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One Week On - My Impression of the ATS Galaxy

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posted on Apr, 29 2007 @ 09:58 AM
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So I've been here just over a week. I wanted to make a couple of statements about how I feel about the ATS galaxy of sites.

My experiences up to now with forums have been either with hermit crab hobbyist sites, or what I've learned here are called "trash forums." I had never been on a site with such strict rules of conduct that are so consistently enforced.

I left the first trash forum I had been on after 16 months because of factionism. People would make alliances and hound other members if they didn't like or agree with them. There were also members that were intellectual bullies, demagogues, or just plain argumentative for the sake of being argumentative. Always had to have the last word, would get insulting if you kept disagreeing and condescending as all-get-out. One of the worst offenders was a 16 year old who thought he knew it all. He was brilliant, yes, but had absolutely no life experience and he got to be just a bit too much to take.

When my ex's evil girlfriend started cyberstalking me and printing out things I'd said on the forum to use against me in court, I had to quit and delete my account.

I was invited to another forum via my MySpace. That lasted less than a week. It seemed like a great, fun place to be, but there was a member there who decided to make it his personal mission to show how I was wrong about domestic violence. Any time I'd post to help another member out (most members on the board were female) he'd post something contradicting me and "showing" how women are just as guilty of domestic violence as men are. It was clear he had no real knowledge or understanding of the subject, but had gone off and spent a good 16 hours looking for one article by a member of the movement that certain circles refer to as the Father Supremacists, and kept using that one lonely article (that had been discounted in serious circles) as "proof" that I was wrong. He was absolutely insufferable! I have some very serious issues in my life right now and I go on the internet to relieve stress, not add to it. It got to the point on this second forum that I was dreading logging in because I didn't know what I'd find.

I made one joke about another member's post and got warned that I was being unfriendly. The joke was meant to be an icebreaker for a new member, not an insult, and was clearly a joke (I used the laughing smiley), but the new member went ballistic and I got an official warning. The Father Supremacist hounded and insulted me and though I complained to the staff that he was being overbearing and asked for an Ignore User function, I was told that he was entitled to his opinion and wasn't hurting anyone. The unfairness and uneven enforcement of the forum rules based, again, on faction and personal likes and dislikes of the administrators made me quit and have them delete my account.

I spent a couple of weeks trying to find another place to go. I stumbled across ATS from a Message Board Directory I found on Wiki.

At first I was really worried because this is SUCH a big site. I wasn't used to so active a board, with so many members and so much subject matter. I was also concerned at first because I was only used to the free-for-all anarchy of a barely-moderated trash site. I read the T&C and was worried because I tend to use "colorful" language and I thought that I might get in trouble for using milder words such as "ass" and "hell."

I decided to join anyway to give it a whirl. And I'm glad I did.

Sometimes I really have to think about what I want to say and watch my sailor-mouth, but that's not a bad thing now that I'm experiencing it.

I've seen a couple of people get warned here and I have noticed that the rules are evenly enforced, and not used arbitrarily. I like the fact there is an Ignore User function (though I've yet to use it, just knowing it's there reduces the stress I feel at seeing posts by certain members). I love the Friend/Foe buttons, the points system, and the fact that applause is a part of the board, but only mods and admins can give it.

I haven't gone off into ATS too much, I've been having too much fun on BTS. I've got my feet wet a bit on AbovePolitics, and can see that I will probably gravitate more towards subject matter there than on the conspiracy-oriented ATS.

I was sort of taken aback at first by the fact that not every post is answered. The community here is much larger than I'm used to and at first I felt like I was talking to myself, or butting in on conversations I wasn't invited in to. But I'm starting to get my feet, and WolfofWar's adding me to his Foe list got the ball rolling for me. It made me feel included and get over the trepidation I felt in my first couple of days. Thanks, Wolfie.

I don't know why it took me so very long to find this place -- I've been on the internet since the early 1990s. I have no idea how I missed this board for so long. My mind has been changed about a place with lots of rules -- I can see the wisdom for having a strong set of T&C, and when they are evenly applied they enhance a site rather than detract from it.

So, to the founders and the staff of this place, kudos to you, my friends. I feel like I've found a new internet home. Here's hoping we have a long and interesting fellowship.



posted on Apr, 29 2007 @ 11:08 AM
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As another new member, I'll welcome you to the bullpen. Have fun, follow your interests, allow your curiousity to be piqued by ATS, question authority, ask if you don't know, and don't be afraid to post.

