Well done Amegos, this should hopefully clear up the mess.
Is this thread going to be put up on the banner? Otherwise people might not get to see it and end up loseing points.
New ATS Policy For Very-Large Threads (Serpo!), page 1
privacy
Topic started on 2-2-2006 @ 04:44 PM by AboveTopSecret.com
The Project Serpo Thread has become an ATS Phenomenon as it rapidly approaches 4,000
replies with no indication of slowing. It has quickly become our longest thread, and is rapidly moving up the ranks of our "most viewed" threads.
However, the subject has become highly controversial as the fantastic claims become increasingly scrutinized by more members each day. Certainly, fantastic claims eventually require similarly fantastic evidence, else difficult questions rise to the surface.
And many difficult questions have indeed rose to the surface, calling into doubt the motivations of Bill Ryan, some members, personalities external to ATS, and even ATS management.
In order to understand the truth, and that's why were all here, discussion of the claims and related information should continue. However, the thread and subject are in danger of devolving with an uncontrollable life of it's own. In the interests of regaining quality discussion in the ideal of our motto, we've had to consider unique a management approach for threads such as this. And with our continued growth (we'll hit 2 million posts this month), a policy for giant threads is long overdue.
ATS Big-Threads Policy
From this point forward, any thread with more than 1,500 replies will be classified as an "ATS Big-Thread". Threads of this size have become difficult to manage and impossible for new members to fully comprehend. We are putting this new policy into place as an effort to encourage new discussion, while managing the size of our largest threads.
Replies: Short, pointless replies that do not add to the subject matter of the thread topic will be removed, and the poster subject to a red-flag warning (and 250 point deduction).
Big Quotes: Large quotes (especially quoting entire posts, or nested posts) will be removed from your post (your post will not be altered, just the quoted portion). Repeated big-quoting will result in a red-flag warning (and 250 point deduction).
Trolling and Abuse: Events of trolling and related abuse (including "thread hijacking") will result in a 3-day posting ban.
Thread Index: Members who would like to create a thread index summary of the important points throughout the thread should contact myself or Springer. If your index is used, you'll be awarded 100,000 points and your post referenced on the first post of the Big Thread.
I know many may see these measures as harsh, but if you've ever spent time involved in an interesting large thread, you know the frustrations that can occur as the size approaches 1,500 replies and more. However, nothing in these new policies represents anything additive to our Terms & Conditions, we're simply going to be more strict with very large threads.
These measures are an effort to keep these extraordinary discussions on-track and focused on-topic. Because one thing is crystal clear, on ATS, with our effort to ensure every post counts, a thread with more than 1,500 replies must be very important to our members and we want to respect and protect these important threads.
Unique Procedure Specific To The Project Serpo Thread
As many know, this thread is unique and is our biggest Big-Thread. Because of the highly charged subject matter, we request that all members keep these points in mind when participating:
1) Stay on-topic and focused. Do not post simple "no photos yet?" posts.
2) Please respect Bill Ryan and any future expert guests that participate. Without them, the quality of discussion would suffer.
3) Our expert guests (such as Bill Ryan) should stay focused on relaying important new information and replying to direct questions (when possible) from our members.
4) When we have expert guests involved (Bill Ryan) please respect his time and limit your questions to no more than two per post, and wait until your questions are addressed before asking more. Remember that the value of our expert quests relies on the quality of your questions, and their ability to have enough time to respond with a quality answer.
We want to be certain that very large and active threads like this remain a benefit to our members first, foremost, and always. The moment a large thread ceases to benefit the community, we will take corrective action, close it, or even remove it.
Thank you.
The owners and staff of AboveTopSecret.com
However, the subject has become highly controversial as the fantastic claims become increasingly scrutinized by more members each day. Certainly, fantastic claims eventually require similarly fantastic evidence, else difficult questions rise to the surface.
And many difficult questions have indeed rose to the surface, calling into doubt the motivations of Bill Ryan, some members, personalities external to ATS, and even ATS management.
In order to understand the truth, and that's why were all here, discussion of the claims and related information should continue. However, the thread and subject are in danger of devolving with an uncontrollable life of it's own. In the interests of regaining quality discussion in the ideal of our motto, we've had to consider unique a management approach for threads such as this. And with our continued growth (we'll hit 2 million posts this month), a policy for giant threads is long overdue.
ATS Big-Threads Policy
From this point forward, any thread with more than 1,500 replies will be classified as an "ATS Big-Thread". Threads of this size have become difficult to manage and impossible for new members to fully comprehend. We are putting this new policy into place as an effort to encourage new discussion, while managing the size of our largest threads.
Replies: Short, pointless replies that do not add to the subject matter of the thread topic will be removed, and the poster subject to a red-flag warning (and 250 point deduction).
Big Quotes: Large quotes (especially quoting entire posts, or nested posts) will be removed from your post (your post will not be altered, just the quoted portion). Repeated big-quoting will result in a red-flag warning (and 250 point deduction).
Trolling and Abuse: Events of trolling and related abuse (including "thread hijacking") will result in a 3-day posting ban.
Thread Index: Members who would like to create a thread index summary of the important points throughout the thread should contact myself or Springer. If your index is used, you'll be awarded 100,000 points and your post referenced on the first post of the Big Thread.
I know many may see these measures as harsh, but if you've ever spent time involved in an interesting large thread, you know the frustrations that can occur as the size approaches 1,500 replies and more. However, nothing in these new policies represents anything additive to our Terms & Conditions, we're simply going to be more strict with very large threads.
These measures are an effort to keep these extraordinary discussions on-track and focused on-topic. Because one thing is crystal clear, on ATS, with our effort to ensure every post counts, a thread with more than 1,500 replies must be very important to our members and we want to respect and protect these important threads.
Unique Procedure Specific To The Project Serpo Thread
As many know, this thread is unique and is our biggest Big-Thread. Because of the highly charged subject matter, we request that all members keep these points in mind when participating:
1) Stay on-topic and focused. Do not post simple "no photos yet?" posts.
2) Please respect Bill Ryan and any future expert guests that participate. Without them, the quality of discussion would suffer.
3) Our expert guests (such as Bill Ryan) should stay focused on relaying important new information and replying to direct questions (when possible) from our members.
4) When we have expert guests involved (Bill Ryan) please respect his time and limit your questions to no more than two per post, and wait until your questions are addressed before asking more. Remember that the value of our expert quests relies on the quality of your questions, and their ability to have enough time to respond with a quality answer.
We want to be certain that very large and active threads like this remain a benefit to our members first, foremost, and always. The moment a large thread ceases to benefit the community, we will take corrective action, close it, or even remove it.
Thank you.
The owners and staff of AboveTopSecret.com
reply posted on 2-2-2006 @ 06:24 PM by Umbrax
I'm glad this is being done. Big threads kind of scare me off because it is sometimes hard to get through them with out spending hours reading
through meaningless posts.
Was this only intended for ATS?
This thread is an ATS Big-Thread with 2801 replies.
There are important new policies for threads this large. Stay focused. Stay on-topic. Minimal posts are subject to a warning.
Please click here for more information.
www.belowtopsecret.com...
Was this only intended for ATS?
