What has ATS done for you today?

Or, since you joined?

I have been on ATS for quite some time now. The best thing that ATS has done for me, is that it helped improved my english quite a bit. Reading through the posts by some well informed people on here, and noticing their skill with the english language has helped me to improve mine too. Since English is only my third language, this is quite a big thing.

It is the site I visit the most often, besides Google that is my home page of course. The intelligence of some members, and debates of some has also improved the way in which I converse regarding certain topics or situations in my real life.

It has also expanded my mind with many new theories, and possibilities that I would not have previously thought off. Keeping me up to date with the latest news, and the subsequent opinions of a world wide audience.

Furthermore, it has showed me that there are indeed some very strange people out there in the world, and helped me to distinguish between nonsense and the facts.

All this, and probably more is what I have taken from ATS.

Feel free to add or share anything, if there is anything you have gained from being on ATS.

vvv

Been a member for about a month. During which, I've become an ATS junkie. I'll probably slow down a bit, as the initial rush is wearing off some.

Anyway, this website challenges my perspective. I think that's the ultimate compliment I can give a source when attempting to become a smarter person.

reply to post by VreemdeVlieendeVoorwep


ATS has informed, entertained, infuriated, and forced me to see myself through the eyes of others - often a very uncomfortable process. It has challenged me, intimidated me, and made me expand my own knowledge base. It has filled me with pride - and then humbled me to my core. It has given me friends and a community to belong to.

It truly has changed me as a person, something I am grateful for. Grateful to the founder, the owners, the staff, and each and every member.

S&F VVV my friend.

~Heff

reply to post by Hefficide


Heff, thanks for the reply my friend.

That is another thing I forgot to mention. I have met some awesome people on here. People who I would call friends. I will still be around on ATS for a long time, and I am sure, in that time many more friends will be made.

Thanks to everyone!

vvv

reply to post by VreemdeVlieendeVoorwep


anxiety attacks

reply to post by DocHolidaze


lol, I suggest some Camomile tea.

vvv

reply to post by VreemdeVlieendeVoorwep


For me, ATS has really driven home the belief that we are doomed. And that it is our own fault; not the government's fault, not the wealthy one percent, not the religious extremists. Ours. The majority of members here are pacifists. They want to forgive, to let others do the dirty work, or they simply want to astral project their minds someplace better. They want to be tolerant of others to the point where it kills everyone.

We don't want to make the hard choices. We don't want to actively participate in the fight for our freedoms and the preservation of our way of life.

When big business wants to take our jobs overseas, we don't say in one voice, "Fine, but don't ship your products over here (I'm thinking the U.S., but insert your own nation) because we're going to keep making those products for ourselves. We're going to keep those jobs right here."

We knew (we have always known) that buying American products means American jobs for American citizens. But as soon as get five bucks in our pockets we run to Walmart to buy cheap foreign products.

We don't stand up and say, "No twisted religion in our country!" Of course, as civilized human beings we don't want to take away the religious rights of any people, even though we KNOW that the Muslim religion brings with it violent and deadly fringes that will kill us all one day; kill us individually, and as a free nation. It WILL happen because we are too afraid of being uncivilized enough to say no. We think of it losing our humanity, rather than thinking of it as self-preservation.

Oh, the members here talk a good talk (and I'm guilty of this too). We are one. We are all part of one consciousness. We are brothers and sisters...blah blah blah. And yet we do NOTHING in one voice that will, and CAN, make the world a better place.

but (and I'm guilty of this too) then we

reply to post by VreemdeVlieendeVoorwep


It seems as though ATS has helped you in many different ways, that's a good thing......

I was rather sceptical about stuff when I first came on ATS, but over time I actually realised that it is very similar to the world outside, there is good and bad, sad and funny and weird and weirder, you just have to extract the wheat from the chaff.....

But I must admit that I read about many happenings that are occurring in the world here on ATS quicker than what I do from the TV and the radio sometimes.........

reply to post by jiggerj


It is really all about expectation sets. Is ATS ( or other sources like it ) going to be the cause of massive, tangible change? Probably not. But we, the members, readers, and citizens of this community can and do effect change all of the time. Much of it local, some of it only effecting one life.

For example, recently a member posted about having an injured pet and another member immediately posted a message saying "U2U me with the vets info and I"ll call and pay by credit card". That is change. That is what this is all about.

