ATS attracts all kinds characters, are some drawn to ATS because they have deep issues?

ATS attracts all kinds characters, are some drawn to ATS because they have deep issues and this is reflected in their ATS activity?

On a number of occasions I and many other members have witnessed numerous episodes of member to member conflict and open hostility to fellow posters including threads of a so called jocular nature directed at particular members like one posted recently by BALKAN about ignoring other members posts (which kind of defeats the object of ATS - If you dont like somethng or dont agree with it then ignore it. Even though it may well be ignoring reality/the truth and a possible nip it in the bud perspective) hence the title of this thread.

After all every ATS member is entitled to their opinion on any thread subject matter. They are equally entitled to convey their view and prespective in a way that they feel reflects the reality of the material or situation being debated. Although one member may post their view or perpsective in a lengthy and elaborate manner another may be able to adequately present their perspective in a few poignant words, a single sentence or short paragraph.

Should another members posts be ignored or merely accepted as just another opinion/slant/perspective because everyones life experience is different? And does your ATS posting activity in anyway reflect you and your own issues? You see many ATS's target other members yet when the worm turns they throw the dummy out of the cot!!!

Reply to post by RoguePhilosopher

Sometimes its best to ignore someone when you know they only reason they posted something was to stir the pot and not add anything to the subject of the thread. Then you have the whole trolling issue. Along with the ad hominem arguments.


Posted Via ATS Mobile: m.abovetopsecret.com

i am unsure which post by balkan you mean, if it was the one linking to the member they do not like, it was a joke.
whoever clicked it would see their own profile.

my personnal opinion is that ATS is more civil than many other places, and i can talk to people here about stuff with less conclict/ridicule than in real life.

On the obverse, yes, deep issues such as intense bordom and creative lulls in what I would rather be working on. On the reverse, seeing people (and seeing myself) expressing all the rubbish they'd be embarrased to discuss in real life where there are consequences for deviating from the pack.

I think there are those who thrive on stirring the pot. I noticed in one thread I responded to, a person came in with guns blazing on the first reply like someone had just tried to chop off their foot! Unfortunately I took the bait, but only for a short time. Once I quit responding to them, they left. I think people exploit the fact that they are safely behind a computer screen where no one can get to them. It's a downside to the Internet and freedom, unfortunately.

If you put an open microphone in a park, think there's a chance a disturbed individual or two might take the opportunity to shout some nonsense into it?

Maybe the occasional bored kid might stop and take the opportunity to make some noises just to see what the amplification does?

It's no different here. All you need is an email address. We have rules and a staff in place to limit the cacophony as much as possible. Beyond that, each member needs to vet the content for themselves.

Open source. Some is good, some is bad, some is nuts. We won't all agree in every case, in which of those categories specific threads fit. That's why we adhere to the Terms and Conditions to the best of our collective ability, when moderating. There's really no better way to do it.

Focus on that which you perceive has value and is worth your time and maybe participation. Ignore the rest. Alerting on the egregious T&C violations isn't required, but it really helps us out.

I came here because I thought I had deep issues however, after seeing some of the other poster's here, I feel much better about myself! Sooper cheep Theruhpee!!!!

reply to post by yeahright


I would partially agree with that, but I don't think the analogy quite holds, In effect ATS is more like putting a microphone in a park with a sign around it reading "speak into here if you think the CIA is altering your mind through invisible gnomes"
Obviously in that analogy the number of "problem" people you get speaking into the mic then rises.

reply to post by davespanners


I see your point, but would suggest a more accurate sign would read

"Speak into here if you have any opinion on whether or not the CIA is altering your mind with invisible gnomes. Provided you can do it civilly".

The sign is the T&C, and in my analogy, no one reads either prior to participating.

reply to post by yeahright


Well I assume people have some knowledge of what the website is about before they join?
Unless a lot of ATS's dormant members came from people that joined thinking ATS stood for Agricultural Tractor Supplies and were sorely disappointed.

