ATS Lessons

Hi everyone!

Well I have been on ATS for a little while now and I think I have learned a few things.

There are some very good and serious posters here with well thought out arguments and an open mind. They will constructively engage you and support some of your arguments. to them.

I have also learned the following lessons from the ATS community:

The phrase �Deny Ignorance� means deny everyone else�s but your own.

You are always right. After all, you have learned everything you need to know about a particular subject and are here to set people straight.

Your analysis and interpretation of information is flawless. Other people are �ignorant� for arriving at different conclusions based on the same information.

Once you have picked your position on a subject, it is your duty to defend it at all costs. You must try and sway people to your point of view, but do not in any way, shape or form, accept to modify yours to accommodate someone elses�.

If someone cites a source or reference that does not agree with your point of view, that source is �biased�. Your sources on the other hand are �objective�. No need to provide them either.

�Objectivity� is a real thing and can be found almost anywhere you care to look. So of course you have it. Everybody else doesn�t.

If a poster makes a mistake, then the entire post is trash and �lacks credibility�.

When all else fails, by all means, resort to name-calling. Liberal, Neocon, Bush basher, Bush lover, communist, socialist, anti-American, anti-Semite, Zionist, anti-�insert name here�, Michael Moore lover/basher etc. are found in common usage and are not used NEARLY enough.

Do not post anything that is intended for serious debate or that veers off widely accepted dogma. Contrary to your na�ve belief, this will not invite intellectually challenging debate. People on the �fringe� of mainstream are of the lunatic variety.

If someone does post something that is intended for serious debate, do not under any circumstances address the issues. Rather, nitpick, challenge the �credibility� and �objectivity� of the source, make fun of the nationality of the poster and slap a label on them. If they try to defend themselves, resort to name-calling. You�ll see how amazing it is that, even in a large thread, such inanities can divert away from the issues and avoid your opinion shifting in the slightest. Just like the grown-ups playing �real� politics.

If you want to troll for points simply post a story or discussion already covered but phrased in a slightly different manner so as to avoid the wrath of moderators. Or post something funny, shocking, or completely irreverent and watch your point total grow!

Be careful of keeping an open mind. You never know what might sneak in there without your tacit approval.

Oh! And this little gem from a poster who shall remain nameless:

Constantly reading articles that are contrary to your own belief and standards is how "they" do brain washing.

Therefore, constantly reading articles that do agree with your own beliefs and standards will ensure that your opinions are protected from the evil brainwashers.


So that�s it. Lessons I learned from ATS.

Now I can �fit in�.

Did I do good?

Did I miss any?

EDIT: Fixed Quote


[edit on 7/12/2004 by Gools]

lol, I think you got the jist of it

Yeah but you forgot to mention who taught you how to bitch so strongly...............

If you dont like the ATS family of posters then dont visit this webpage.


Dont let the door hit you on your way out.

DAG YO! SOMEBODY woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning! Oh...wait...I mean.....they woke up on the wrong side of the bed IN APRIL. Dude, youve been here since april and you're just now figuring out how things run here??

So everything you just posted it true right? Ah! Perfect, that seems that you just bought into rule number...2 on your lovely list. But honestly now, I'm done with sarcasm.

That was lame. I can't believe I'm responding to this. Your quote was biased, you didn't even cite sources! This lacks all credibility and you're obviously a Bush lover/hater/semite/anti semite combination, you dirty Brit/Scot/American/Canadian/Aussia/Indian/Japanese/Siberian moron!

Ha! Did I do well? I have to agree with Agent though, yo did forget that one rule. Have fun, welcome to the community! Its a pleasure to always see another pissed off poster!

Ive changed my stance on various things on this board.

Yeah I support the war but Id like to see bush thrown into jail if he postpones the november election.

Sure some people on here buy into a belief and never go but some of us do think.

Heh Heh. The post was made in jest with a huge peperring of frustration.

I can't beleive the number of times I have run into a brick wall here. Like the person who said basically "if you don't like it,leave". He missed the point entirely. I could explain it to him...but...bah!

I have managed to change the point of view of at least one member on a topic and he thanked me in a U2U. It was greatly appreciated.

While it's true that debate and argument can be stimulating it is also tiring, especially when dealing with people who just don't get it.

I will post my views and refrain from trying to change peoples minds.
Perhaps the mere presence of a viewpoint can make a difference.

EDIT: Oh yeah. I too have changed my opinions on certain things, thanks to well though out arguments.

[Edited on 7/12/2004 by Gools]

There is a lot of narrow-mindedness here, but there are also people that are here to test their beliefs. Avoid the former and embrace the latter. I have changed some beliefs since I've been here, hope I've made the same impact. Are you as open-minded as you wish the people that you debate are? If your beliefs are written in stone then you will miss out on the point of this site.

Originally posted by intrepid Are you as open-minded as you wish the people that you debate are?

Not to blow my own horn or anything but, I'm an extremely logical person. If you know the Kiersey personality types I am an "INTJ". (been tested three times) I have 2 University degrees (Science and Law). Complex arguments, logic problems etc. are no strangers to me.

I respond very well to sound postulates based in logical reasoning and I will accept a theory no matter how loony it starts out sounding.

Sometimes I will revert back to my original opinion though. So basically I am very flexible and often alter my opinins until I reach a consensus within my own logical construct.

Originally posted by Gools
I respond very well to sound postulates based in logical reasoning and I will accept a theory no matter how loony it starts out sounding.

Sometimes I will revert back to my original opinion though. So basically I am very flexible and often alter my opinins until I reach a consensus within my own logical construct.

That's a start. The problem is you have a set standard that you apply things to. Open your mind to the fact that you might be wrong, even if you aren't, helps you see things you normally wouldn't. See my signiture, I truely believe it.