In my own life, I use ATS as a means of opening dialogue with my friends and neighbors - often not even telling them where I get my information from. They don't need to know I'm on an alternative news or conspiracy site. They listen and absorb it all. Ironically they tend to think me a brilliant guy. It's not me, it's this community that is brilliant. I just get to steal the credit in my own little part of the world!

Don't expect sweeping, dramatic, Hollywood movie change. It's probably not going to happen. But gradual, grass roots change? Well, my friend, you're already seeing it and participating in it.

~Heff

reply to post by DocHolidaze


i prefer old toby,

Ats has exposed me to opinions and ideologies I never knew existed, opinions that I would never have come across in my real world relationships. Some have been enlightening, others more frightening. I have come across some great minds and like to think I've made a few friends, as much as one can have friends over the Internet.

The support I have received from the memembership over my recent bad news, has been emotionally touching, with members showing genuine support and concern. That, I believe is something very special about this place. There is a great community here, anyone who has been around long enough should know that.

On the downside, I believe too much concentrating on the doom porn side of ats can be bad for you and reading too many depressing stories will depress you,

For me at the moment, any day I can post on ATS is a good day

At first I was hesitant to even see what this site was all about. All day every day I would hear my other half tell me about a new story he has seen on ATS. So last month I decided to find out what kept him up all night and always on the computer.

I found a place where anyone can say what they think. Granted sometimes dinged for their opinion but always heard.

What I have gotten out of ATS is a sense of pride. I will get up in the morning log on and see if anyone has read my posts. Did I get any more stars or flags? Did someone like what I had to say? There have been times when I open a post and go through the house beaming that "They like my post" or "I got a flag" just as happy as can be. The amount of self-esteem is awesome.

ATS has also helped me with my reading. I am dyslexic and can be an issue. I feel that it causes me to sound less than smart so I never share my thoughts. I stand by and let the world pass me over. But now I have found my voice and am enjoying every minute that I am on ATS.

Thank you or building this site. I am sorry I did not log on sooner.
Have a great day ATS

reply to post by VreemdeVlieendeVoorwep


ATS has shown me that I am not alone. I'm not alone in my thoughts and opinions that elsewhere would we considered paranoid or unpatriotic. I'm not alone in experiencing things that are unexplainable and where elsewhere would be thought of as just a vivid imagination or delusion. I am not alone in my feelings of anger and my sense of injustice. I'm not alone in my fear of systematically losing my fundamental rights and freedoms. I'm not alone in my suspicions and skepticism. I am not alone in my mistrust of government and main stream media.

ATS has shown me that I have a vast extended family of people who feel like I do. A crazy, disfunctional, argumentative family- but I love them anyway! ATS lets me be me!

reply to post by littled16


Not for nothing... but your kitten is trying to pick a fight with me and I'm Irish American... so....

~Heff

What has ATS taught me?

Never take a job that doesn't pay

All kidding aside, I found an online family here. A community of individuals so diverse that it rivals any other community board on the web.

It's taught me the importance of debate with grace and tact.

It's taught me that my ideology is dynamic, not static and may change at the reading of a simple sentence, or a well thought out and written OP.

~Tenth

reply to post by Hefficide


Oh oh! It's gonna be one of THOSE family get togethers isn't it?:w:
(The husband is half Irish, kitty has MAD drinking and fighting skills!)

Oh well, just like home!

It has taught me not to post everything I think.

I probably post about 50% of the replies I write, but writing them is a thought process and one I enjoy.

reply to post by VreemdeVlieendeVoorwep


The top 10 things ATS has done for me.

Number. . .

10. Since I've started here, my whites are whiter and my colours are brighter.
9. It has satisfied my cravings for doom porn.
8. ATS has given me the strength and courage to finally try out for "American Idol".
7. ATS has reduced my liver inflamation.
6. I now know what ROTFLMAO means.
5. ATS has stopped me from running naked into hospital rooms, with a scalpel, shouting, "Who's next?"
4. ATS taught me that the thing my old college roommate put in me wasn't a "borg implant."
3. ATS has given me even more options for facial tatoos.
2. ATS taught me that "sexting" mods won't get my threads back.
1. ATS has given me the courage to be upfront about my flatulence.