I can pretty well guarantee that as long as you don't scare the horses, your participation is always welcome.

Oh, and what a nice way you've chosen to introduce yourself. Like I said...have fun!



posted on Apr, 29 2007 @ 02:35 PM
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There are other message boards?


MajorMalfunction,

Great post, and I couldn't agree more. Those are the things that have kept me around for 3 years plus.

Congrats on your first week here, and feel free to U2U if you have any questions, or need any assistance.

Same for you JohnnyCanuck.






posted on Apr, 29 2007 @ 03:21 PM
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Originally posted by MajorMalfunction
I left the first trash forum I had been on after 16 months because of factionism. People would make alliances and hound other members if they didn't like or agree with them.

That's one of the great things about ATS. The subject matter is so wide, that many times I'll find myself vociferously opposed to a member's point of view on one subject, and then in total agreement with them on another. This seems, at least to me, to preclude the formation of factions... and I love it!


I don't know why it took me so very long to find this place -- I've been on the internet since the early 1990s. I have no idea how I missed this board for so long.

Me too. Within the conspiracy community, I have a feeling ATS is not well liked by those with agendas to push.. possibly due to the the remarkable ability of ATS members to sort the wheat from the chaff. Even after 911, and lots of consipracy reading on sites like Rense, WRH, liberty Forum etc, I never happened across a link to ATS. I suspect many would prefer we didn't exist.

I'm always amazed at the breadth and depth of knowledge on this site.. There's an expert in just about any field you can think of, so while I am mainly a skeptic on many of the conspiracy issues, I would still rather engage in debate here than just about any other site. In fact the only other discussion forums I visit are those that very specifically cover a particular subject.. (in my case, a stock market forum dedicated to a particular company who's shares I trade, and one dedicated to owners of Caterham Seven sports cars).. and even then, I'll often find more insightful posts on those subjects... ( well the stock market anyway, maybe not the cars) than I do on the specialist forums.


Here's hoping we have a long and interesting fellowship.


I'm sure you will.. and welcome to ATS!

edit : btw.. you're tag line... out of intersest.. who's FSM?

[edit on 29-4-2007 by nowthenlookhere]

[edit on 29-4-2007 by nowthenlookhere]



posted on Apr, 29 2007 @ 03:48 PM
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Kudos to you MajorMalfunction, you have become a much respected and valued member in your short stay imo.

I considered that you had at least been here for a year!



posted on Apr, 29 2007 @ 03:48 PM
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I donno.. I think I would rather quote someone here in another post then someplace like infowars.com or rense.com...

At least you have a good chance of the info not being dirty..

HAHA



posted on Apr, 29 2007 @ 05:00 PM
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You have only been here for a little over a week but you are already becoming a kind, smart and promising member.

Keep up the great work, and you'll be a great member of ATS for years to come.

I'm very glad that you found ATS, and I'm sure ATS is glad to have found you.


Keep it up.



posted on Apr, 29 2007 @ 05:18 PM
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Don't stress WOW putting you on his Foe list. He has over 300 there and only 1 friend the last I checked. I'm a foe too.


You are right though, we keep a good eye on the site. That being said, it's coming up on vacation season, north of the equator.
If you have any issues the Complaints/Suggestions button is a gem.



posted on Apr, 29 2007 @ 06:29 PM
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Originally posted by nowthenlookhere

btw.. you're tag line... out of intersest.. who's FSM?



*Gasp* You aren't familiar with the great Flying Spaghetti Monster? FSM is crying tears of marinara at your missing His great and noodly wisdom.

You can read about Him here:

www.venganza.org...

Enjoy!


And to the rest of you -- thank you so much for the kind words! I'm glad that I'm making a good impression. Some people in my life think I'm a know-it-all or bossy. Tough cookies to them, I've found an internet home!



posted on Apr, 29 2007 @ 08:22 PM
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Oh , how silly of me! Checking out the site now. very enlightening.. it seems that the penne is mightier than the sword.



posted on Apr, 29 2007 @ 08:58 PM
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Originally posted by nowthenlookhere
it seems that the penne is mightier than the sword.



LOL, that pun was not lost




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