ATS Political Topic Survey Results.
www.abovetopsecret.com...
The results are in, and the reality of the numbers and responses don't much reflect the actual tone in many of the political topic threads.
Q: How do you feel about the current volume of political discussion on the ATS board?
A2: No biggie, I could take it or leave it. -- 34%
A2: It bothers me, but there is the occasional good thread. -- 22%
A3: I'm not a poltical-junkie, but I like most of the threads. -- 21%
Q: Please describe, honestly, your political leanings for us. (This is just an overall temperature check of the ATS board members, your member name
is not used in this survey!)
A1: On my own. -- 23%
A2: Neutral. -- 16%
A3: Somewhat liberal. -- 15%
A4: Somewhat conservative. -- 15%
Q: If you discuss politics, what is your preferred style?
A1: I like a calm discussion with occasional heat. -- 47%
A2: I like calm cool and collected discussion. -- 26%
Q: What would you like to see for the future of political discussion on ATS?
A1: Put it all into one forum on ATS, that way we know where to find it. -- 35%
A2: Create a new board (like BTS) for the political debate. -- 25%
A3: Don't do anything at all, keep it just like it is. -- 23%
Clearly, a large percentage of ATS members is either neutral on political ideology, or only slightly leaning toward one ideological direction. In
addition, these answers and many follow-up comments here, in private, and among staff in our management forum indicate a need to gain control over
heated political debate.
The Solution
1- The restricted access political debate forum will be transformed to a general political ideology forum. This will be open to all, and where the
merits of one political stance are discussed and compared to alternative stances in a sane and sober way. Decorum will be the rule.
2- The existing political conspiracy forum will remain, but with better management of topics to stay on-track with the discussion of conspiratorial
topics within politics (such as election fraud, cover ups, etc.).
One major change which should help manage the tone and style of political discussion from this point forward is the
restriction against blanket
categorical insults. For example, we're going to ask that our members refrain from saying things like "all liberals are ________" or
"conservatives are _________" (insert insult of choice). Since many members fall into these categories, such statements can be construed as a
personal insult/attack within the flow of a topical debate.
Politics, like religion, often inspires impassioned opinion and heated exchanges. We certainly don't want to limit the discussion of important
political topics, but we do expect our members to aspire to a higher standard of communication and discuss these topics with a degree of restraint.
Carry on.