ATS running ads for Scientology

well well jean paul schoolin mofos
i love it
on topic now ads are aproved by the man
its all a big conspiracy. it know what searched for lasts nighy


ahhhhh!

If ads are based off cookies, why do I get car and insurance ads? I never look at car or insurance sites?

reply to post by cripmeister

I have seen you come out and defend the COS before but do you know what you are defending?

I defend rights. If you cannot understand the difference, that is on you. Religious worship is a right. If you don't like Scientology, don't be a Scientologist and by all means vocalize your concerns all you want. Like the ghost of Tom Joad, the moment you begin using concepts such as democracy to advocate the disparagement of other people's rights...I'll be there.

And I will add a few WAAAAH WAAAAH WAAAAH.

I will tell you what go get yourself a RFID chip and set it to your own advertising preferences.

Did you seriously come to ATS for the ADS? Jeez Ignore it and move on. How hard is that?

reply to post by Jean Paul Zodeaux


The fact that the COS has religious status in many countries (mine for example) is a joke, the COS is the only church that has "By invitation only" on their door. In my opinion their religious status has more to do with taxes than with anything else. Note that I am only referring to the COS and not the individual scientologists. Many people are practicing scientologists despite having left the COS because they find it an abusive organization. Have you heard their accounts of what happens inside the COS? I always stand up for the rights of the individual but unlike you I will never defend the rights of abusive organizations. In my opinion they have no rights.

Oh the irony.

You probably called more attention to them by starting this thread than they ever would've gotten by being in the ad rotation. I have yet to see a Scientology ad. You probably see it because at some point you've looked up info on them.

The difference is, they had to pay to be in the ad rotation, which helps us to maintain a free, feature-laden, enormous site, and one which includes much info, a lot of it unflattering, about Scientology.

You gave them the attention for free.

We don't select individual advertisers, and for the most part, they don't specifically choose us. (It does happen occasionally. For example, Sony sponsored a forum in conjunction with the release of the District 9 movie awhile back). Sponsors subscribe to marketing firms, who in turn package advertisers together to display as ads on sites like this one.

reply to post by yeahright


So by ignoring an issue the issue will go away, is that what you are saying? How is that denying ignorance?

Do we have Scientologist here on ATS ?
wouldnt surprise me

Originally posted by cripmeister
reply to post by yeahright

 

So by ignoring an issue the issue will go away, is that what you are saying? How is that denying ignorance?

That isn't what he said. He said the ads are in random rotation from a third party, and ATS has mostly unflattering accounts of Scientology, so it isn't a very good fit for the ad rotation. He also said he has never personally seen the ad, and I can say the same thing for myself, and that is where the Irony comes in. The OP of this thread was probably targeted for the ad, which is funny in and of itself, but then he goes and opens a new thread, where the word is used dozens or even hundreds of times, and provides even more attention, which will likely get him even more of the ads.

ATS does not hand-pick the ads, and the ads do not hand-pick ATS (usually). So this was just a fluke, but by drawing attention to it, the OP has made it more likely to see it more often.

Originally posted by Ben81
Do we have Scientologist here on ATS ?
wouldnt surprise me

It wouldn't surprise me either. As long as they are honest about it I have no problem with them being here. They could provide valuable information to the discussions. I have yet seen anyone openly admit to being a member of the COS though.

reply to post by getreadyalready


For once I agree with a moderator.

I think it would be BRILLIANT if for whatever reason Scientology adverts brought traffic through ATS - education about Scientology's true nature is far more damaging to them than a slight dip in advertising spend / income.

If ATS acted against one dangerous cult, then they'd be forced to act against all of the other dangerous cults represented on ATS. They'd lose half their membership LOL!

So for the good of the community, and ATS's ad revenues.... lets leave them to it eh?

The Revenant.

Originally posted by getreadyalready

That isn't what he said. He said the ads are in random rotation from a third party, and ATS has mostly unflattering accounts of Scientology, so it isn't a very good fit for the ad rotation.

Hence my original question. Are ATS oblivious to what ads are displayed to its members? If so can you see a potential problem in this?

The OP of this thread was probably targeted for the ad, which is funny in and of itself,

Why is that funny?

reply to post by cripmeister


They are not oblivious, but they are not actively choosing and controlling either. As long as the ads are not malware or harmful, then ATS is not vetting them for content.

It was funny, because you obviously have a problem with Scientology, and you were the one to get the ad. I don't care one way or another for Scientology, and therefore I didn't get the ad. That is funny to me. Kind of like the neighbor's cat that seeks out everyone who hates cats, and rubs on them constantly, LOL!

ATS does not have a specific agenda to market, so a Scientology ad is just as relavent as a Jehovah's Witness ad, or a Catholic ad, or a Pop Tarts ad. Now, if you clicked on the ad, then Caveat Emptor.

reply to post by cripmeister


There have been a few scientologists on ATS before. I do not like the Cult of Scientology either

If you dont like the advertisments ignore them, no one is forcing you to click on them If they are banned, what ads are next. where does it stop from there?

Originally posted by cripmeister
So by ignoring an issue the issue will go away, is that what you are saying?

I'm saying I don't see an issue, other than the one you seem to have, and that's not one we can address. No, we're not going to require every advertiser pass every member's personal litmus test. Lots of people think Scientology is all that and a granola bar. Many disagree. You're entitled to your opinion. You always have an option of taking out your own ad in opposition to Scientology, if you think the ads are more persuasive than the threads and posts you're permitted to create for free.

For free, I might add, due to advertisers like Scientology paying the freight. See? Irony.

Originally posted by AnonymousFem

If they are banned, what ads are next. where does it stop from there?

The Galactic Federation of Light? The Raelians? Oh wait, they are already banned from ATS.

reply to post by cripmeister


The topic of this thread is Scientology's advertising. I think we've been very accommodating up to this point. If you wish the topic to remain open, please keep to the topic.

reply to post by cripmeister


And your answer says it all....

I knew there were other motives behind you posting this Thread. Bad move

End of discussion.

I personally ignore all the ads...including any from Scientology. The ads just don't matter to me...but the ATS website does......ignoring ads is easy.