I could concede to you reading of your sign, and I would still think that if holds that you get a larger percentage of people with "issues" with that sign. Most people as far as I know don't have a strong opinion one way or the other about most of the issues here and so wouldn't join

Paranoid people with little social outlets will always seek out conspiracy sites. People don't want to be around them because havoc/conflict usually follows them and nobody can stand to have a conversation with an argumentative person. So, they bring their lack of social skills, self-absorbed nature, and argumentative ways to the boards. Then you have those who just want to be trolls out of enjoyment. Whatever - you either stand your own ground or ignore such people when they respond negatively. You just can't take them seriously.

At the time I came across ATS, I had an intense interest in ufology. Had no idea this world here existed. When I started reading subject matter on conspiracy, I got sucked into the rabbit hole.

My whole world got turned upside down as I learned more and more here. Eventually, I lost my appetite for Ufology and am intensely engaged with veracity in reading everything I can here. Truly, I think I am now a much different person today than a couple years ago. I now question everything and believe nothing.

It may or may not have affected me psychologically. Well, ok it did. My rose colored glasses got knocked off my face so fast I was blinded by the light.

As for others here, I can't judge. Frankly, I enjoy reading the entire prism of people here. Just when you think you met the most interesting or downright scary person, another one comes along. I love it.

reply to post by davespanners


Maybe.

Your sign assumes they agree with the premise. Mine identifies potential topics. I think you'd get more issue-laden people with your sign.

Not everyone does have an interest in the sorts of alternative topics in which we specialize. We have lurkers outnumbering registered members by a significantly wide margin. Our page views and time per session tells us that we attract a lot of "casual" traffic, and we retain for a longer time, more of those lurkers than the average site will.

Some of those lurkers are here for the information, some are here for entertainment. Many register, and a few of those actually go on to participate. It's as much of a mixed bag as I think you'll find anywhere.

And there are extremes at both ends. That's just the nature of it.

reply to post by RoguePhilosopher


Just like any other mixed bag, there are always at least a few nuts!

I will have to agree with brilab45. I came here out of curiosity. I have been somewhat of a theorist anyway, but never knew sites like this existed. I have learned a ton in the short amount of time I have been here. I have had my T&C moments, but as I engage more often I find myself analyzing my posts before I submit them. I think the main reason I like it here is because I get to engage with like minded individuals. Most of the people I know live in a bubble. They know there are issues, but don't want to admit it. They don't want to hear the gloom and doom, just the rosy parts. I for one want to know it all, the good and the bad. Some stuff is way out there, but then there is other stuff that really makes you think. That's what I enjoy. Contemplation and thought provoking ideas.

If this site didn't have the wackjobs, trolls, wingnuts, 5150, ate up with the dumb ass, or those crazier than a run over dog, it would be so dull, boring, uninteresting, that it would no longer be ATS; it would be CNN.

For the record my deep issue is an addiction to entertainment. The ATS members fill that need.

If you don't have any deep issues, you might as well be dead. Life is all about the deep issues.

Yes, I agree... some people are drawn to ATS because they have very deep issues.

I generally always try to be respectful in my posts, and I go out of my way to avoid trollish confrontations unless there is some humour involved! I may occasionally give someone a dose of their own attitude/language/patronizing. Having said that, some people (very few) on ATS do disgust me at times (such as the recent Breivek apologists), but I generally don't let fools get under my skin.

"Seriousness is the only refuge of the shallow." - Wylde

Btw, OP... thanks for the signature. I love that quote! Also, I have no hard feelings or animosity towards you whatsoever, so if you're still holding on, I'm not sure what to tell you, it's only from your end, friend.

Originally posted by lifeform11
i am unsure which post by balkan you mean, if it was the one linking to the member they do not like, it was a joke.
whoever clicked it would see their own profile.

Some people did not get the joke, and I do apologize for that. It got out of hand and if anyone was seriously offended by it, you do have my genuine apology here and now.

reply to post by Balkan


LOL! I thought it was classic. Took me a minute to figure it out. At first I was like WTF did I do? Then it dawned on me what you had done. Classic though just classic!