spread disinformation. Most posts that I read usually link to an existing story or video from another site, in other words if this site didn't exist at all, the information and theories would still be out there.

I appreciate the site because it is a convenient place to read less publicized news. I believe the moderators are measured in their actions and when they deleted one of my posts for being off topic, they were correct, it was my mistake. If the site were not moderated I wouldn't read it, racists comments and profanity do not add to the conversation of anything and I appreciate the fact that it is not allowed. Be well and keep up the good work.

Originally posted by martiendejong
some one took the time to make this: atswatch.com...
Are they just feeding off of ATS' popularity?

Thanks so much for that contamination attempt!

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


Excellent thread SO , personally i don't believe there are any professional shills, it is as you say,all about different perspectives, one persons freedom fighter is another persons terrorist.

What makes ATS great is when debates of radically opposing views come to an understanding of sorts when another perspective is added to the subject.

If we all had the same views there would be no debate, no discussion, we would gather in rooms and nod knowingly at each other.

Wisdom is knowing that one does not know everything.

The terms Shill,Sock,Co-intel tend to come out in emotive threads as terms of abuse rather than actual accusations, i think most people are aware that ATS'rs in general are inquisitive individuals seeking answers,denying apathy, it just gets a little heated now and then.

Per Ardua ad Astra.

Cosmic...

Originally posted by theHairInTheSoup
let's get back to facts :
...ats first policy is to "please" its advertiser
ats is controlled by money

On what stunning revelation through advanced research and comparative analysis did you come to that conclusion?

Point to examples of where any content on ATS has been influenced by a need to "please" an advertiser.

Point to examples of where ATS was controlled by money.

If you can't, I call you a liar.

Originally posted by theHairInTheSoup
they would not spend millions for just a proxy management system

The specifications called for a management system that integrated with a centralized server, and ran as a FireFox plug-in.

Originally posted by martiendejong
some one took the time to make this: atswatch.com...
Are they just feeding off of ATS' popularity?

Yes.

And feeding off the "lies in the wild" about ATS.

I'm sorry, but while there may not be a "conspiracy" that all the moderators are CoIntelPro, CIA, secret alien agents with intent to disrupt people's thoughts, etc., it is still pretty obvious that some bungling of moderator powers does go on.

ATS is a site that, in my experience, uses total post deletions quite frequently, and where people have more incentive to "team up" as it were, to aid discussions in their favor; more common than some sites. I've seen it a lot, and so have others. It happens, as it's too easy to abuse moderator powers on this site. I've seen stuff like "Extreme T&C Violations" handed out for things that were clearly not, and a simple pattern could be measured in any given thread where the removals were all of the same opinion, i.e., an opinion abrasive to the moderator's own.

It's not a conspiracy to me, it's rather just disappointing, and a bit childish at times. Some days are better, some days make me want to stop coming to ATS. ATS has the pros of being more civil and professional than others, such as GLP, which I haven't touched because sociopaths and craziness run amok there, but it also has the con of being too far on the "control" spectrum.

I walk into some threads where I have no idea what is being discussed because there are tens to hundreds of post-deletions. It is a bit childish at times, because we all agree to be adults to enter this site, and I don't feel like an adult when I'm led to feel as if a "select few peers" decide what I should or should not see. It's very easy for moderators or simple 'collaborators' (it happens, people do it whether you like to think so or not) to manipulate threads in their favor. It starts with a perfectly-timed disruption, and ends in a total post-deletion minefield and the thread is over.

Originally posted by martiendejong
some one took the time to make this: -------.com/
Are they just feeding off of ATS' popularity?

dude that's filled with injection virus...DO NOT CLICK ON IT.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


Starred and Flagged ! (as if you needed them )

Pros :

I really enjoyed your version of how ATS came to life !!

I really appreciate the fact that you (as the owner) take the time to participate and clear things up. Most would certainly agree that owners in general wouldn't give a [snip].

