I've been on this site for many years. You should have seen it before. Actual interesting threads about interesting topics. Many more people were open to different ideas and came in with an open mind. I know I did.

Unfortunately the site turned into a capitalistic venture and has totally lost sight of what it was originally intended for. The only vocal people on this site are the ones who are well below an acceptable intelligence level. There is so much crap on this site, when a good thread pops up it quickly turns into back and forth banter between an idiot and another idiot with no progress whatsoever.

You used to come here and read interesting stories about people and their experiences about abductions, ghosts, etc. Now when one pops out the vocal idiots come out in force and, cough, "debunk" the story until that poster leaves the site.

It's probably par for the course anyway. I'm a firm believer this site has been infiltrated to the max and has turned into the online version of the National Inquirer. I mean, just look at the stupid ATS news crap they just started doing. "Micro chips in the swine flu" headline? Posed as a question? Really?? Spare me, please.

You won't find any in depth discussion here anymore. Not unless it's about extremist Atheism or extremist "revolutionaries", and even then the argument doesn't go any further than both sides copy-pasting stories they read at their favorite biased website as proof.

The double standard here is equally impressive. In the words of South Park, either all of it is ok to talk about, or none of it is.

Originally posted by genius/idoit
I like it here! I am glad this site is not full of a bunch of milk sops!

Lol the OP is such a troll...

this thread should be shut down. spare the OP some humiliation.

Though I agree with you about some of your observations, I think its crazy to say that ATS should shut down. There are many opposing views, some are stupid, but there are some that are very informative. This is the price we all have to pay for freedom of speech. I appreciate that there is a website like this, I can share my views without getting banned.

There is no place in the world which is not infected by idiots. Even ATS have them, only difference is, at ATS we are free to express our opinion even if the whole world think its ridiculous.

Cheers!

Apparently the OP either thinks that he's perfect, or he's trying to screw with us.

He speaks the truth. I've seen much he has said. More religious because I try to wing it back to a balance side. Once again mass atheist agenda on this site. But then again i don't hear anything negative about blacks, woman or anything else.

He speaks the truth. I've seen much he has said. More religious because I try to wing it back to a balance side. Once again mass atheist agenda on this site. But then again i don't hear anything negative about blacks, woman or anything else.

What you speak of isn't the people of ATS. It's the people of the WORLD.

You want to shut down the world?

If you were to discuss the same topics with random people on the street, you'd get the same crazy, distorted views. Most people are complete idiots. Mainly because they try to have opinions without first educating themselves.

A lot of people here on ATS actually try to research a topic before offering any sort of opinion. However, MANY do not. The ones who stick around longer and have been here for a while are the ones you can have an actual intelligent conversation or debate with.

I'd choose the veterans of ATS over strangers, friends or family when discussing most topics that are discussed here.

[edit on 3-12-2009 by tyranny22]

I do agree that the site has gone to crap. But I don't believe it's time to throw in the towel. The site is evolving and the transition is... painful. I discovered ATS in late 05' or early 06 (been to long to really recall, I just remember I lurked a while before registering). The site I signed up for died a while ago. But I'm still here because I'm hoping some of it eventually comes back. I see bits of it every now and again, to give me hope.

I'm just tired of threads that are all about arguing over opinions, when there is no "right" answer but some people's ego's just won't allow them to not be top dog. No one is all knowing. No one is always right. Our own ignorance is probably the only thing we can be absolutely certain about.

Edited to add:

I really don't know what some people's problems are. I came to ATS BECAUSE of the difference in opinions. To be exposed to new and different idea's and points of view. Just because the viewpoint is opposite of your own doesn't mean it has nothing to offer you. Just because someone disagrees with your strongly held belief doesn't make them evil. The real world is full of diversity, so to is the internet.

[edit on 3-12-2009 by DemonicAngelZero]

The problem resides with users, and to some extent possibly the site owners, mods, admin, etc. The reason why I say it resides with users is very simple. Look at the type of threads people make. Most of the time, the threads contain no substance but only exist to promote the ego of the poster. Some of these people unwillingly make these threads/posts because they have a plethora of issues that can be linked to poor self esteem or mental illness. Other people willingly make questionable threads/posts because they too suffer from poor self steem and mental illness, only they're on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Concerning the blame that may possibly reside with the owners, mods and admins, I'd say this is a possibly if ATS is ran as a business with the sole idea of monetizing niche content. If their sole purpose is to generate capital from advertisers, unique hits, the selling of ancillary products, in hopes of an increase in ROI, then it would make sense to allow people to post the most insane threads and posts in the history of the internets. Why? The reason being is there are few places on the net where these individuals congregate, are welcomed and encouraged to post. So again, from a business perspective it would totally make sense (and profit) to let these people post.



[edit on 3-12-2009 by EMPIRE]

Very true.

Especially the homophobia and extremism.

It's one thing to oppose the whole issue of Al-Qaeda's extremism, but if you start suggesting people should bomb mosques, I think you not only prove them right, but you sink to their level of violence and folly.

And homophobia. Let's not even get into the whole "God will strike Gay people" down issue. It's disgusting. The hatred is one thing, but to JUSTIFY that hatred with religion is ridiculous.

In the words of the Black Eyed Peas, Where Is The Love?

You claim to be Christians, but I don't see you practicing any love for your fellow men.

Originally posted by EMPIRE
The problem resides with users, and to some extent possibly the site owners, mods, admin, etc. The reason why I say it resides with users is very simple. Look at the type of threads people make. Most of the time, the threads contain no substance but only exist to promote the ego of the poster. Some of these people unwillingly make these threads/posts because they have a plethora of issues that can be linked to poor self esteem or mental illness. Other people willingly make questionable threads/posts because they too suffer from poor self steem and mental illness, only they're on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Concerning the blame that may possibly reside with the owners, mods and admins, I'd say this is a possibly if ATS is ran as a business with the sole idea of monetizing niche content. If their sole purpose is to generate capital from advertisers, unique hits, the selling of ancillary products, in hopes of an increase in ROI, then it would make sense to allow people to post the most insane threads and posts in the history of the internets. Why? The reason being is there are few places on the net where these individuals congregate, are welcomed and encouraged to post. So again, from a business perspective it would totally make sense (and profit) to let these people post.



[edit on 3-12-2009 by EMPIRE]

Wow, nicely dissected. I never thought of the ATS site owners and their business plans that way.

Been a fan of this site since 2003 just regist in May.I don't mind the banter in politics,or religion,But when people start making fun of believers in ufo's,crop circles,totems,and other unexplained things,All I got to say to those people are...... Focus in on your insecurities when you sleep.

Karma

[edit on 4-12-2009 by greydaze]