Is the ATS Government Growing Too Fast?

I don't know if it's just me, or does anyone else feel as if there have been so many "elections" here, that it feels as if there are more "staff-types" here than plain members?

I don't mean anything derogatory when I say "Staff-types", it is just a term I came up with because I honestly can't remember what all categories that have been formed lately. I mean, Moderators, Supermoderators, basically seemed normal. Of course, the Owner and the Advisor are necessary. But I mean, I'm happy for all of you who have won your elections and have your new titles, and I have participated in just about, if not every election.

It just seems that for a forum, even a large one - and especially a free-thinking one like ATS, that the "government" here would be kept to more of a minimum.

Any other thoughts on the matter? Like I say, it just seems like a lot, too much for me to keep track of - everyone's new titles, etc...... Not to mention all the U2U's.....No offfense to anyone.

[edit on 11/18/2005 by CyberKat]

Uuuuuummmmm There has been a total of two here on ATS. The council elections allows members to select representatives amongst the members who serve as liasons with the staff and owners of the board. As many staff and council members would attest too, the relationship has been benificial to all involved.

Two elections in this time frame is pretty resonable considering the growth and traffic of ATS.

Thanks, seriously for putting it into perspective. I guess that I just got sort of overwhelmed with all the U2U's, then trying my best to vote for people, some of whom I have become familiar, some I have not.

I guess that was all that inspired me to make that post.

I have to say that the very notion of a message board government sort of caught me off guard.

I instinctively mistrust anybody who wishes to exert power and influence over something that affects anyone else's life, and particularly, obviously, my own. I've seen the results of message board anarchy, but I've also seen the results of rule by a handful of the more disreputable and sociopathic power-mongers that seem to slither up from the bowels of humanity from time to time, and between the two, anarchy is honestly vastly superior.

We won't know if we are to be ruled by kindly, gentle, honorable and forthright souls or by self-involved egomaniacs until it's too late to prevent the latter, so all we can do is to cross our fingers and hope. I've seen boards where people with power and influence used it to better the boards, and I've seen ones where they used it to promote personal vendettas and to squelch legitimate dissent.

Beyond all of that-- I have to say that I find it quite ironic that this community, which is largely centered around conspiracies and such-- that often focuses on the shady and sinister activities of them-- has elected its own them........

We have on ATS:

• 61755 registered members.
  
• 44 Staff Members and
  
• 6 Elected Council Members

It seems as though there is only a small percentage of staff compaired to members. What you have to remember is a lot of those people are lurkers and do not post/get involved but rather watch and read. :|

Perverts I call them.

Once the masses start flooding in from the exposure gained due to the TV show, the number of moderators will suddenly seem quite few. There have been some recent promotions in order to pre-empt the coming influx, building up the dams before the rainy season. By the time the TV show kicks off, the new mods should have kicked off their training wheels.



Those numbers aren't a true indication. There are a few mods, and a huge number of members who aren't active.

[edit on 2005-11-21 by wecomeinpeace]

Already pointed that out.

It is my understanding that the council positions do not have any "powers" associated with them, except to be able to applaud people. Unless I am misunderstanding they do not have any police powers. They are not a government by regulation, they are a council of representation.

I think the perception is what is askew here.

[edit on 11-21-2005 by Valhall]

Valhall, I do believe 'we' are able to move posts to the right sections - or at least that is what I was told by a few people.

Ummmm, I have apparently missed something. What TV show? I realize that I can't live here all the time, and if it has anything to do with pod casts, I am really not very good with learning new, technical stuff, so due to that, and the fact that my computer is kind of screwed up and my sound hasn't worked since before the ATS pod casts even were here, I suppose I missed a lot.

But, seriously, is there really a TV show that has something to do with ATS? Has it already been on? Is it coming up in the future? I sure would like to see it if it hasn't already been on. Of course, I don't have cable. I suppose that that's where it is. Maybe not?

Interesting...........

Very good observations by everyone, I think.

Kat, I feel you, as the younguns say. it did seem like we were pummeled by the political process. I hate the process, in the physical world as well as the cyber world, so I agree that it seemed like there was an abundance of politicians running around this place. I kept my hand on my wallet the whole darned time!

although I was against this experiment, and am still not totally sold, I can see that there are a lot of good things that can happen for the community because of this additional structure to the board.

As a matter of fact, Kat, I HIGHLY suggest that you run for office next election time.

Thank you, Thomas Crowne (I think). At least for understanding what prompted me to make the post in the first place. As far as running for office, I took it as a compliment (I think), but.....just a writer and member is good enough for me.

BTW, I was serious in my last post regarding if there really is a TV show that has to do with ATS. Is there? Or did I just read someone's post wrong?

Here check this out dude.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Thanks for the link, ThichHeaded. I guess I'm not the only one who doen't know much about it. It's nice that it appears that it will be aired all around most if not all the countries where people live who post here, and especially good that it is in the US.......for all those who have cable/sattelite.

Oh, I realize that I started this thread, and I'm also the one who seems to have gotten it way off topic. For that I appologize. I will try not to do that anymore.

CyberKat

I'm really not sure what to make of this. The councilors are not 'them', they have no power, other than an ability to applaud or give 'little warns', like for posting one liners and the like.

You don't find other boards, infact you won't find a single other board, that has a group of members, chosen by their peers, to represent them and their needs to the actual owners of the board. Thats because any other board's owners are going to want to control their board.

I find it stunning that someone can see this as a bad thing.

I can't even explain to the members here just to what lengths the ownership of this board goes to make sure that what they are doing jives with the intent and wants of the membership. They constantly communicate with their Administrators and Super-Moderators. They're constantly talking to and hashing things over with us in Modship. They go through a lot of work and down right nuissances to set up these elections every so often and have primaries and a final vote, providing the council of members with forums, not just a single forum but sets of forums, to discuss all the things that the members want. This is no small amount of work for an avocation, not even their actual vocations.

I mean, talk about an irrational fear of authority, and when the council doesn't even have any authority in the first place!

Personally, for all the flaws, nuisances, and wastes of the council, I am still impressed that this is the only board in the internet that has anything like this.

If members are dissatisfied with something in the board, then all they need to do is contact the council members to try to work it out!

Not unless something changed since I was in the council...

Yeah, I don't think they can do that. I wasn't aware they could even warn for one-liners. And maybe that's something that should be looked at since the council has been promoted as a representative body - not a government body, not a policing body.

That's just my opinion.

A little correction. Yes we can applaud posts, but we cannot give any kind of warns in any way. Not even for one-liners. And we cannot move posts either.

Thank you Hellmutt! That's the way I thought it was and that's just the way it should be.

So - in response to the initial concerns of this thread. NO - the council does not represent a "govern-ment" - but a representation of us the members.

Totally different. They're at your service to listen to your desires, ideas, concerns, etc. And they act as a conduit to the admin and staff who have the power to respond.

As stated, they can't do any of that. Privileges extend to closed development forums (for suggestions, discussion and member representation), complaints review, member applause, ribbon cutting ceremonies and liberal use of the Pope-mobile.

Mayors aren't cops.