Is ATS Censoring too much?

This post was sort of a news announcement about Anonymous and their newest video titled "ANON calls out Facebook and ATS for censorship, really?"

www.abovetopsecret.com...

The topic has since been closed by SO the site owner.

Do you believe what anonymous is saying? Is ATS censoring too much? Are they too controlling on what their users are allowed to see, allowed to say?

I am sure this post will get owned, but it will only prove censorship lives here and is not going away.

Censorship is control...don't be controlled.I think if reporting something that is negative towards ATS, on ATS and results in a closing of the topic for no real good reason, it stands to reason that censorship has prevailed.

Can't spin that story positive, so lets bury it? Is that the philosophy here?

reply to post by EspyderMan


sounds like the police force to me.

reply to post by EspyderMan


Some people post some real nonsense here that deserves to be deleted.

But sometimes I just scratch my head about how fast some threads vanish.It would be nice If they would post why and for what reason threads are removed.In other words. Tell us the thread you removed and why you did it and it will take all the speculation out of it and the mystery. Problem solved.

The problem with censorship, in my opinion, is that when certain topics are considered taboo we are left with only half of the story.

Regardless of who's holding the spoon, we're all too old to be spoon-fed. "Deny ignorance" people. Don't use the same tactics to censor and skew as the global puppetmasters that you are all so eager to bash.

Whether the reasons are political, financial, or idealogic, one cannot make informed decisions without having access to information from both sides of the argument. It seems people are very willing to dispose of one form of control and cozy up to another, because its packaging is more appealing to them.

Well think about this, if you go into a Christian home, you probably will not be allowed to curse or walk around nude, but if you came over my house, I'd let you say and do whatever you like for the most part.
This site is a private entity owned by people, not the public. If you blog on your own site you can say whatever you like, plus consequences for unlawful statements/threats. Here we have to follow their policies, if they want to censor the word "THE" on their site, I think they have the right to do so.

Not sure why they censor ANON, but it's their free choice right to despite your arguments. This is a privately owned site offered to the public to browse and comment on.

I agree, when your a "former advertising executive" running the site it makes sense to not allow certain posts to appear that degrades your "product".

To me that says ALOT about the site's intentions and goals. We are just a money making machine for the "former advertising executive" when censorship is so prevalent.

Mr Jedi,

This site's goal is truth and denial of ignorance, isn't that goal hard to reach when censorship rules the waters?
Is this SO's home, or is it the conspiracy theorist home?

I thought we were invited in and expected to challenge thought, to see the truth on all sides. I can respect rules but when you expect a result such as ATS does then make censorship a cornerstone of your authority its an oxymoron.

reply to post by Backslider


your so right, we are being spoon fed when censor ship is applied.

reply to post by EspyderMan


You guys should really give it a rest. Mountains out of mole hills here lately, anything to add a little more paranoia. The thread was most likely closed because it's a non-issue.

Did you not read what SO said? I'll repeat it for him: ATS DOES NOT CENSOR TOPICS RELATING TO "ANONYMOUS".

FYI this is a private site...there is no "freedom of speech" the constitution here is the T&C. there is just the right amount of censoring to accommodate the T&C. If folks want their posts to stay up then they need to be mindful of the terms they agreed to when they signed up to be a member.

I get posts removed too, as of this date none where removed unless they violated the T&C.
I commend the Mods and hope they continue to do as they are.

have a great day!

Originally posted by EspyderMan
The topic has since been closed by SO the site owner.

It's closed because it's ridiculous, and the video clearly done by someone pretending to be "anonymous."

Since it wasn't removed, how is that censorship?

Remove my posts all you want, censor everyone. I am not debating whether he is allowed to or not.
I am suggesting that doing so is damaging to their goals and censorship is only proving this site is nothing but a money making machine off the backs of conspiracy believers.

I am trying to open your mind some to understand what this place truly is. Walk around with your eyes closed and let them hold your hand all you want. I will not.

Originally posted by EspyderMan
I agree, when your a "former advertising executive" running the site it makes sense to not allow certain posts to appear that degrades your "product".

To me that says ALOT about the site's intentions and goals. We are just a money making machine for the "former advertising executive" when censorship is so prevalent.

Mr Jedi,

This site's goal is truth and denial of ignorance, isn't that goal hard to reach when censorship rules the waters?
Is this SO's home, or is it the conspiracy theorist home?

