Can we have ATS back, please?

originally posted by: OtherSideOfTheCoin
The old ATS is dead.

ATS is now a forum for the alt-right and political debate.

the days of 9/11 conspiracies, ufo's, the NWO, the wacky Alex Jones video discussions they are GONE!

Shame really i enjoyed it to

As I mentioned to another member on page 1 of this thread (and not picking on you either) but you are also one of those who contribute greatly to the political forums...

I don't understand your stance on this thread?

Warmest

Lags

originally posted by: Lagomorphe

originally posted by: OtherSideOfTheCoin
The old ATS is dead.

ATS is now a forum for the alt-right and political debate.

the days of 9/11 conspiracies, ufo's, the NWO, the wacky Alex Jones video discussions they are GONE!

Shame really i enjoyed it to

As I mentioned to another member on page 1 of this thread (and not picking on you either) but you are also one of those who contribute greatly to the political forums...

I don't understand your stance on this thread?

Warmest

Lags

If you can't beat them join them.

now it just so happens that in the last few days i have written a few controversial threads about trump.

But if you look back through my thread history you will actually find that my real interest was always in discussing Terrorism, 9/11 and UK Special Forces. The problem ATS has is that topics that other might want to discuss out with American politics are now almost discouraged I asked for a UK/EU politics forum for example and it was denied despite lots of support. I have spent weeks writing and researching a thread on a conspiracy related topic only for it to get 2 pages of replies. Yet the other day I spend 10 minutes writing about how Trump is a racist and before you know it I am getting a really good debate on the go and lots of discussion.

The old ATS is dead.

If you want to discuss conspiracies then ATS is not the place for that anymore.

ATS should do a purge of stars & flags, a kind of zero hour. That'd be a true real ELE for some people here I'm sure. Probably drain the swamp too of a bunch of burt hurt users who currently have a million stars. At least then though, we would all, for a brief period, be on exactly the same level as one another, in terms of users of ATS forum. I know your post is more related to the content itself than the reactions to content, but stars and flags create an environment where getting reactions is almost paramount to the functionality, a lot of it lately is provoking reactions rather than provoking reflection...but I understand that is circumstance to some of the more recent "global" events, so somewhat expected. Anyway, we have disparity here, it's pretty clear as day, and its created by stars & flags. It used to be, you create reflective posts and gain your stars. Now it's, you do what you need to do to get a reaction to get stars, lol. ATS is basically all stars and flags, and stars and stripes at the moment...you ain't wrong there!

It'd also be great if ATS could consider a higher tier for some of the subjects like paranormal, UFOs etc, a tier which says "if you don't believe this stuff, you don't post here". Because I'm sure for a lot of people, we just want to get on and discuss the cruxt of the matter, yet many of the forums here are just too broad - so you have to deal with the ignorance I personally thought this place was an intended safe-haven to avoid.

All blame and no self-reflection. Your fault, not mine.

Rather, you're in the midst of one of the greatest conspiracies of modern times and refuse to take part because it is political in nature.

a reply to: Lagomorphe

He just wants to tell us how he feels. Nothing new

a reply to: markymint

I kind of agree with most of what you are saying.

ATS could consider a higher tier for some of the subjects like paranormal, UFOs etc,

I suggested something like this before, basically a system that would reward well sourced, articulate and original threads and saving them from ending up down at the bottom of the recent posts page. My idea was basically a forum that the mods could move really good threads into that met a criteria.

tier which says "if you don't believe this stuff, you don't post here". Because I'm sure for a lot of people, we just want to get on and discuss the cruxt of the matter,

This is the only bit i disagree with you on. I understand why some people want this but a echo-chamber is not the solution.

a reply to: ForteanOrg

I have been here for a long time, one of the last one left

Yes, you are right, we need ATS back, I have to be honest, the reason I was a lurker in 2003 was because research on UFOs and this site came out first in my engine search.

Then I became a member 2004 I took the step.

Yes, for some reason the topics were amazing the information incredible, and the members were all great and helpful, with the exemption of some.

Then politics became center state so bad that a board was created to tackle issues and keep them from the rest of the board.

Then politics started to die down, the board was gone.

