ATS made the list. We are somebody now

a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan

I like your style.

Make sure it is the one packed in oil too.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: Springer

Nice, you even got quoted.

Hopefully there is some sort of legal recourse you can take since this was obviously bulls***.

Is it BS though? This site hosts a lot of posts that are lets say, less than reputable. From Russian propaganda to economic doom porn. I realize the nature of a conspiracy theory is that you're searching for a truth that may not be being told and that sometimes delves into alternative sources. But in the last two years or so, this site has really changed and it coincides with the heavier political focus. A lot of political spin goes on, and people tend to quote whatever agrees with them rather than what is reputable.

Just as how Facebook is ultimately going to be responsible for their role in spreading fake stories, ATS is too. I can see the idea of letting people say anything and ultimately letting people decide for themselves what is real and what isn't, coming to a head in the next 4 years because people aren't proving to be good judges of fact vs fiction. And eventually that's going to turn into website regulation.

originally posted by: Aazadan
Is it BS though? This site hosts a lot of posts that are lets say, less than reputable.

So? It also hosts the counterpoints to those. It isn't like this is Stormfront and we're pretty much a one-sided echo chamber.

originally posted by: Aazadan
ATS is definitely a fake news site, the ranking in the OP is 100% accurate. It's the right wing version of having a mind so open, it's brain has fallen out. A good 80% or more of the posts here that have to do with politics are sourced through websites with zero credibility.

Occasionally ATS has good information when the posters put stuff together as a story is breaking, but it's definitely fake news.

And yet, here you are.

smh...

originally posted by: Springer
We made a USNews and World Report article this evening on this very topic:

www.usnews.com... (scroll down a touch)

Nice.

I noticed your COO said the following in that article:

"Mark Allin, chief operating officer of The Above Network, which runs the large news discussion board AboveTopSecret.com, says "at this time we are reviewing our options, nothing is off the table."

What options might they be?

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
So? It also hosts the counterpoints to those. It isn't like this is Stormfront and we're pretty much a one-sided echo chamber.

Most of the counterpoints aren't any better, that's just left spin vs right spin. There's very little that focuses on actual truth. I understand why the rules towards moderation and what's allowed is the way it is, I've run my own forums for years with the same rules. That doesn't change my opinion though, I think the days where you could let a persons sources and post history speak for them have vanished. Everyone (and I do mean everyone) buys into something that is completely fabricated, and most of them are going to be unlikely to admit they've been duped when provided with evidence.

People have completely lost the ability to determine what is and isn't real. To tie this into conspiracies, it reminds me of that quote supposedly from the CIA where they say the CIA's mission will be accomplished when everything people know is false.

originally posted by: Riffrafter
And yet, here you are.

smh...

Just because I think the politics section (which is what comprises easily 90% of the fake news here, if not more) has gone completely off the rails doesn't mean the site is bad. That particular section has some major issues though.

ATS is not Russian propaganda! LOL

If anything, we could be labeled as right wing propaganda as we get way more of that in the political threads. But...even that's not true...I think is is a pretty open place to discuss anything. Any propaganda get's bashed pretty well and thoroughly.

originally posted by: amazing
ATS is not Russian propaganda! LOL

If anything, we could be labeled as right wing propaganda as we get way more of that in the political threads. But...even that's not true...I think is is a pretty open place to discuss anything. Any propaganda get's bashed pretty well and thoroughly.

Does it? Is that why most posters here believe Infowars and RT are more credible than CNN?

originally posted by: JohnnyCanuck
a reply to: ezramullins

We've certainly had our share of Russian propagandists posting here whenever things get a little weird over there but we seem to nail them pretty quickly. Subtle they ain't.

Quite a few stuck around..

originally posted by: Aazadan
Most of the counterpoints aren't any better...

The fact that there are counterpoints is what is important, it is not just a one sided echo chamber. There are still plenty of people who are in the middle and have not chosen sides on each issue.

originally posted by: Aazadan

Is it BS though? This site hosts a lot of posts that are lets say, less than reputable. From Russian propaganda to economic doom porn.

But thats just, like, their opinion, man.

We aren't news. We are news aggregate. People come here to share what they find, and then talk about it. I have never seen ATS publish news.

originally posted by: bigfatfurrytexan

originally posted by: Aazadan

Is it BS though? This site hosts a lot of posts that are lets say, less than reputable. From Russian propaganda to economic doom porn.

But thats just, like, their opinion, man.

We aren't news. We are news aggregate. People come here to share what they find, and then talk about it. I have never seen ATS publish news.

Most mainstream sites have started becoming aggregates too. That's still a distributor.

I suppose people are free to their opinions, but then I think about the posters here who bought into Nibru, went hard into the survivalist scene, only to come out of it with no life savings. These things have consequences. People buy into things that they want to believe is true, despite credible evidence saying otherwise. It's most common with politics, but not the only area.

Perhaps it's just my issue though. It bothers me immensely when I see people mislead by false information, when accurate information is readily accessible. More, it bothers me when we help people profit from false information.

a reply to: Aazadan

im a pretty big fan of caveat emptor. If stupid people are allowed to exercise their stupidity it waters down the competition pool to my benefit.

originally posted by: Aazadan
Perhaps it's just my issue though. It bothers me immensely when I see people mislead by false information, when accurate information is readily accessible. More, it bothers me when we help people profit from false information.

I think your spot on. It's your issue, your problem and your opinion - so please don't try and advocate for censorship of the internet and the defamation of online communities based on what is, at the end of the day, simply your opinion.

These lists, and the sort of mentality that endorses such a list to be used in any meaningful way - will quickly lead us to a socialist/authoritarian rule of law where freedom of speech, and the free flow of information - no matter how damaging it may be to another party's agenda - is severely hampered.

I don't care how many gullible idiots are adversely affected by what you deem "fake news". They're responsible for their own critical thought process - and I'm responsible for mine.

a reply to: Aazadan

Just because I think the politics section (which is what comprises easily 90% of the fake news here, if not more) has gone completely off the rails doesn't mean the site is bad. That particular section has some major issues though.

No argument here.

a reply to: Riffrafter

I am "our COO". ;-)

originally posted by: Springer
a reply to: Riffrafter

I am "our COO". ;-)

I didn't know that. I always thought Springer was your real name - seriously.

So, can you discuss what options you were referring to?

I'm genuinely curious...no snark.

a reply to: Riffrafter

The reporter asked me if we were pursuing legal action or considering joining in a group legal action against WaPo.

a reply to: ezramullins

I believe it and have seen it. It's almost always a new account and they create a bunch of threads talking about how #ty the US is and that Russia isn't so bad. They get exposed pretty quickly when they are obvious, but I'm sure there are others who have nested into the community and help drive even some major posters' opinions. Why wouldn't there be? It's an open forum.

originally posted by: Indigo5

originally posted by: anotherside


You guys seem to be skipping the facts about voting machine hacks.

THAT...

What everyone needs to ponder here...and I mean PONDER FOR THEMSELVES....INTROSPECTION...

Is how Donald Trump's erratic nature, the rapidity in which he flips from one extreme position to the other with extreme conviction and prejudice...

Leads to ATSers doing the same.

For the love of god...ATS has been a hotbed of "Voting Machines are BAD and HACKED" for years...now the exact same posters are suddenly calling that nonsense.

Of course hacking occurs. The people who said it didn't or couldn't effect an election are the same people now saying it could have effected the election. You see it goes both ways. Opinions are never fake.

The establishment move to brand sites as fake is a clear attack on all of us. No introspection is required to understand that.