Lets rename AboveTop Secret to " Lets argue about everything anyone posts " !

Originally posted by MystikMushroom
reply to post by Kryties

 

I'm. So. With. You.

Good lord how nice would it be to have some awesome science thread, or maybe a really good "mystery" for us to all help solve!

Or a new ATS Game.

Or a new "Hidden Hand".

I've been lurking for years, but last year when all the summer crazies were on the boards I came to a fork in the road. I had to either walk away from ATS or join up. So I chose to walk away. However I couldn't stay away. Doh.

I've been disgusted over the last couple of years by the treatment truthseekers get, especally in the UFO forum, where it seems theres one rule for blind believers and another for those denying ignorance.

Many have said this before, and no doubt others will in the future: I wish there was a way to require prospective members to pass intelligence, knowledge, logic and critical thinking tests before membership can be given.

I don`t mind the arguing so much as I mind the lack of reading comprehension and focus some posters seem to have.
A topic about the dangers of food additives will have people posting arguments over whether King Henry the 1st wore boxers or briefs.
If you must argue and act like a twit,for the love of all that is holy at least STAY ON TOPIC!!

reply to post by Free4Ever2


No, the rules of the board prevent the worst kinds of argument.

What you have here is debate, en mass.

Originally posted by Newagekid2012
I always found that arguing because of conflicting viewpoints actually generates some great info. Especially when you have those people that just link articles back and forth to further their arguments.

i definitely agree and a community of like-minded members with a healthy debate you'll find a comradery you may not have in your real-world relationships, for the most part anyway.

Some members could get in to an argument in a an empty room.

reply to post by woodwardjnr


There's not a moment in life that cannot be accurately explained by a Monty Python clip

Originally posted by MystikMushroom
I've noticed that the people that are arguing the most are the newbies to ATS. It seems like I barley ever see anyone on the boards thats been here longer than me. I've also noticed an uptick in "suspicious" new members that seem to come with an agenda, and then never are heard from again.

I miss the "good old days" when actual research on interesting topics was done. I don't think I can stomach any more gun threads, or alarmist "the country is doomed!" type topics.

As I have said just a bit ago in another topic, we all know the USA has gone to crap. We've already past the point of no return. We know the government wants more power, it always has and always will. There really is no point in going in circles on ATS about what's wrong with our country.

Unless one of you has a decent shot at being POTUS, there really isn't anything anyone here can do to stop what is happening. *sigh* It's depressing, yes -- but at least we have a leg up on the general population. At least we know that it's all going to fall apart.

Remember, a lot of us noobs are actually old farts that for whatever reason just never signed up.

I've been reading ATS since it began, but never felt compelled to register until I ditched the blinders.

Also not everything that APPEARS to be an agenda IS an agenda.

MANY here on ATS are interested in ONE thing, waking up the pojama' people.

The truth is NEVER popular and ALWAYS attacked.

reply to post by Kryties


Thats not true!

Originally posted by Free4Ever2
what the hell has happened to this board?
ive been here four years now and was a ghost for three before that!
it seems to me its nothing but people arguing!

are there any sane minds out there?
why are we so compelled to argue with each other?
will anyone here ever agree?

i worry!

There's absolutely nothing wrong with well intentioned, respectful debate.. but that's just the problem, isn't it? A serious lack of respect for our brothers.

I think, and this is just speculation, that the vast majority of people on ATS -nay, the internet- have never really had an actual face-to-face debate with anyone. They've only ever had the convenience of anonymity from behind their monitors. This allows them to completely undermine a person's thoughts and ideas and disrespect them simply for holding an opposing view.

When this happens the topic at hand spirals into oblivion and turns into a sort of passive aggressive mud-slinging (for those that try to abide by ATS rules) and an all-out pissing contest for others.
No progress, at all. And they wonder why no one takes them seriously!

I bet over half the snarky and disrespectful remarks made by ATSers would never be uttered in face-to-face debate

Remember fellow ATSers:

Originally posted by Free4Ever2
what the hell has happened to this board?
ive been here four years now and was a ghost for three before that!
it seems to me its nothing but people arguing!

are there any sane minds out there?
why are we so compelled to argue with each other?
will anyone here ever agree?

i worry!

If everyone just agreed with each other there would be no Board at all. The focus of a forum is for people to post up a topic and discuss it, 95% of the time, someone will disagree with you, and someone will want to talk about why they disagree with you. If everyone would just nod and smile, the board would look something like this:

Original Post: I hate pedophiles, they are stupid. Blah blah blah point blah blah blah opinion and more points blah blah blah. The end.

Second Post: I agree!

~The End

There would be no point for the Forum, period! Now that's no fun.

Originally posted by Free4Ever2
what the hell has happened to this board?
ive been here four years now and was a ghost for three before that!
it seems to me its nothing but people arguing!

are there any sane minds out there?
why are we so compelled to argue with each other?
will anyone here ever agree?

i worry!

