I've been interested in conspiracies since my grandfather sat me down over a period of years in the late '80's and early '90's to tell me some WWII stories in (seemingly, as I have no real reason to doubt him-stories still haven't changed) all earnesty. I have been following this forum and others like it for years but never joined due to the sheer weight of the bull# holding the door closed on open-minded yet unrelentingly rational people. The post from Skeptic Overload (Overlord? ...doesn't say up top) makes the vast majority of everyday skeptics, that don't belong to any website, feel much more comfortable discussing ideas and seeking out information here. I would go to greater lengths to explain my position and why I read here, even share some things I've come across in little peso museos in my travels but I think there is a sub-forum for that and you probably wouldn't be able to get the rest for the matching ear-muffs and sunglasses that came with your tin-foil hats. Just kidding.

edit: corrects your curse words for you. nice function...in a big brother sort of way

As a new member, this thread is very interesting and provides a bit of insight into the inner-workings of ATS. As a longtime lurker, and someone who has read this entire thread, I have come to these conclusions:

1) Being that ATS is full of "user-generated " content, it would not be very difficult for any alphabet agency to dispatch agents to the forums. These agents would have the ability to start threads for the purpose of disinfo, and comment/de-rail threads for the purpose of disinfo.

2) There is a possibility, whether SO wants to admit it or not, that certain topics are deemed "off limits" to the boards on ATS. That is a hot button issue that can be debated from both sides.

3) We all enjoy ATS, and come here to expand our knowledge, and to entertain alternative theories.

4) Any member who has questions or concerns of how ATS operates, is most likely doing so for the betterment of the ATS community.

To Staff: These questions and concerns should be met with a little more understanding, and a little less angst.

Keep up the good work everyone!

i was told you get free cookies and t shirt for signing up. still waiting...

Funny and informative (or was it dis-informative? lol) post.

But why discourage open discussion about ATS? That is just going to make people even more suspicious. If this were my site, I would have an entire section devoted to conspiracy theories about myself, lolz Kind of comes with the territory, yeah?

Interesting info on how ATS got started..thanks.
But what is your point in the post?
Are you telling us that it is a waste of time to question you or that it will not be accepted here?

If you are telling us it is a waste of time then you should know that it will only cause people to dig deeper..if you are telling us that it is forbidden ..then come on out and say it.

Will this be the LAST post of you trying to vindicate your site? All others should be stopped and linked to this one.

I enjoy ATS. News seems to reach here faster than any other place..and I thank the creators for that.

Just wondering what you hoped to accomplish with this post.

Peace

thanks to the OP for this. I'm particularly grateful for this:

Someone Who Disagrees Is Not Always a Shill

Following the above, passionate conspiracy theorists often fall into the narrow-thinking trap that those who don't share their opinion must be a shill sent to discredit. We see this quite a bit on ATS, and it's often very disheartening to see. The realm of conspiracies is just like anything else, a difference of opinion is most often just that and nothing more.

...Sites like ATS are a place to parse through the additional information not covered by the mainstream so that people may come to better-informed conclusions. Many of these people will not be conspiracy theorists and may disagree with conspiracy theories -- but they're not shills, instead they are ordinary folk just beginning to become aware that things are not as they seem.

I take a sceptical view of events in that I require solid reasoning and tested evidence before I'm expected to offer up belief in a subject. Some people on this site behave not like true 'sceptics', they are more like members of a quasi-religious revivalist sect. Frequently the response has been mocking laughter that, for instance, I don't automatically assume something complex and covert is going on beneath events like a whale being beached on the shores of the Humber Estuary.

PSSST this is all a very interesting....but i want to know really who is who here.



I think there are three amigos in this pic.......but i am sure it will come all out in the wash

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord

And if somehow someone is identified as a bon-a-fied shill, there's no reason not to still have compassion. It's got to be a tough job with long hours, low pay, high stress, and difficult to define route for career advancement. Feel sorry for the shill.

Nice closing But we do sympathize... really we do... we are all still here... right?

Yep as a long time member myself, think I started coming here right after 9-11...
I think ATS is deep in co-intel-pro and is influenced by the secret societies etc.
However, that does not mean that relevant and important information cannot be found here. It is just drowned in all the propaganda

I do not believe that this website or the moderators are CIA or anything like that. But, we are foolish to suppose that they would not have an interest in websites like this and possibly create accounts, if only through proxies. That is why Mods and Users both need to be careful that threads about how "whites need to be armed to defend ourselves against THEM" need to be responded to and denounced. Otherwise, COINTELPRO type tactics will win. Racist and stupid threads I assume to be COINTELPRO by definition. Hoover had no problems using racist groups.

The website itself need not be COINTELPRO but such forces definitely exist online. We are foolish to suspect otherwise.

The moderators and the rest of us cannot help it. They WILL be here. Just remember to blast them with the Light of Love and Truth, perhaps waking some of them up and getting them over on our side.

You know, there might be government agents who actually do believe in the Constitution and might be here to gather information to DEFEND it? Have you guys considered that possibility too?

It might be very complex. No one wears the label of Good Guy or Bad Guy. People are complex. I welcome government agents to read my threads. I have nothing to fear because I am an upholder of the Law.