Now politics are dominating ATS again, yes I enjoyed them am fascinated by them, but darn is time to bring the board back to its original intent.

Its sad that those I considered my fellow member friends and moderators, has give me a left turn because opposing opinions.

Can we have the political board back?and leave ATS main board as its original intent was.

a reply to: cklein61

It won't and ATS needs to understand that, it won't because politics in America has now taken a new direction, is an impressive change going on that is making history.

Alas, it seems the whole world has gone mad reporting on the new American President. Mostly Negative. Here in the UK our politicians and media people are getting all worked up about state visits, addressing Parliament etc, it's all really quite a distraction from more pressing issues. What we really need is A Rock and Roll President:



And yes I to believe ATS should be for the more bizarre topics in life. You want Politics go to a political forum.

But if you look back through my thread history you will actually find that my real interest was always in discussing Terrorism, 9/11 and UK Special Forces.

Yes, this actually surprsed me about you as I used to enjoy your feedback on other topics.

Warmest

Lags

Here are some good*, recent threads that have nothing to do with politics:

Wrongly Demonized - Promoters of Goodness & Freedom - Knights Templar, Freemasonry, & Illuminati

Study Reveals Substantial Evidence of Holographic Universe

Demons Hideout At Walmart

Belief in free will is equivalent to believing in Santa Claus

There is a pretty good mix there and none of them are remotely about politics. Whether you agree with the Original Posters or not, they gave you something interesting to read and discuss.



*good is subjective and in this case constitutes solely my opinion, your mileage may vary

I agree ATS is different from when I used to lurk to when I joined back in 2012, I joined for the acquirement of info on ancient history that other sites were not as plentiful with and ran down the fortean rabbit hole during the big 2012 doom porn.

one thing I have noticed is some people post threads for the acquisition of coveted stars and flags, if we want things to go more or less to the way it was with a more balanced mixture of good threads from all topics then ignore the threads that are taking over, no stars, no flags, no replies. Eventually they'll get the drift and we can have balance once again.

as you can tell by my posts to years as a member ratio, I only reply generally if I have something new or I feel it is important to the thread I stay away from the political side of ATS, which at the moment leaves me with very little, sad to think that the funny meme thread is on top of my list these days

originally posted by: markymint
Probably drain the swamp too of a bunch of burt hurt users who currently have a million stars.

That is from a glitch and not an actual count they accumulated.

I'm the same douche I always been, regardless of who is prez.

I brought my own stick, it was handed down to me by my father, and his father before and and his father, and so on.

a reply to: mysterioustranger

I'm not so sure about that anymore. I'm not saying this is a good or a bad thing, and I don't think it's anything ATS can affect or change personally.

That said...

While ordinarily I'd agree with you that those steps would yield the solution for those trying in earnest to avoid political topics and discussion (though, as always, we can all simply choose to ignore those topics if we dislike them,) just as a quick experiment, limiting myself solely to page 1 of the forums in question, searching only for "Trump" (meaning there are many other political topics that simply don't have Trump in their title) and only my "favorite" forums as you suggested, yielded:

Breaking alternative news

"U.S. government scientists go rogue in defiance of Trump"

"Commando dies in U.S. raid in Yemen first military op OKd by Trump"

"Trump Administration Orders Communications Blackout For US Scientists"

"Shia LaBeouf arrested at anti-Trump art installation in New York"

"Donald Trump To Allow Alternative Media Into White House Press Briefings"

"Trump White House vows to stop China taking South China Sea islands"

World War 3

"Iran threatens to fire roaring missiles at enemies after Donald Trump Twitter spat"

"Is The Trump Administration Already Over Paul Craig Roberts"

"First Terror Attack of Trumps Presidency - What happens"

"More Trump Effect Trump victory Reduces Devcon Threat Level to Lowest Level"

"Trump slams Beijing US says China will return underwater drone-Was It Retaliation for Taiwan"

Aliens and UFOs

"Would President Trump reveal aliens exist"

"Trump administration and UFOextraterestrials."

