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Does ATS REALLY Promote Civil Discussion?
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I quit using ATS for a while, and have recently started again.
There are a lot of cool things about this site, but it didn't take long for me to remember why I wanted to stop coming here.
Nearly every thread I look at contains mockery, hatefulness and insults.
Even if a person is terribly mistaken in their facts, it doesn't mean they deserve a verbal beatdown every time someone disagrees with them!
HATEFUL is the key word there.
Most people wouldn't walk up to a stranger on the street and simply call them a blithering idiot just because they hold a different viewpoint.
The insults and mockery are counter-productive to society as a whole.
It's a juvenile power trip, and I'd like to see the moderators do a little more footwork regarding this issue.
[snipped]
There are a lot of cool things about this site, but it didn't take long for me to remember why I wanted to stop coming here.
Nearly every thread I look at contains mockery, hatefulness and insults.
Even if a person is terribly mistaken in their facts, it doesn't mean they deserve a verbal beatdown every time someone disagrees with them!
You will not Post forum posts, private messages, PODcasts, blog entries, videos, images, and other supported content, links to images or use avatars and/or signatures that are unlawful, harassing, libelous, privacy invading, abusive, threatening, harmful, hateful, vulgar, obscene, and/or disruptive.
HATEFUL is the key word there.
Most people wouldn't walk up to a stranger on the street and simply call them a blithering idiot just because they hold a different viewpoint.
The insults and mockery are counter-productive to society as a whole.
It's a juvenile power trip, and I'd like to see the moderators do a little more footwork regarding this issue.
[snipped]
edit on Sat Aug 3 2013 by DontTreadOnMe because: inappropriate request removed.
Originally posted by DeReK DaRkLy
HATEFUL is the key word there..
For hateful and absurd behavior ... check out the 9/11 forum.
MY ATS Thread - Now I know why Conspiracy Theories are Mocked
You almost see these playground style insults in quite a bit of the new topics. It's usually when the OP has a different idea about something. And of
course instead of having a logical debate about the said subject, people respond with hostility and ignorant comments.
I think this website and of course many others, is a perfect example of how people in a whole have become dumber and dumber, less polite and overall just turning into a$$holes.
I think this website and of course many others, is a perfect example of how people in a whole have become dumber and dumber, less polite and overall just turning into a$$holes.
Most members of ATS are quite capable of having civil discussions.
However!
ATS has been infiltrated by those who wish to divide and conquer. There are many of them, they work in groups, and they star and flag each other.
This thread has already had a visit from them.
However!
ATS has been infiltrated by those who wish to divide and conquer. There are many of them, they work in groups, and they star and flag each other.
This thread has already had a visit from them.
The following is my opinion as a member participating in this discussion.
If anyone deems another user's comments to be hurtful, hateful, rude, or just down right out of order in anyway and it's violating the rather simple and easy to follow site terms and conditions of use, we have a complaint form that can be found here. Everyone is welcome to fill it in and submit it. Once you do so, It then finds it's way to a staff only forum where we'll look at the potential infraction, and discuss what, if any, action to then take. Bear in mind though that this does take time as yes, everything is actually discussed and everything is also logged too, so if you don't see action taking place right away then rest assured, action, if it's deemed necessary and there is a genuine violation of the T&C's, will take place at a slightly later time.
It's quite obvious that we don't allow anything that's uncivil here, so please just try to understand that we're everyday people after all, we're doing a volunteer job and we genuinely are doing the best job we can at the same time. We can't see everything either and so we do appreciate the alerts sent in by our fellow members of this forum.
Cheers.
As an ATS Staff Member, I will not moderate in threads such as this where I have participated as a member.
[Self snipped]
edit on 3-8-2013 by Rising Against because: (no reason given)
reply to post by DeReK DaRkLy
It absolutely promotes civil discussion. Do you at all frequent any other forums? ATS is by far the most civil I've come across but that said, welcome to the internet where people are more prone to be complete asshat trolls who are not afraid to let their anger fly. So while ATS does promote civil discussion, those angry trolls who post here are just better at controlling their words because they know the Ban Hammer comes fast and swift.
It absolutely promotes civil discussion. Do you at all frequent any other forums? ATS is by far the most civil I've come across but that said, welcome to the internet where people are more prone to be complete asshat trolls who are not afraid to let their anger fly. So while ATS does promote civil discussion, those angry trolls who post here are just better at controlling their words because they know the Ban Hammer comes fast and swift.
edit on 3-8-2013 by Swills because: (no reason given)
ive noticed that these "haters" are nearly all new-ish members
i wonder if they have an agenda.
ive definitely noticed more people complain about abusive behaviour
and i dont like it
i wonder if they have an agenda.
ive definitely noticed more people complain about abusive behaviour
and i dont like it
If you are wrong, and continue to be wrong, someone should definitely tell you that are you are.
