Google Plus-One coming to ATS on a trial basis...

If I was 16 now I would probably have liked this but now...whatever, put another widget thing on there I don't care.

well it sounds interesting enough and i just might try it when its handy and on ats ...

Interesting. I've already seen some connections between ATS and Google while using the ATS chat room and trying to link URL's in there... just recently became aware of Google+ myself, probably around the beginning of July or so - my only real question, as of this point, is Google+ is still a BETA is it not?

As far as I'm aware, the only way to use it is to have a current user invite you - when I found out about it and tried to test it out myself, it was telling me they were no longer allowing new accounts without having an invitation from a current user. Has this changed?

Anyway, if it IS still a beta, please be aware that it is not a final "product" and may have some issues that still need to be corrected; seems sort of strange that a site such as this would be quick to "jump on the bandwagon" if it's still a beta.

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Google+ Known Issues:

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Originally posted by SkepticOverlord

Originally posted by CaticusMaximus
I trust nothing that comes from google.

We've mentioned this before, somewhere in a few threads, in the old podcasts, and on ATS Live... but it's worth saying again.


If not for Google, ATS would not exist.

Way back in early 2004, when I was helping Simon grow ATS beyond his shared hosting account, the deal was that I would fund new servers and initiatives, with the expectation that we'd get some advertising that would pay the bills.

After seven months, no advertising, and my credit card was getting close to maximum -- and Mrs. Overlord close to hitting me with heavy kitchenware. (And there were related hassles with site drama at the time, making the effort even more difficult to justify.)

Simon and I had a conversation that it looked like the party is over, as the site was getting far too expensive to support without some form of income. The next day, we were approved for Google AdSense ads. Seriously, the next day. Within a couple months, it was enough to pay the hosting bills.

Sure, there's lots of content on ATS that should inspire us to be wary... but in the end, we are here because of Google.

I understand what you mean. But it does nothing to increase my trust in google. You were not given a gift by a selfless benefactor; you were approved to enter into a business arrangement which the site has benefited from, and surely google has benefited just as much, if not more.

Google is an enormous corporation that makes its money by collecting information in shady ways and selling that information. I trust google, or any corporation for that matter, to do anything and everything they can get away with to make a profit, including but not limited to, bald face lying.

I dont trust anything google, and do what I can to minimize my interaction with it, and other things that collect information and sell it without my consent.

Few years ago, I would participate.

Now I dont want a monopoly position for such a big company.
Google is bad.

But as I.ve bin reading that the owners of ATS, thanks to google are alive.

Ive things were so bad, why did not propose a donate button? Now they have their tentacles in our system.
Having allot of control and overview, which they claim wont use. (its debatable, i know. but this is my believe)

just out of curiosity.. why is it that some announcement that are made about changes to this site and the discussion threads about them have the ability to star a post and others dont?

Is it not a good indicator of the tone and mood of the membership about any given opinion or point?

i cant possibly see any detrimental aspect of liking a point another poster has made. certainly saves me having to type out a response.

If how ever, given the untrusting nature of the population of this site one didnt want to show just how much popularity conspiratorial views regarding this new information might gather well then it would seem like the logical thing to do.

Regardless i dont blame you guys this is a business after all and google + will be great to get you guys more coverage IF it takes off which given the industry im in at the moment im inclined to believe it will. Its going to be bigger than facebook, you can bet the farm on that.

Anyway just saying would have been nice to star posts we agreed with.

As for me i dont give a crap who is monitoring what i do. go nuts lol.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord

Originally posted by budski
Let's go back a couple of years to when I named "The Gray Area" - I don't mind that I make no cash off that. I entered a site competition in the full knowledge that it would be your forum and that I would reap no monetary reward.

It wasn't a competition, it was a simple request for input. No promise of reward, just asking for ideas.

All these sour grapes over a three year old misconception?

no sour grapes here - I am simply putting forth my point that I will not be making any kind of outside account, or engaging in any kind of activity for the benefit of anyone but myself, especially after contributing so much over the last year or so with absolutely zero in the way of acknowledgement for giving up my time and effort.

reply to post by budski


Designated Silver Level contributor and 171 staff applauses. I'm sorry you see that as zero acknowledgement. If you're looking for something more, then you're definitely making the right decision. The primary purpose for participation should be the intrinsic value of it, not accolades.

We're attempting to maintain a platform where people can have discussions about a variety of topics, many "alternative", in a civil manner and interact with the widest possible audience. Much work has gone into things like search engine optimization to ensure members' thoughts are exposed to as many people as possible.

For anyone who doesn't want their thoughts shared and discussed with a wide audience...
For anyone who doesn't want to participate at a place where we're always looking to maximize the exposure of member contributions...
For anyone looking specifically for some sort of externally generated justification and gratification...