"UFO Follows Trump Plane Caught on FOX News"

9/11 Conspiracies

"Do you think that Donald Trump knows 911 was an inside job"

"Donald Trump to Re-Open 911 Investigation "

"Will Trump Make A New 911 Investigation "

"Trump on 911 states that bombs must have been used in addition to planes."

Possee comitatis

"convoy of military vehicles displaying Trump Flag"

"Trump Attorney General Pick Says Congress Needs To Legalize Cannabis"

"Police holding Trump to promise re-militarization."

General Conspiracies

"Unbiased take on Trump and the elites"

"The U.S. Had A Plan To Topple All 7 Countries On Trumps Refugee Ban List"

The Grey Area

"I have a theory about a Trump and Tesla connection..."

"Trump Supporters Have Banded Together to Kill me"

"Trumpocalypse Suddenly Liberals Are The Ones Stockpiling Food Guns And Emergency Supplies"

Secret Societies (This one actually required me to move to page 2 before I found one, so that's something.)

"Bohemian Grove Occultist Are Against Trump"

New World Order (back to only needing to go to page 1)

"The Trump beat the NWO falsehood exposed"

"The Trumpling of the Establishment in Europe"

"Theresa May America and Britain will lead together again after Brexit and election of Trump"

"Trump is part of the NWO Sinister plan"

"Trumps nominee to head CIA called for massive expansion of the Surveillance State. "

"George Soros Lost Over 1 Billion Dollars Weeks After Trump Presidency"

"Trump was it a good choice to elect him"

"Soros Trump is a Would Be Dictator Who Threatens the New World Order"

"Trump Exposes Illuminati"

Area 51 and other Facilities (finally - a favorite board reasonably free of political and Trump related topics. Again, not saying that's a good or a bad thing.)

Social Issues and Civil Unrest

"Nationwide strike against Trump planned for February 17 gains traction"

"BREAKING Trump Sending ATF Troops to Chicago to Curb Violence"

"Over 12000 tweets are calling for Trumps assassination"

"Trump Says He Will Send in the Feds if Chicago Doesnt End Carnage"

"BLM Anti-Trump Protest In Seattle We Need To Start Killing People"

"Leaked Executive Order Reveals Trump Crackdown On Immigrant Welfare"

"CNN Accidentally Airs Press Conference With Detained Iraqi Traveler Who Likes Trump"

Education and Media

"CNN Hires Valerie Jarretts Daughter To Report On Trumps Justice Department"

"Trump Advisers consider banning and relocating press from the White House"

"Double Standard Media warn Trump could exploit US propaganda arm under bipartisan law"

Really Above Top Secret

Won't list them, but there are three on page 1.

Dissecting Disinformation

There are 12, again not going to paste them all. This topic is already getting long. But yes, 12 on page 1.

Skunk Works

There are a total of 9 on page 1.

The "new" tab, as you also suggested.

There are seventeen before scrolling down to load more.

You get the idea.

As I've said in another topic on this issue, I'm not saying whether this is a good or a bad thing, but it definitely seems that on most forums, political topics (and I only limited myself to Trump searches on the first pages of my favorite forums, since our favorites was the recommendation, and Trump related topics was the complaint in the OP - there are many more political topics without Trump in the title, and I didn't count my non-favorite forums,) are in greater abundance. And I don't see that changing any time soon personally.

I'm still under the impression this is a broader sociological and societal dynamic, which we are only seeing signs of on ATS along with every other medium. Not an ATS issue itself. That's why I don't think it will change in the immediate future.

Again, not saying that's a good or a bad thing. Just my opinion.

Peace.

The obvious but will never be implemented solution is to have three tabs, Conspiracy, Political and Off-Topic, and make Conspiracy the default tab.

Political is clearly so big currently it completely overwhelms any non political thread and tosses it off the recent tab which most use, into the ether of forgotten threads before most even see them.

originally posted by: Puppylove

The obvious but will never be implemented solution is to have three tabs, Conspiracy, Political and Off-Topic, and make Conspiracy the default tab.

It used to be set up that way.

a reply to: AceWombat04

I'm just waiting for Augustus to tell us how there's a healthy balance on ATS between Trump news and everything else

a reply to: Nikola014

There isn't, but it wont change until people make the threads they want to see.