Civilly of course, but sometimes the people who are wrong, really don't get it.
They take the repetition as "uncivil"
Civilly of course, but sometimes the people who are wrong, really don't get it.
They take the repetition as "uncivil"
Originally posted by VoidHawk
Most members of ATS are quite capable of having civil discussions.
However!
ATS has been infiltrated by those who wish to divide and conquer. There are many of them, they work in groups, and they star and flag each other.
This thread has already had a visit from them.
You know something? I got completely lost in the old message archives last night. I totally lost track of time and realized I'd been in the old messages for hours by the time I looked at a clock. What struck me for this thread? The cyclic nature of this problem. I saw the same things being said in early 2011, 2008 and a bit which came earlier.
It's odd, how we figure these things are new problems when they're just the same old issue rolling back around as if all on a wheel. Sooner or later, it all seems to come back around, eh?
reply to post by DeReK DaRkLy
Believe it or not, it really wasnt this way 6 or 7 years ago. My theory is that its popularity caused it to come up more often in google key word searches. This led the younger less civilized generation to infiltrate and infest the board and other members with their immature one liners and hateful and bitterness that they believe is a form of humor.
Believe it or not, it really wasnt this way 6 or 7 years ago. My theory is that its popularity caused it to come up more often in google key word searches. This led the younger less civilized generation to infiltrate and infest the board and other members with their immature one liners and hateful and bitterness that they believe is a form of humor.
edit on 3-8-2013 by Sharingan because: (no reason given)
reply to post by Rising Against
Be that as it may, can you explain why moderators choose to turn a blind eye when words like "idiot" and "moron" are thrown around daily?
If anyone deems another user's comments to be hurtful, hateful, rude, or just down right out of order in anyway and it's violating the rather simple and easy to follow site terms and conditions of use, we have a complaint form that can be found here. Everyone is welcome to fill it in and submit it.
Be that as it may, can you explain why moderators choose to turn a blind eye when words like "idiot" and "moron" are thrown around daily?
reply to post by Sharingan
I respectfully disagree. And I can respectfully disagree with yourself there as a young 20 year old male myself. I've also been a member of these forums for many years now. See, yes, I agree some of the younger generation are, to put it lightly, idiots. That's a given really. But, so are some of the older generation too, and so are some of those in between. It's not just one group, certainly not as far as I've seen here anyway. It's all groups and to blame one is very short sighted in my opinion. If anything, and this is my true opinion, It's also the older generation who have been that bit more rude and unforgiving all in all, from what I've seen. Not all mind, just from an average point of view.
I'm of the younger generation and I know full well how to argue, how to disagree appropriately and how to debate. Many others know these skills, one's that are learnt. And with any skill that's learnt, those of all ages can be in a position where they're not quite where they should be with it, just as some of all ages are.
So I do think It's very harsh just to blame the easy target there, which is of course the younger generation. I think we should realize that's it's actually a problem all across the board there.
This led the younger less civilized generation to infiltrate and infest the board and other members with their immature one liners and hateful and bitterness that they believe is a form of humor.
The following is my opinion as a member participating in this discussion.
I respectfully disagree. And I can respectfully disagree with yourself there as a young 20 year old male myself. I've also been a member of these forums for many years now. See, yes, I agree some of the younger generation are, to put it lightly, idiots. That's a given really. But, so are some of the older generation too, and so are some of those in between. It's not just one group, certainly not as far as I've seen here anyway. It's all groups and to blame one is very short sighted in my opinion. If anything, and this is my true opinion, It's also the older generation who have been that bit more rude and unforgiving all in all, from what I've seen. Not all mind, just from an average point of view.
I'm of the younger generation and I know full well how to argue, how to disagree appropriately and how to debate. Many others know these skills, one's that are learnt. And with any skill that's learnt, those of all ages can be in a position where they're not quite where they should be with it, just as some of all ages are.
So I do think It's very harsh just to blame the easy target there, which is of course the younger generation. I think we should realize that's it's actually a problem all across the board there.