I thought we were invited in and expected to challenge thought, to see the truth on all sides. I can respect rules but when you expect a result such as ATS does then make censorship a cornerstone of your authority its an oxymoron.

edit on 13-7-2011 by EspyderMan because: (no reason given)

when you are invited into someones home you are expected to obey the rules they place within their home as a sign of respect and friendship. This is not any different here, respect the terms or go to GLP...they would be glad to have ya i am sure.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord

Originally posted by EspyderMan
The topic has since been closed by SO the site owner.

It's closed because it's ridiculous, and the video clearly done by someone pretending to be "anonymous."

Since it wasn't removed, how is that censorship?

Its on the official anonymous channel for youtube according to replies in that post, nothing indicates its pretend, all signs point to an official anonymous release. Just because the content isn't to your liking doesn't make it fake, like another poster already said.

Removing the video describing someone criticism of this site as well as another site is an act towards burying it from the public view, is it not? Or do closed topics make it to the top news links too?

reply to post by SkepticOverlord



how can you pretend to be anon?


anon is everyone.

Originally posted by EspyderMan
Remove my posts all you want, censor everyone.

Be careful that your intensely jerking-knee doesn't hit you in your jaw, knock you out, and require a visit to the dentist to repair your teeth.

I am trying to open your mind some to understand what this place truly is.

Oh... so you're an expert on what AboveTopSecret.com truly is... do tell.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord

Originally posted by EspyderMan
The topic has since been closed by SO the site owner.

It's closed because it's ridiculous, and the video clearly done by someone pretending to be "anonymous."

Since it wasn't removed, how is that censorship?

I also think it's funny that people would really think the owner of the "accused" website would really want to keep a thread open, that adds more hits and attention to a video with such claims against ATS.

I can personally say that a post that got banned/deleted from both glp and dicloseTV, but I put that same thread here with no consequence. So no, I think they are much more open than other forums.

reply to post by EspyderMan

Do you believe what anonymous is saying?

If it really is anonymous and that's a big if, no.

Is ATS censoring too much?

If you mean troll topics, out of place pictures, certain drugs and curse words, no. There are many sites that allow them and by looking at them, I think we're waaaaay on the mark...

Are they too controlling on what their users are allowed to see, allowed to say?

Controlling? To censor is indeed a way of control but if there is none all hell breaks loose. Read above answer.

I am sure this post will get owned, but it will only prove censorship lives here and is not going away. Censorship is control...don't be controlled.I think if reporting something that is negative towards ATS, on ATS and results in a closing of the topic for no real good reason, it stands to reason that censorship has prevailed.

From what I have seen, threads are closed if they turn into a circus or if it goes against the T&C. No real good reason ?? Riiiiiiiight....

Can't spin that story positive, so lets bury it? Is that the philosophy here?

ATS is what you make it out to be. If that is your philosophy about it than you are absolutely right. But it ain't mine.

ATS reminds me of the political machine right now... sad sad sad.

Originally posted by CaDreamer

Originally posted by EspyderMan
I agree, when your a "former advertising executive" running the site it makes sense to not allow certain posts to appear that degrades your "product".

To me that says ALOT about the site's intentions and goals. We are just a money making machine for the "former advertising executive" when censorship is so prevalent.

Mr Jedi,

This site's goal is truth and denial of ignorance, isn't that goal hard to reach when censorship rules the waters?
Is this SO's home, or is it the conspiracy theorist home?

I thought we were invited in and expected to challenge thought, to see the truth on all sides. I can respect rules but when you expect a result such as ATS does then make censorship a cornerstone of your authority its an oxymoron.

edit on 13-7-2011 by EspyderMan because: (no reason given)

when you are invited into someones home you are expected to obey the rules they place within their home as a sign of respect and friendship. This is not any different here, respect the terms or go to GLP...they would be glad to have ya i am sure.

The invitation was a mutual benefit, if we all weren't here participating this place would not exist. A web site is not a home and to equate it as such is truly horrible logic.

We are scratching each others backs here. Why bury a video from anonymous that mentions ATS censorship? Gimme one good reason, and don't play the "it cant be anonymous someone must of hacked them" because that is a theory not fact.
If the video is a joke we will see it when watched and can comment accordingly. Closing the topic and removing it from ever being popular smacks of censorship pure and simple.