We're probably not the best choice of platforms for participation.

Question remains ,why is there no poll just to see how the community feels about this decision ?

This is a conspiracy site,with allot of conspiracy theories around Google and what not.

This decisions was made under the idea to benefit and for the liking's of the user.yet there's no way to check if we actually like it or not.Heck this isn't even open for debate.

Why not just lock the thread already.

No stars.

Originally posted by yeahright
reply to post by budski

 

Designated Silver Level contributor and 171 staff applauses. I'm sorry you see that as zero acknowledgement. If you're looking for something more, then you're definitely making the right decision. The primary purpose for participation should be the intrinsic value of it, not accolades.

We're attempting to maintain a platform where people can have discussions about a variety of topics, many "alternative", in a civil manner and interact with the widest possible audience. Much work has gone into things like search engine optimization to ensure members' thoughts are exposed to as many people as possible.

For anyone who doesn't want their thoughts shared and discussed with a wide audience...
For anyone who doesn't want to participate at a place where we're always looking to maximize the exposure of member contributions...
For anyone looking specifically for some sort of externally generated justification and gratification...

We're probably not the best choice of platforms for participation.

as much as i agree that this is the idealistic approach to sharing knowledge and opinion. Given the distrustful nature of the membership with all things authority, i think you will find the exposure to the general populace a bitter pill for most to swallow. Times they are a changing and you can either change or get left behind. you cant fight it. hmmm can you smell that change rolling in??

Originally posted by Cyanhide
Question remains ,why is there no poll just to see how the community feels about this decision ?

Simplest answer...because it isn't a community decision.

The owners of this site will do (and have done) what is best for this site and it's members. If at the end of the day you can't come to grips with these types of decisions and moves...then like you heard from yeahright earlier...perhaps this isn't the best place for you.

reply to post by nyk537


Ah I see,we know whats best for you.

hehe, times they are changing.
Might as well lock the thread then.


Peace out.

reply to post by Cyanhide


There is no reason to lock the thread. I'm sure there are members here who will have other concerns or some type of feedback to express. Nobody is trying to silence your opinion on this matter or force it on you.

As we have said over and over...you can opt out of this. So really there is nothing to get worked up over.

I posted earlier that ATS + Google+ does not make sense. A contradiction as Google+ requires real names not psuedonyms or aliases and I for one would not be happy to post on this site using my real name.

Anyway the UK Data Watchdog have decided to have a look into Google's new identity policies.

www.theregister.co.uk...

Please view the link and some of the comments. You'll get the gist.

Google+ wont stop me or should stop anyone posting on this site - just don't use Google+

Originally posted by TiM3LoRd
i think you will find the exposure to the general populace a bitter pill for most to swallow. Times they are a changing and you can either change or get left behind. you cant fight it. hmmm can you smell that change rolling in??

Most? I think that may be your perception, but I disagree. Every time we announce any sort of change, there is an extremely vocal small minority who go off the deep end with the wild, unfounded accusations. I don't care whether it's stars, flags, contribution levels, contests, ... anything. That's just how it goes and we're generally glad to receive the feedback, questions, requests for clarification, as long as it stays civil and doesn't become preposterously absurd personal attacks.

Again, if exposure to the general populace is a bitter pill, seriously, this is not the place you want to be, We're not hidden away in some Internet backwater. We're a site pulling huge traffic. It's all about the exposure. That isn't a secret, and shouldn't be a surprise. We'll continue to use every available and fully vetted (by ownership) method for expanding the audience that is practical. If that's counterproductive to your personal wishes, then we're most definitely not rowing in the same direction.

Want it to be seen by a wide audience, post it here in the publicly accessible forums. Want to keep it a secret, write it on a piece of paper and bury it in your yard.

Originally posted by TiM3LoRd
As for me i dont give a crap who is monitoring what i do. go nuts lol.

Same here. Not only that but I don't really believe in any specific "them" monitoring anything.

Thing is, this is not about monitoring. It's about Google narrowing your world. It's described very well in the book I mentioned in my first post in this thread.
Or if reading a book is too much to ask (not from you, specifically, I mean from anyone), then at leats read this interviewwith the author.

Uhhh....

How do you opt-out? At the top of the page where the Google+ icon is, there is a privacy link. I click the privacy link and it brings up a page explaining the privacy guidelines. Then there is the opt-out on the page which results in a 404.

Is opting out a farce?

reply to post by Skewed


See the first post in this thread.

You need to go to your account settings.

Tools+ > Account

reply to post by yeahright


I'm not referring to threads, more my "extra curricular" participation, for which I gave up 52 or so evenings in their entirety, with nothing in the way of a thank you.

So, why now should I have any inclination to help the site in any way?