Farewell ATS, thank you for how much you meant to me

I saw the thread last Thursday from Skeptic Overlord. It took me a few days, but i wanted to comment on the potential end of ATS.

ATS has meant so much to me.

I started on ats around 2004 I think, though i forget what my username was. I was a member of a debate team in college, and me and some of my teammates actually used ATS for conspiracy evidence in a few debates.

I think my first thread ever was on me seeing something that i felt looked like a mini big foot, and asking if anybody have ever heard of such a thing.

As time moved on, I started this account which I have used ever since.

I was shy at first and rarely commented, but eventually started to loosen up and really participate in a lot of threads here.

yes, I know many people dislike how political ATS has become, and certainly thats where i commented most. But i also lurked on almost all of the other forums; from aircraft, cryptozoology, poetry, and more, i never felt i had much to add to those topics, but often read them.

I will take a brief moment to defend the predominantly political discussions that seemed to have been the bulk of what ATS currently is

Even though i like political discussion, its sad to see it has infested almost everything now. But on a conspiracy site, it seems that political conspiracy have been some of the most interesting, wide reaching, or even provable conspiracies out there, which would possibly be an initial explanation for this site having members first foray into politics.

Despite the litany of threads and legitimate complaints about lack of civility of utility of some political discussion on ATS, I found these issues for myself to be minor, compared to what the rest of the world is offering.

I know i havent been to every site or every place in the world or on the internet, but for myself, I had more constructive and thought provoking discussions about politics on ATS than I have anywhere else. And that includes in policy debate in college.

I am amazed how a chubby nobody redneck like myself can make a point and have so many people agree with me. I am even more excited by how much i have learned from the people who disagree with me.

Thats what ATS meant to me. I think the owners and the mods let us the members control the content of this site, and for that I am extremely grateful. On so many other platforms you see the ideology of ownership overly censor things to steer the conversation in a direction they want, and i never felt that way here.

thats not to say I never argued with a mod, but i realize in retrospect they did a tremendous job, especially considering how heated things could sometimes get.

So thank you to the owners and the mods for allowing me to participate in something that is sadly becoming increasingly rare, a platform where the free exchange of ideas is welcome.

But what ill miss most of all about ats is the members and community itself.

I hacve never met one ats member in real life as far as i know. Yet i feel like I know so many of you. I associate your posts with your avatars, ive given you all voices when i read you.

Ive laughed at augustusmasonics posts when i wasnt cursing at him, ive admired dbcowboy for trying to kee up with the rest of us like he actually can read.

Ive admired the intelligence of bigfurrytexan and theredneck in how they can explain things in a way even a layman like me can understand.

Ive admired and tried to keep up with Mike stivics rapping skills.

Ive realized how little i know about aircaft reading zazz's threads.

Ive argued with Kali endlessly, and felt heart broken when she passed.

I fought with fallingdown on my youtube channel, but still liked his comments on ats.

I have become frustrated but respected Phages ability to disagree with me in one sentence in very smart effective ways that I wish io could do half as well.

Ive spent nights arguing against introvert and gryphon66, who are almost completely opposite of me politically, and although i woyuld rarely admit it, i was impressed with their intelligence and some of the great points they made.

Ive read one4alls hockey thread many many times.

Ive seen Night star say the most humbling nice things.

And i considered theantedilluvian to be one of the greatest people who have ever made me think about my beliefs of anyone I will ever meet.

And there are so many more of you that have meant a lot to me.

I hope ATS will survive. I dont have much money at all, and dont know what i can do to help, but ill try.

But if it doesnt, ill miss you all. You can all reach me if you like at my email [email protected]. Now before people say im carzy for giving that out, its already on my youtube channel, and most of those people are crazier than anyone here.

I hope that we can find a way to stay in touch.

And make no mistake, ill still be posting here somewhat until the very end.

But i just wanted ats to know that i will miss it and uits members dearly, and will always appreciate the community we have here.

Oh, and it wouldnt be a thread of mine if i didnt include a video!

a reply to: Grambler

That was nice, Grambler.
I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you I have always enjoyed reading your threads...and watching you debate.
It was always a learning experience.
ATS is richer for your time and energy here.
Thank you.

dbl

i added ya to youtube!

