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Originally posted by Isaacland
and demonstrate that ATS is a Democratic Organisation.

We've never claimed to be a "democratic organization."

Oh... you have inside knowledge as to the behind-the-scenes reasons for a member being banned? Do tell.

There have been private emails between he and I, and he was afforded a method for restoring his account. I'll not reveal the nature of the emails, but the content caused sufficient concern to keep his account inactive. The next step is his.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord
We've stumbled our way through another wave of threads and posts questioning the integrity of those who run and moderate our beloved AboveTopSecret.com

To be fair, SO, I don't think we have. However, you are right to say we have had, "an increase in threads worried about Shill/Sock/Agent infiltration." Sorry, I think that is a good thing whether the owners and mods do or not. (I'm not just saying that because I was a driving force behind the increase either - honest )

I may not be speaking for every member who has been worried, but many of us doubt that the owners or most of the staff are in on some alphabet agency game. We just have good reason to think, especially on certain ATS forums, that there is something more than just regular member chat happening.

On the ego of conspiracy theorists tip, you are probably right in so many cases. On the other hand, I think you may underestimate the scope of some intelligence operations. I know we are going to have to agree to differ on that for now but you may see the light eventually.

To the mods: I think you do a good job. However, you aren't perfect, so you really should try harder.

Great site by the way.

Originally posted by Pimander
On the other hand, I think you may underestimate the scope of some operations.

Being in the type of "position" we find ourselves, we often encounter people who are fans of ATS in a variety of surprising places.

One such fan is actually an old business acquaintance who is a rather subversive person in his non-work artistic life (in a band with some very rebellious lyrics), and a huge fan of the content on ATS. But in his professional life, his specific expertise has afforded him a rather high civilian security clearance, and an occasional presence in meetings that involve the types of agencies/task-forces who would be assigned to "monitor" people online.

His take-away: the agencies who would do such a thing are so under-funded, under-staff, over-worked and lacking both appropriate technology and skilled IT people. The good news for us is that they're really not a threat. The bad news for us is that these are also the people tasked with cyber security against outside threats to the nation. Think about that.

Originally posted by Pimander

To the mods: I think you do a good job. However, you aren't perfect, so you really should try harder.

Yeah that whole perfect thing, is still some thing many have to work on. So, he who is perfect should cast the first stone.

It's a case of sticks and stones.....

There's not much point in a discussion if people are oversensitive to criticism or their outlook or way of life being maligned. A persons knows to themself their integrity, I wouldn't worry about it too much Mr Boss.

Put another way, I don't swear very much, but enough to know I Would never be a Nun as I understand a Nun should be, (and apart from being a man as well) but you can bet your boots that there are Nuns out there who could turn the 'Effing air blue, and I understand that too. It's all down to your integrity and dedication.

This is a great site here, I don't think it is perfect or a democracy, but what is? That is my take on it.

I would make one point about 'shills' though, they can be targeted when there is a systematic rubbishing of decent threads, with totally ridiculous replies to up the point that others abandon the thread.

There are other threads likely started by 'shills' with op's like, "Don't bash me for taking the official line" and as soon as someone replies to the negative in an orderly fashion, they get snarled at by the op. I would nearly swear that 'they' are users with multi accounts, but the same MO and it's all time wasting, and to wear people down.

Are there any moderators here that arent associated with freemasons, and are there any moderators here who arent skeptics? Who actually embrace Conspiracy culture?

I havent seen any.

Kind of Odd for a conspiracy website to be moderated by skeptics and secret society scumbags..

Only if it was bot that runs like a (mod).No human, just bot that could identify single anomolies in all format, working itself according to algorithm Rules.Problem solved !

Originally posted by BanMePlz
Kind of Odd for a conspiracy website to be moderated by skeptics and secret society scumbags.

Kind of odd to be tossing around insults about that which you have absolutely no knowledge.

Originally posted by smurfy
I would make one point about 'shills' though, they can be targeted when there is a systematic rubbishing of decent threads, with totally ridiculous replies to up the point that others abandon the thread.

Could also be a troll just having their own twisted version of fun in their mom's basement.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord

Originally posted by BanMePlz
Kind of Odd for a conspiracy website to be moderated by skeptics and secret society scumbags.

Kind of odd to be tossing around insults about that which you have absolutely no knowledge.

Its not exactly an insult. Its just what i think of people who join secret societies. I feel that way because i feel that they are hoarding and suppressing knowledge which i do not agree with, and IMO does not conform to a world which will last.

Care to enlighten me? Is my anger misdirected? Are secret societies benevolent benefactors to this world and its people?

Originally posted by BanMePlz
Is my anger misdirected?

Yes.

Thousands upon thousands of people join groups such as the Masons on a local basis for little more than civic involvement and business connections. Being totally unaware of the conspiracies and accusations surrounding the Masons at a higher level.

Just as the IRS employs thousands of people who are generally nice folk in a bad job, the Masons (and others) have civic-minded people thinking they're in a group doing good.

Originally posted by Icarus Rising
Or one could argue these agencies are just a front and the real work is being done elsewhere...

Sure. We can take that rabbit hole so deep it would boggle the mind.

But in the end, does it matter?

Will it ever change the way you post on ATS?

Should it?




Nah.

I love, love, love ATS, and am really happy you guys got together and formed this site. THANKS!

I first started visiting ATS when the gulf spill occurred and found very solid alternative news about the crisis. Of course there were those who proclaimed doomsday senerios. But mostly ATS was the finest news source available at the time.

Did BP send people here to dispell fear and create misinformation in their favor? Probably. I'll bet that will always be the case, but the best part of ATS are the real people with info that want to share and the educated "Skeptics" to keep us clear.

I have spent the last year out of work with a disability and am trying to start a home business. I find this site a solace, a distraction, an outlet for humor as well as a wellspring of spiritual, intellectual and political thought provoking insight and a source for research of just about any topic.

Thank you Skeptic Overlord. You are appreciated. (even if you do work for the CIA )