Originally posted by PhantomLimb
The only problem I have is the fact that they deny they can do this. SO said it depends on flags and posts and is out of their hands. If they have the means to change the front page, which is unsurprising because they do own and run this site, then why deny that. Why not say that they can but they only do so for specific times like today's 9/11 anniversary? They only say that it's changed by stars and flags. Why?

This is not about the fact that they can change front page. They own it, therefore they can do as they please. It's the fact that they deny that they can do so when they can.

Good grief man, really?

Find me a source for "...they deny they can do this."
Of course the potential is there to control the website. It's a website, not a double-blind clinical trial. They set up the front page to lead to trending topics, and by default that is how they present the board mechanics. ONE day, one special anniversary day that impacted EVERYONE on the board, they choose to direct the content and you're crying about something so insanely trivial?

If they altered it w/o disclosing you may have a case to even post, but they did, with reason. Go outside for a little while, get a coffee, interact with RL for a bit.

EDIT: Outstanding, while I was typing it got handled. I still stand by the "Go outside for a little while..." comment

Originally posted by PhantomLimb
The only problem I have is the fact that they deny they can do this.

By my recollection, the "denial" you indicate was specific to the manipulation flags, which determine what appears on the site home, and other pages that aggregate top threads.

There have been several occasions in the past -- the mega-thread on the Japan earthquake being the most recent -- where important threads were "stickied" at the top of the two positions for longer than it would naturally stay. There was no outcry then, so why now?


To add...

There's a great deal of code "under the hood" here that automates the creation of pages like the home page, top topics page, forum summary pages, and so on. The intent is to provide users, especially new users, with a information architecture more similar to a news website, as smaller and smaller percentages of Internet users are comfortable with a typical forum information architecture. The intent is to have a system where no human intervention is needed.

But for important things, like ongoing threads for a major event, or our member's stories of 9/11, there can and will be the rare human intervention on the site home page.

Pretty simple really.

molehill ... meet ... MOUNTAIN

Why would we not 'override that code', so to speak, in lieu of remembering a single fateful day which effectively changed the world we live in. (?)

To proclaim this as 'proof' that ATS actually does manipulate the Top Topic on the boards ... laughable, at best.

Common Sense and The Obvoius says it was done to commemorate and pay homage to those lives lost.

Then and Since

... perhaps, to coincide with the hour and thirty two minute 'moment of silence' earlier this morning

... as well as to draw attentions and focus to the Many members who've put forth their own personal stories and experiences from that day.

NAH ... that couldn't be it.