I didn't know of KingLizard's april fool's joke and it does make up for good rumors to start - even after admitting it's a joke.

Cons :

That's got to be one of the ugliest avatar I have ever seen !!

Even if it was a well constructed post, the rumor will never end. You can bring a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

Thanks for putting this up !! I enjoyed !

Originally posted by martiendejong
some one took the time to make this: atswatch.com...
Are they just feeding off of ATS' popularity?

Way to try and send a virus, there bud. Classy.

Thanks SO - good information and an entertaining read, as well. I particularly like this portion:

Seriously. It may be downright impossible to discern the different between:

1) a "shill" sent to spread disnfo
2) an ordinary person who doesn't accept most conspiracies
3) someone fooled by mainstream media
4) someone passionate about a manufactured political ideology
5) someone who is afraid to consider conspiracies

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


That's what I mean by muddied waters. And yes it does really matter. Knowledge is power. That's why mindwar was developed.

"mindwar" is a permanent state of strategic psychological warfare against the populations of friend and foe nations alike. "In its strategic context, mindwar must reach out to friends, enemies and neutrals alike across the globe ... through the media possessed by the United States which have the capabilities to reach virtually all people on the face of the Earth. These media are, of course, the electronic media-television and radio. State of the art developments in satellite communication, video recording techniques, and laser and optical transmission of broadcasts make possible a penetration of the minds of the world such as would have been inconceivable just a few years ago." Above all else, snip, mindwar must target the population of the United States, "by denying enemy propaganda access to our people, and by explaining and emphasizing to our people the rationale for our national interest. ... Rather it states a whole truth that, if it does not now exist, will be forced into existence by the will of the United States."

source

Of course it won't change the way I post on ATS. The only thing that has changed about my posts since I signed up is now I try to be more civil to the shills and socks.

I very much appreciate you and Springer. You have both worked very hard to build a quality discussion forum. ATS is the best on the web. I haven't had enough contact with Simon to form an opinion. I'm not even sure that's his real name.

The worst of ATS can be read on its Wikipedia page. They may not be controlled by any "evil" force, but they have goals that go against the point of the site. Censorship destroys all.

Originally posted by SyphonX
ATS is a site that, in my experience, uses total post deletions quite frequently,

Define what you believe to be "quite frequently."

where the removals were all of the same opinion, i.e., an opinion abrasive to the moderator's own.

That has not happened in a long time. And the last time it happened, the moderator was removed from staff.

I walk into some threads where I have no idea what is being discussed because there are tens to hundreds of post-deletions.

Link to an example?

It is a bit childish at times, because we all agree to be adults to enter this site, and I don't feel like an adult when I'm led to feel as if a "select few peers" decide what I should or should not see.

Perhaps you don't understand the Terms & Conditions, and the rationale behind the restrictions that amount to nothing more than common every day social graces.

Great thread SO, and terrific graphics. Love that meme guy. Love your sense of humor in writing the piece. I have seen your frustration at these attacks and I think it is great that you wrote this piece as an answer.

The mods on this site, I have said this before, are a great bunch of ATS members first and foremost. They have a passion for the information on this site, they have a passion for this site in general, and they have a passion for the members of this site. They do this as volunteers and it is not an easy job. I am including the Three Amigos and Crakeur in this assessment.

IMO, those who think they have been wronged by a mod need to look more closely at their own actions and what they actually love about this site. If they cannot honestly assess their own actions and cannot remember what they love, might be time to move on. No real reason to stay here if they are so unhappy that they cannot debate without personal attacks and generalizations, etc. There are many other forums out there that will feature many people just like them.

As to the COINTELPRO argument, I have always found it to be rather silly. That argument can be made for every single person you encounter in your daily life if you apply the same rules of thought. If we are all COINTELPRO, just who are we targeting?

ANYWAY, just thought I would throw my own two cents into the ring and see if anyone stopped to pick them up.