I think the reason everyone just argues on here is because a good 50% of the material posted is hyper-politicized partisan bull-dung which instantly gets everyone riled up into a fit. A mindset has invaded the west that EVERYTHING IS POLITICAL.... and it really isn't. If you see the posts about gun control... everyone is Obama this... conservatives that... blah blah blah... maybe gun control is a bad example because it is technically a political issue but Niburu is an a-political hypothesis of the end of the world but people still inject their political ideologies into the discussion where it has no place..

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. That's fine with me. People have different views of the same things, and that's fine. Then arguments arise from that; it's human nature.

But when these arguments plunge into a much more personal level however...

reply to post by Free4Ever2


This place is great, but, as time is going on, less and less topics about paranormal cases.
And more and more of politics.

Ah, those halcyon days of high school!

We basically have a few groups here: The Intellectuals (the nerds/geeks), The Fun Seekers (the jocks/rich kids), and The Outcast(e)s (the ones who walk around looking down all the time).

To the Intellectuals, what good are your fancy, book learned smarts if you can't use them to solve your problems? Comrades, for the sake of civil discourse, unite!

"Actual human discourse happens within a number of contexts, not in some sort of unified public forum."
- Rowan D. Williams

For instance, when you run into "the 4chan and Reddit kids," or "immature social comments and half-baked ideas only to discover a total lack of education and a complete inability to think." and even "Ha,ha, what a retard!" At the very least, HELP THEM. What feels better, a helping hand from above, or a derisive smirk from on high? Remember, seriously successful student tutors pleasantly promise to help their peers pass (or pick a peck of pickled...you get the gist). That kinda stuffy atmosphere needs to be cleared away by...

...The Fun Seekers. Who, by the way, need to stop with the loud sighs of "Boring!" Same thread over and over again? "Boring!" "Annoying!" "How much longer till the bell rings?!?" Participating in this site is like being Sookie Stackhouse at a ball game. So, show us how it's done, be the "Whoooooooo!!!!" girl that takes her top off. Not everyone can be the star quarterback/striker. If you really think about it, the whole school is depending on YOU. Because statiscally, the rest of the building is filled with...

...The Outcast(e)s. Hey, Losers...Uhh..stop being losers! Realize that you have WAY more influence (and power) than you think. It is disheartening to hear some people say that they fear posting because they feel, in essence, bullied. Keep posting - some of us WANT to hear your opinions. Don't stay away from school. Yes, you probably will get your lunch money taken, but you are always welcome to have my apple or carrot sticks. The point is, you will receive an education and go on to have a much better life than most. Life is out there (points to the horizon), not down there (points to sidewalk).

Libertygal has a near perfect attitude for an ATSer:

Debating a topic is ok, I have even changed my stance, admitted I was wrong, etc. Never had it happen in return, though! A lot of people have to always be right, have to always have the last word. I just walk away. I don't care if it looks like I "lost". I feel like the bigger person for it, and couldn't care less how they or anyone else sees me.

There is a simple way to slither through ATS
without a scratch.

Step 1. Avatar. You with assault rifles. Female? assault rifles and cleavage
Step 2. Ron Paul 2000 & whatever for your signature.
Step 3. Although its your signature never wander into Political forums.( because I'll get you)
Step 4. Never ever agree that an OP's pic or video is anything but CGI.
(Whether it's UFO's or lost pyramids) Never, even if your pretty sure 'that's a damn alien.'
Step 5. This is key,.. Never go back to a page you commented on.
This way you'll never encounter any arguments.

reply to post by Free4Ever2


I am gonna have to agree.

It seems people just want to debate and argue instead of finding ways to solve the problems and expose the problems.

what the hell has happened to this board? ive been here four years now and was a ghost for three before that! it seems to me its nothing but people arguing! are there any sane minds out there? why are we so compelled to argue with each other? will anyone here ever agree? i worry!

reply to post by Free4Ever2


I couldn't agree more, it's turned into a huge forum of rants and argument, if you dare speak out against the paranoid bandwagon, they will mob you!
All I see back to back is Guns, Obama, Sandy Hook. All the once intelligent conversations have been sucked right out or pushed to the back of the forum all together. These people HAVE ruined ATS! They need to get their own forum so they can group up and take over the government there! I believe everyone has the right to free speech and posting, but seriously this is out of control!

Mods seriously need to step in and get this under control!

Originally posted by Staroth
...if you dare speak out against the paranoid bandwagon, they will mob you!

The majority of us simply don't realize that HATE is in reality just a tool used by the dark side.

It serves no useful purpose for those who fight for the truth.

Most are in a state of perpetual denial and cognitive dissonance and the only way to cope is to hate.

People are simply deceived by the dark side.

reply to post by Free4Ever2


I think I agree to some point.

I like to make threads to promote discussion, and try to get people to challenge their beliefs, but I end up just arguing with people over points not really relevant to the OP. Usually because they want to impose their belief, without even addressing the evidence that their belief is based on misunderstandings. It kinda makes you not want to bother.

reply to post by Free4Ever2

Lets rename AboveTop Secret to " Lets argue about everything anyone posts " !

Welcome to the internet.