Has ATS Gone To the Dogs?

Hello everyone,

I love this website, I probably spend more time here than any other site on the Internet and for good reason. It gives me the chance to explore my own thoughts and share similar interests and discussions with like minded people; I wouldn't change that for the world.

However, recently I have noticed an unfortunate growing trend. Where we once had posts and threads that stimulated healthy debate and conversation, we now seem to have messages filled with hate or ones that have no obvious productive intention.

I'm not usually one to write these types of threads and for that I apologise, but seriously what has happened to the ATS I have known and grown to love?

As a personal message I'd encourage everyone to stand for what they believe in and hopefully also stand together in preventing the influx of negativity from our newer members bringing the quality of this site down.

I love ATS, you love ATS. Let's all work together and prevent people from distracting the primary focus of this site, rather than stoop to the levels of insignificant ramblings, lets stand up for what we believe in and deal with it in a positive manner (one thats mod friendly )

It seems ATS does get an influx of seemingly trolling posts after big events. It's a shame, but it always seems to return to it's high-quality state.

I agree.

I find myself avoiding posting in many threads because there is some pointless debacle going on about an unrelated topic.

It's easy, if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all.

And being nice doesn't necessarily mean we have to agree with a topic, there are plenty of ways we can express our opinions without anger and accusations.

I think it simply correlates with what is going on in our world lately; more topics are being exposed to the core and therefore brings out true human emotion. A few theories and conspiracies can easily provoke thought, but when these theories become more and more evident it's quite difficult not to take an even stronger emotional stance, whether it be negative or positive. The truth of the matter is that there are uncontrollable forces (political or cosmetic) becoming more and more apparent and tanglible, and it angers many people that the majority of the globe are desensitized and indifferent to these groundbreaking disclosures/scenarios. It really bothers people to the point that they will utilize any tone necessary to voice concern about issues that go seemingly unnoticed by the general masses.

Originally posted by Death_Kron
we now seem to have messages filled with hate or ones that have no obvious productive intention.

That seems to be the general trend everywhere, not just on the internet. I'm not going to begin to guess why, as I'm sure its an amalgamation of reasons. Just have to be patient with it though, which you basically stated:

Originally posted by Death_Kron
As a personal message I'd encourage everyone to stand for what they believe in and hopefully also stand together in preventing the influx of negativity from our newer members bringing the quality of this site down.

Lol at all the concurrent replies to the original post in the same 2 minute period.

reply to post by Death_Kron


I thought the same thing not long ago. I guess all we can do is try to be the change we want to see. I know, easier said than done, but what choice do we have. it will get better. We at least are a good ways from any elections!

Originally posted by network dude
reply to post by Death_Kron

 

We at least are a good ways from any elections!

True, but summer will be among us (and school will be out) before we know it.

Originally posted by fasteronfire
It's easy, if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all.

Yep all people should take this advice. But so many facebook people come here knowing little to nothing on these topics.

reply to post by Death_Kron


Hey DK,

I share your sentiments. It does become frustrating, but that is to be expected when a website like ATS becomes so popular and attracts so many people (good job BTW ATS). We are going to attract all kinds of people. I can usually tell pretty soon if a thread is worth while reading, and if it isn't, I just move on. No reason to get involved. (or aggravated)

My 2 pet peeves - and they are increasingly peeving me more lately is:

1.) 4 Million posts on the same thing. Yes, I know that different sources use different headlines so a basic search might not reveal its' been posted. BUT - using key words that are of particular importance to the subject being addressed, will most of the times show it has been covered or not (Also, most people don't look past the first page that comes up in search - or don't try a few search strings )

2.) 1 line posts - and I see these are increasing at the moment. On the rare occasion they are acceptable, but things such as "Thank You" and that kind of nonsense add nothing to the topic being discussed.

Here's a perfect example:

Original post: www.abovetopsecret.com...
1hr 37mins later: www.abovetopsecret.com...

Now come on, how close are the thread titles!!

Originally posted by warbird03
It seems ATS does get an influx of seemingly trolling posts after big events. It's a shame, but it always seems to return to it's high-quality state.

No it doesn't.

Things haven't been the same regarding quality since the days when Simon (the founder) used to post regularly and before the constant and endless drive for advertising revenue by pulling in members regardless of where from.

No wonder most of the best posters cleared off. They weren't happy with the new ATS that put profit and funding before anything else. That's commercialism for you! We are the Disney of conspiracy theories.

Originally posted by Death_Kron
As a personal message I'd encourage everyone to stand for what they believe in and hopefully also stand together in preventing the influx of negativity from our newer members bringing the quality of this site down.

If I were a newer member I would spew fire on you for that comment.

Seeing as I'm not particularly new, I will satisfy myself by saying that such blanket statements regarding the quality of input from people new to this site really stick in my craw. At some point, we were all new to ATS and we had to learn the ropes.

I have not seen a massive influx of negativity, to be honest. Threads like yours are ten-a-penny and seem to surface on a weekly basis.

Originally posted by Silver Star
If I were a newer member I would spew fire on you for that comment.

Seeing as I'm not particularly new, I will satisfy myself by saying that such blanket statements regarding the quality of input from people new to this site really stick in my craw. At some point, we were all new to ATS and we had to learn the ropes.

I have not seen a massive influx of negativity, to be honest. Threads like yours are ten-a-penny and seem to surface on a weekly basis.

With no particular disrespect but I can almost guarantee two major points; i) I'm on this site a lot longer than you are, ii) It's fairly obvious that my first point rings true as you don't agree with the sentiment of my OP

That's fair enough, each to their own and all

Originally posted by Silver Star
Seeing as I'm not particularly new,....

No offence, but you are.

I hardly think being a member for about six months of a site that has been going for as long as ATS has qualifies you as anything but "new".

Probably seems like a lifetime though eh?

Of course. I agree. It's also guaranteed that we will have at least one new thread per day claiming the same thing. We ought to automate this idea so that when someone wants to rant about the decline in [civility, intelligence, etc.] on ATS they just click a button and the thread is made automatically.