Take it easy Grambler I like your style and mirror your sentiments.
Even without a post giving voice to those who do is a service that lurkers provide and a credit to this place.
I have a small request. Can somebody please save the all roads lead to Rome thread? It lead me here and this place has reenforced my misanthropic reputation ever since!
But the thread. Please, I have no clue how to myself, but I’d like to have it around for when I get asked where it all began for me.
In regards to the great ATS.
If anywhere can be rescued from being lost to prosperity, I believe the broad and sharp minds who frequent this site are the best equipped to enact a solution.

a reply to: Grambler

Thank-you for posting the video and I did save it to my
computer.

Ol' Friend...always had my ear..

a reply to: Grambler


I hope you rot in hell you sleepy bastard!
Ahh who am I kidding man. I will miss ya buddy.
Fart knocke

It would be sad to no longer see your threads Grambler! I've enjoyed them greatly.

There is a movement that is beginning to grow among the membership to possibly buy out ATS, and allow it to continue. Anyone who would be interested in becoming the future of ATS would be welcome!

#dont let it die
#ATS for the people by the people

Bye.

a reply to: Dalamax

I saved All Roads Leads To Rome on my computer because
I have never had a chance to read it.All I did was bookmark
the thread.

originally posted by: Plotus
Ol' Friend...always had my ear..

a reply to: caterpillage

There is a movement that is beginning to grow among the membership to possibly buy out ATS, and allow it to continue. Anyone who would be interested in becoming the future of ATS would be welcome!

It’s a nice thought and we would all love it to happen, but it isn’t happening. SO made it clear — in no uncertain terms — the business model isn’t feasible. Anyone buying ATS would have to change it whole cloth, or lose money keeping ATS as ATS, prolonging the guaranteed insolvency.

And those collective member movements petered out, quickly. I respect their attempts, however, usufruct is — in large part — a decidedly antithetical proposition for ATS’s clientele.

a reply to: Grambler

The end was inevitable.
I’ve been in business a long time and the writing was on the wall a long time ago.

originally posted by: Bluntone22
a reply to: Grambler

The end was inevitable.
I’ve been in business a long time and the writing was on the wall a long time ago.

Have you not checked your PMs? Get it on. There’s a fool-proof, errr, fool’s errand plan to use a usufruct-style framework to save ATS. CHECK YOUR PMs. Or are you just a free-loader?

Tragedy of the commons if don’t check your PMs.

I’ll miss you for sure. You are a great poster and have helped all of us think and learn. Keep up the good fight!

originally posted by: mamabeth
a reply to: Dalamax

I saved All Roads Leads To Rome on my computer because
I have never had a chance to read it.All I did was bookmark
the thread.

All 607 pages? Mama.... how did you do that? And how can I do it? I’ll be good. I heard your cookies are the greatest est.

originally posted by: Dalamax

originally posted by: mamabeth
a reply to: Dalamax

I saved All Roads Leads To Rome on my computer because
I have never had a chance to read it.All I did was bookmark
the thread.

All 607 pages? Mama.... how did you do that? And how can I do it? I’ll be good. I heard your cookies are the greatest est.

Err ... 207 pages ish .. sorry got excited.

So, when do the lights go out?
Real shame, but inevitable.
Like the real world, big corporations kill off the smaller, 'local' players.
Youtube, Facebook and Twitter take all the traffic and it must be incredibly hard to acquire, engage and retain new members.
I do think ATS offers so much more than the drive-by debate seen on the social media platforms, but at the same time, it's hard to get away from the fact that the entire world seems so divided that actual debate seems almost gone now.
It's all about extremes, Pidgeon holing, attacking and censoring not just words but even perceived thoughts.
Ah well.

originally posted by: Cravens

originally posted by: Bluntone22
a reply to: Grambler

The end was inevitable.
I’ve been in business a long time and the writing was on the wall a long time ago.

Have you not checked your PMs? Get it on. There’s a fool-proof, errr, fool’s errand plan to use a usufruct-style framework to save ATS. CHECK YOUR PMs. Or are you just a free-loader?

Tragedy of the commons if don’t check your PMs.

Yes I have..