Honestly, whats more fun, Ben Stein talking about real energy solutions or a babe with F cups and a huge jackhammer? If everybody argees with the topic, then theres really nothing to discuss, but if theres a disagreement, it will go on for pages with blind, close minded retorts. The posters that state they know every thing and offer some ignorant idea's presented as fact that other ignorant posters praise them for get alot of posts from the people with knowledge on the topic. The posters with "real world" knowledge just don't get that the ignorant will never have an open mind enough to even research the subject without the help of biased sites. Its like arguing with a hardcore PETA member that humans are omnivores, the only research they will do or use will be from PETA sites and the like.

Sure, a simple solution to our energy problems is great and all, but what do you expect of ignorance that feeds off recent story's LIKE "an officer raped an eight year old girls dog and made her watch". You have to shock people or make them disagree to get them to post. If you have a story that relates to peoples problems, life and oppinions you will get replies of mainly personal stories that are constructive. I blame alot of bored teens who learnt everything they know from flashy bias sites and who veiw ATS like inane yahoo chat.

If everyone just ignored ignorance, it might go away. The problem is, they back pat just to rub it in. Lucky for the smart ones though that these people hide on the internet and never do anything about it.

If you don't like that your posts get no replies, try adding words like demolition, bush, no plane's, sex, rape, illegal, death's, Iraq, time travel, my theory, guns, bombs, device, chip, implants. Never start topics that teens and children will not understand, do not start topics every one understands and agrees with. Its also helpful when you don't give out all your info in the first post and or make them visit links to dull sites about physics/reallity unless its cartoonish or has a woman in tight clothes on a vibrating floor or has barney/songebob getting kicked in the noots!

Just post shocking things that about 30-40% will disagree with, ignore the SOLID facts they give and you will have a winner.

BTW I do believe in ET's, 911 complacency, god, free energy and some far out stuff, but there is a line.

There's nothing wrong with ATS, it's an excellent tool. Thank you

[edit on 12/6/2008 by BSentinel]

I thought I should add:
Please don’t get the wrong idea with this thread. I am not here for point, stars, flags or popularity. I am here to enlighten myself. If my threads don’t get replies, I don’t care, but what is disheartening is when I find a good thread someone has written and am keen to see peoples opinions, they often go nowhere as peoples attention is often taken towards things like Mars rocks that look like Jay Leno or Barney is an agent of NWO.

Thanks Neformore.
I guess in a roundabout way that is what I was trying to say. It is a brilliant message and we need to get it out. I have noticed a number of threads by disgruntled or perhaps disenchanted people recently and as a 'society' we need to encourage each other.
It has been suggested that this should be required reading. How about a mass U2U with the OP as a message with a link here..

I know this is what I wrote on your post, but there is no rule against double posting and I feel you should comended again.

I really can't see anything different - those type of threads you mention have always attracted lots of attention.
At least in my limited time here.

It'll get worse over the summer when schools are out.

But Nefermore said it perfectly.

I just keep plugging away and try not to get into the more "speculative" threads, although I have to say, some of them are a good read.

Sadly, that's the way it is. Sensationalism trumps Wisdom. I have had the same frustrations. Go ahead. Look at how many replies I have had to any of my threads. I would guess that the average reply rate to my threads is about 3 or 4... And the same goes for many of the great minds here on ATS (not that I would include myself in that group)... I've heard plenty of them (think Hellmutt, Masqua, Majic, 12m8keall2c - to name but a handful that springs to mind) voice the same frustrations. Thread-starters that should be published in International journals... Yet the responses are a bit slow.

And ATS isn't any different than anything else in life when it comes to this. Although I don't have any official numbers I can only guess that magazines like the Times or Business week doesn't sell nearly as much as say People magazine or [enter glossy, trash magazine name here]. That's just people for you.

Just keep in mind that although some of "those" threads get much more responses, the OPs get NO RESPECT. Most of the replies are there merely to confirm that the OP is a nutter, idiot or both... So, you're welcome to go for "the big one" if you're willing to sink to that level.

All that said, a "boring topic" could also be quite popular. Just throw in a bit of controversy. By challenging your reader, they will have no choice but to respond. As another member said: a post is nothing but marketing...

And when it comes down to it Neformore said it best. Do something about it. Like what? Ignore the trolls and attention-seekers. And support the worthy threads. Yes, even if you say, "that's an excellent thought, I especially liked the part of..." (Just keep the 1-liner rule in mind) or give your own spin on ideas.

That's all I have. Happy posting.

Sometimes it has to do with the time of the year when we have a wave of young members out for summer brake, with not jobs to do and plenty of time to browse the Internet and join public boards.

Its just temporary and remember that the long time members will aways be looking for the threads that are meaninful and of interest.

Originally posted by VIKINGANT
I have noticed for a while now that the most ridiculous of ideas are attracting a huge response while sensible topics worth discussing barely get looked at.

People like what they like. People are interested in different things.
If we were all the same, this would be a dull world. An ATS echo-chamber.

Originally posted by budski
It'll get worse over the summer when schools are out.

UGH. Thanks for that reminder! BLAH!

Originally posted by VIKINGANTI know that nobody can tell anyone what to look at and we are free to comment and ignore as we please.[edit on 12/6/2008 by VIKINGANT]

That said I do agree with you on this issue, but hay each to there own....

Every body is wecome

A good read, particularly with the offshoots imbedded here and there. Entertaining even, and I can't disagree with any ideas advanced here. I spend a fair amount of time, especially this time of year on a weather forum. Generally speaking, the weather posts are rarely get the most posts. I'm guessing that many folks come to forums like this for entertainment, not information/informed conversation. I think I'm about 50-50 in that regard. For example, I don't use the archives here at ATS for research very often. There is excellent evidence and documentation here, but often so buried in other stuff that it becomes cumbersome.

Still, this is a great place. Hmmmmmm, now this is where I should conclude with something spurious or mildly barbed.

Sorry, I got nothin'. Back to the espresso machine.