At first I almost felt embarrassed for this journalist, for his diatribe seemed so much like old trash from the dark days of Bush and Co. But now on reflection I just feel sorry for him. After all these years the best he can muster is gutter journalism filled with half truths and ignorance, peppered with a healthy dose of bitterness.

In truth, if Robbie Williams invited this man to his home, I am sure he would be falling over himself to be there. You see, he needs attention, he needs friends, and most of all he needs love.

I love ATS, there's no forum like it and it makes me feel at home, I can discuss speculation and theories here without being called crazy or insane, like I am in other places. The only thing bad about ATS IMO is that some of the members are overly gullible, they want to believe so much that they're willing to believe obvious photoshops and fake stories. Of course they eventually get hoaxed, but still.

Originally posted by Skyfloating
I dont think we need the mainstreams blessings.

Mmm. Possibly. But I'm sure some people are put off posting on ATS (or on UFO/conspiracy websites generally) due to the views expressed such articles in the mainstream media and/or because they are concerned about how their participation would be perceived by friends, relatives or colleagues that read such mainstream comments.

If the negative perception were to be eliminated (or at least reduced), ATS and other UFO discussion forums could benefit from an influx of individuals that have avoided posting for such reasons (bringing with them various useful skills).

All the best,

Isaac

All publicity is good publicity. We'll probably get a thousand people who read that hatchet job and then sign on to ATS and discover the truth for themselves.

You can't make someone love you. All you can do is be someone that can be loved and the rest is up to them.

I think ATS is definitely a site that can be loved.

Originally posted by IsaacKoi

Originally posted by Skyfloating
I dont think we need the mainstreams blessings.

Mmm. Possibly. But I'm sure some people are put off posting on ATS (or on UFO/conspiracy websites generally) due to the views expressed such articles in the mainstream media and/or because they are concerned about how their participation would be perceived by friends, relatives or colleagues that read such mainstream comments.

Do you really want people who are easily swayed by the media and have their opinions based off the media on this forum? I've been here many years, and I most Definitely would not like to see that.

As a new member to ATS maybe a thought by "Fresh Eyes" might be good. I have read the boards on this site for a couple months before joining. I wasn't probating this site by any means, it was 1 of a few sites that interested me . I don,t have a name preceeded by letters or have any "inside " career history. What I am is a blue collar man , home reno's, who believes that the people are not being told the truth about a lot of topic's, and on this site I found BALANCE. For almost every topic , there are members who agree and more importantly disagree. Seeing 2 sides enables people to get a full picture and then form their own opinion. How a site , any site, can be called "crackpot" that offers 2 sides and a place to rebuttle is ludicrous . The Daily would do good by themselves to use some of the research on this site for their own needs , maybe then they would not be seen as crackpot rag.

Flash!


"Gossip Columnist specializing in "entertainment" celebrity stalking calls ATS "crackpot" and topics discussed "half-baked".

Shocker.

You have to wonder if they even tried to determine whether this little "free speech zone" has world-wide participation or is it strictly those ignorant Americans...

I think that coming from this reporter, such attributions are compliments, considering what he/she considers 'newsworthy.'

Too provincial. Actually we're a crackpot global website. ~rimshot~

It's a fair question, Isaac. And it's the subject matter that will always label us by some as "crackpot". The thing is though, it's a member driven site. We discuss and investigate what people bring to the table. Open source media, and as long as the topic doesn't violate the T&C, it's fair game. We have no "official" site position on anything other than the rules outlined in the T&C. And we'd be hard pressed to have an official position on most topics because the staff's opinions are just as varied as the general membership's.

In order to get any kind of "acceptance" we'd need to change the subject matter, which defeats the purpose. And let's say for the sake of argument, we did somehow manage to become "acceptable" by the mainstream media. At that point, we'd be a competitive threat and they'd attack us for another reason. I think the quality of content can always improve, but that's up to the membership. And I'll be glad to take all the Isaac Koi's we can get.

Actually, that may already be happening. You don't get attacked unless you stick out. Maybe we ought to view it as a backhanded compliment.

Daily mail is suffering losses , while ATS posts profits ,

Shows which is full of sh it , Daily mail , a crappy piece of nonsense

Originally posted by yeahright
it's the subject matter that will always label us by some as "crackpot".

Hi yeahright,

Skyfloating made a similar remark above. With respect, I think (or at least hope) that you are both being a bit pessimistic...

Is, for example, any online discussion of issues relating to UFO reports really doomed to be considered "crackpot"?

At some point I really should start a thread about the less controversial possible benefits of considering UFO reports. For example:

(1) What about discussions of the sociological and psychological issues that arise from UFO reports - surely such discussions would not be widely regarded as "crackpot"?

(2) Or what about the possibilities of learning something new in relation to some fields of natural science, e.g. about plasmas?

As for ATS itself, when I find the time to finalise it, I've been working on an article expressing some thoughts about how members of ATS can be encouraged to take a few simple steps that would reduce the amount of rubbish being posted here (and offering a few related tools).

Perhaps we can at least improve the signal to noise ratio on ATS...

All the best,

Isaac

Keys To Ascension

Originally posted by lepracornman
Do you really want people who are easily swayed by the media and have their opinions based off the media on this forum? I've been here many years, and I most Definitely would not like to see that.

I've also been here many years, and I've seen it happen a lot.

You know the drill: new members come in all cocky and self-assured, post strong opinions on various topics that are founded on commonly held misconceptions of "reality", misunderstand all sorts of things, get in several debates and generally thrash about wildly in an indignant manner.

Then, at some point, they start questioning their cherished delusions and begin opening up to new ideas. Many discover the virtues of critical thinking and skepticism -- not cynicism, which is based on assumptions, but true skepticism, which makes no assumptions and always allows for the possibility of error.

By this time, some have lost interest and moved on to other things, but some stay on, fascinated by the possibilities that thinking outside the box opens up. Addiction is common.

Eventually, those who remain become aware of many, many things most people cannot even begin to imagine. That awareness is tempered by the healthy skepticism which comes from years of examining dubious claims from myriads of sources. Granted, most of those claims are bogus, but they are nonetheless counterbalanced by the small fraction of a percent that are, though often difficult to accept, potentially true.

I've seen it many times, and have experienced it myself. I consider fostering this process to be the greatest achievement of our community.

ATS is not for everyone, but for those who are ready to question the universe around us, I can't think of a better place to be.

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Ats catches some fine diamonds of information that is certainly useful, but the majority of threads on here are rubbish.