Actually, I'm becoming a bit frustrated with ATS over this very issue. I joined as a way to educate myself on topics that I find interesting and educate others when I find something that I think will be interesting to others. I find that what the OP says seems to be the majority of the posters here.

Two of my recent important (at least to me) threads that I've taken the time to write, have gotten exactly ZERO comments and the reason is that I refuse to post the way the OP details. I'm convinced of this. I'm beginning to feel that it just isn't worth my time.

Edit to add: I seriously don't care about points but just would like acknowledgment that those threads have at least been written. Sometimes I wonder if they are even showing up on the site.

[edit on 14/3/2009 by Iamonlyhuman]

Just posting this for a few more points

Line 2.



lmao, j/k.
The OP was great, I thoroughly enjoyed it and thought that it was completely spot on!

Hi All,
Please forgive my ignorance, but what are the points for? what purpose do they serve? How many do I need to get an upgrade to first class and will I get to sit next to Britney?
PEACE,
RK


[edit on 14-3-2009 by Rigel Kent]

Wow!

I didn' think I would ever see a "How To Thread" for trolling. How wonderful that you would instigate more instances of ignorance and petty conversation on this already somewhat hard to manage website.

And really if you want points on ATS there is another easier way to do this.

Create intelligently written, fact laden threads that will ENTICE people to have meaningfull long dicussions.

That would be the preffered way to gain points, and anything else seems a little trivial.

~Keeper

Originally posted by tothetenthpower
Wow!

I didn' think I would ever see a "How To Thread" for trolling. How wonderful that you would instigate more instances of ignorance and petty conversation on this already somewhat hard to manage website.

And really if you want points on ATS there is another easier way to do this.

Create intelligently written, fact laden threads that will ENTICE people to have meaningfull long dicussions.

That would be the preffered way to gain points, and anything else seems a little trivial.

~Keeper

The OP was not intended as an instruction manual but as a satire on what I have witnessed on many, many threads since I joined ATS.

Just to reiterate I don't want people to behave like this. The fact is, the way you describe is definitely preferable but it is certainly not the easier way.

I've not authored many threads but the ones I have I believe have been intelligently written and encouraged intelligent debate. It's something I'd like to see encouraged. There are loads of intelligent threads here but they get swamped by the 'hot topics' which generally pander to a lower common denominator.

The fact that this thread out of all them is the one to garner me the most points only underlines the problem I am highlighting.

Ok while most people 'got it' it's clear not everyone shares my sense of humour, which is fair enough

I've asked Sauron to add the word 'Satire' to the thread title and he's suggested it be moved to the BTS Jokes forum as well which seems more appropriate (I didn't know this existed as I don't use BTS).

I also asked for the points the thread has generated me to be taken back just to make it clear that this wasn't what the thread was about but was told this wasn't possible

Thanks to everyone who enjoyed the thread and my apologies to those who didn't.

Loam wins in this thread.

I've said the same thing before. That all the unsubstantiated, waste of time threads dominate the front page. But each and every poster on ATS can do something about it.

It is a mindset thing. If every poster that looked at the front page wanting more took action, then there would never be a problem.

You want better written, more educational content? Contribute to it.

Do some research, make a thread that really makes a difference and opens minds. Search ATS for issues or events that have not been discussed much, if at all, and present a well researched thread about them.

Trust me, it is far more rewarding (especially for people like me who like to be acknowledged for their work) to see the stars and flags roll in even if the posts in the thread are minimal.

It is even more rewarding than that if only one member says they learned something from the thread. One less mind in ignorance is worth infinitely more to the world than a few thousand ATS points.

Look at the 3 in my signature. It spent me days doing each one of them, and although they have barely any posts, I think I've brought some interesting topics to the board previously unexplored and helped educate a few members about some of the stranger creatures on our planet.

In this case the mods and FSME's are right. If every member of this topic helped raise the bar by contributing what they want to see, the troll topics and panic-based end-of-the-world rants that dominate would slowly be overtaken by pure food for the mind.


[edit on 15-3-2009 by fooffstarr]