As an ATS Staff Member, I will not moderate in threads such as this where I have participated as a member.
edit on 3-8-2013 by Rising Against because: (no reason given)
reply to post by DeReK DaRkLy
If you call Madonna, Sarah Palin or Hillary Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama or the Pope an idiot or a moron...well, they are public figures.
Unless they are members...those words may be okay.
Calling members names is not okay.
We expect civility and decorum within all topics.
If you call Madonna, Sarah Palin or Hillary Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama or the Pope an idiot or a moron...well, they are public figures.
Unless they are members...those words may be okay.
Calling members names is not okay.
We expect civility and decorum within all topics.
reply to post by Rising Against
I meant the younger, younger generation, as in the 13-15 year olds that learned their manors on 4chan and reddit.
I do agree though that it is now an across the board problem but like I said, bad manors foment bad manors eventually, ie they infected others and so on..
Thats just my opinion though, as I said above, its a theory of mine but I really dont dwell on it, its not that big of a deal
I meant the younger, younger generation, as in the 13-15 year olds that learned their manors on 4chan and reddit.
I do agree though that it is now an across the board problem but like I said, bad manors foment bad manors eventually, ie they infected others and so on..
Thats just my opinion though, as I said above, its a theory of mine but I really dont dwell on it, its not that big of a deal
edit on 3-8-2013
by Sharingan because: (no reason given)
reply to post by DeReK DaRkLy
Simply put.. if we see another user being called a name.. we'll action it. Always.
Like I said above though, we can't see everything and we can't be everywhere all of the time too. Please do try to understand this. So, if you see a name being thrown around, alert it. We'll get to it as quickly as we possibly can and we'll also take action when time allows as well. But as I pointed out in my previous post, we're just people after all and we can only go so quickly. If you see insults and It's not been alerted to your knowledge, then the chances are we've just not seen it yet, or there's some form of discussion going on at the time.
Also, It's worth pointing out that not every alert will produce a form of action taking from staff. A lot of the time alerts we receive are actually just opinions or they're comments which have been taken wrong. But yes, personal insults are not something that will ever, ever be allowed here. I hate it, so do the other mods, so do the rest of the membership, and It's against forum rules. When we see them, we'll deal with them. Always.
Be that as it may, can you explain why moderators choose to turn a blind eye when words like "idiot" and "moron" are thrown around daily?
Simply put.. if we see another user being called a name.. we'll action it. Always.
Like I said above though, we can't see everything and we can't be everywhere all of the time too. Please do try to understand this. So, if you see a name being thrown around, alert it. We'll get to it as quickly as we possibly can and we'll also take action when time allows as well. But as I pointed out in my previous post, we're just people after all and we can only go so quickly. If you see insults and It's not been alerted to your knowledge, then the chances are we've just not seen it yet, or there's some form of discussion going on at the time.
Also, It's worth pointing out that not every alert will produce a form of action taking from staff. A lot of the time alerts we receive are actually just opinions or they're comments which have been taken wrong. But yes, personal insults are not something that will ever, ever be allowed here. I hate it, so do the other mods, so do the rest of the membership, and It's against forum rules. When we see them, we'll deal with them. Always.
reply to post by DontTreadOnMe
Really? I was just called "crybaby" in this thread and I KNOW at least one mod saw it.
Calling members names is not okay. We expect civility and decorum within all topics.
Really? I was just called "crybaby" in this thread and I KNOW at least one mod saw it.
Originally posted by DeReK DaRkLy
reply to post by DontTreadOnMe
Calling members names is not okay. We expect civility and decorum within all topics.
Really? I was just called "crybaby" in this thread and I KNOW at least one mod saw it.
It was a joke.
reply to post by DeReK DaRkLy
First, civil discourse is not something we should NEED oversight to achieve. But... in this, our opening decades of the 21st century, we have become far less civil, much less tolerant and a helluva lot less educated. The result is [plain to see across the web; intolerance for anyone who doesn't follow a specific political or cultural brand.
Here at ATS... politics or cultural branding carries no weight. It is one of thos things there is no real argument against because there is no favoritism... which, of course, runs counter to contemporary preferences.
My dime.
Does ATS REALLY Promote Civil Discussion?
First, civil discourse is not something we should NEED oversight to achieve. But... in this, our opening decades of the 21st century, we have become far less civil, much less tolerant and a helluva lot less educated. The result is [plain to see across the web; intolerance for anyone who doesn't follow a specific political or cultural brand.
Here at ATS... politics or cultural branding carries no weight. It is one of thos things there is no real argument against because there is no favoritism... which, of course, runs counter to contemporary preferences.
My dime.
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