The stages of the journey into the community of ATS

Originally posted by etcorngods
reply to post by Maxmars

 

This thread is like Obama's answers to simple questions. He has to give a long, boring speach, and you can't stop it. This guy has more posts than anyone ought to ever want to read.

Who cares?

edit on 14-9-2010 by etcorngods because: (no reason given)

Ah yes the who cares stage. ATS has helped me understand just how hard headed I am.

Originally posted by oliveoil
reply to post by Maxmars

 

. I don't know anyone here .. nor does anyone know me.. it's just dots on a screen....

No!!! your wrong. I am a person with something to say.I stand for righteousness and truth. I deny ignorance. THIS IS WHAT ATS IS ABOUT!!! You dont know JACK...

Wait.... Jack who?

Originally posted by DSSONE
I am quite new to posting on ATS.

I read the OP last night and re-visited it again today. On second reading I am afraid I found it to be a little self-indulgent. Yes, the OP is a very competent user of the English language, but I get the impression that the post was created with the aim of attracting attention, stars, flags and a bit of ATS worship.

The post, as well written as it is, adds nothing to ATS a whole. It's self congratulatory. And, for want of a better expression, the OP is 'showing off'. But that is about it. If this post remains popular and detracts from other posts that bring new information to the community then I may as well accept that I've already 'outgrown' ATS.

You get the IDEA. ATS is a church, a mutual admiration society -- sorry to say, most "MEMBERS" are mostly interested in waxing each other. Very little critical thinking and comments are presented here, lots of BS.

reply to post by Maxmars

See Mod.. this is what you do not realize. The 'Community' here at ATS are real people,Looking for truth.
To you its just dots and bleeps. For us it is real. Thanks for making a mockery out of one of the members (me)

Originally posted by oliveoil
reply to post by Maxmars

 

See Mod.. this is what you do not realize. The 'Community' here at ATS are real people,Looking for truth.
To you its just dots and bleeps. For us it is real. Thanks for making a mockery out of one of the members (me)

Do you believe you know me? Should I believe I know you? I am glad we agree there is a community to speak of.

I don't attempt to psychoanalyze someone by their posts alone... there are far too few dimensions here to allow for me to judge anyone, and vice versa.

And don't feel too special... I mock all of us.

Click here for more information.

Click here for more information.

Originally posted by etcorngods
You get the IDEA. ATS is a church, a mutual admiration society -- sorry to say, most "MEMBERS" are mostly interested in waxing each other. Very little critical thinking and comments are presented here, lots of BS.

"Most" members? I take it you are not one of them? Ironically you just engaged in the very conduct you decry.

Evidently this is important enough for you to engage in debate over the matter. I sought dialogue. Thank you for providing it.

On one point you are correct... lots of BS.

reply to post by oliveoil


HI Olive
Long time no see.

I see Max take on ATS as Maxs take, A vegeatarian sees meat one way, and a meat eater sees it another, the beauty of free thought.
Im not sure his post is meant to be percieved as 'trolling'. We all interpret 'words' in our way. And I suppose that supports your premise that words are not just 'dots' on a screen but convey a emotion or thought of a individual.
it appears quite thoughtful and comes across as someone who has observed himself and us and loves the community, at least thats how i saw it. I'm not sure this OP was designed to antagonise. It is a genralisation from one persons observation and that interpretation is valid just as yours or mine is.

I hope you dont mind my intrusion, I really do feel the OP wasn't designed to upset.

Originally posted by etcorngods
reply to post by Maxmars

 

Just stop posting and maybe this awful thread will go away. You are full of yourself and don't hide it well

I could offer the same advice, the effect would be the same. You may not notice but I only respond to those who directly attempt to evoke a response...

As for me being full of myself... well, I guess you do think you know me. Which means you'll make no effort to actually learn about me (as if you would want to)... so you are stuck with your impression.

REMINDER: Before anyone posts further remember Courtesy Is Mandatory always!

2) Behavior: You will not behave in an abusive and/or hateful manner, and will not harass, threaten, nor attack anyone.

Originally posted by oliveoil
reply to post by Maxmars

 

See Mod.. this is what you do not realize. The 'Community' here at ATS are real people,Looking for truth.
To you its just dots and bleeps. For us it is real. Thanks for making a mockery out of one of the members (me)

Moderators Are People Too. I promise you staff does not just see members as dots and bleeps and we see all of this as very real too

reply to post by zazzafrazz


I know I know... However its like Obama. we all know he is the leader and all, then he comes out and tells us he knows us...yeah right... I know what your saying though. thanks....(klonapin just kicking in)

Maxmars
Self-inclusion, from my perspective is more of a realization than a migration from one mode of participation to another.

Just before Cingular bought AT&T,
I remember an instructor telling all of us
customer service reps that we 'are Cingular.'

I was quite impressed with the reaction this generated.
Half of the class looked immediately confused almost offended,
then ... slowly ... people started to grin, and then to look up at his eyes.

Myself I always called it Self-elect, but it's the same thing.

This was just after Katrina, and we were rebuilding Biloxi
when a friend of mine in Baton Rouge told me how he
and his church group went to New Orleans with
boats, trailers, and SUV's hauling them, to
rescue people in New Orleans. The reason no
one saw it in the news was because the police
wouldn't let them near New Orleans and they had
to sneak in another way. Got a lot of people out though.
Another example of Self-inclusion, over coming obstacles here.

Maxmars
Most people who are avid Internet socialites are unfamiliar with that sense of belonging. Their experiences have been slathered with marketing glitz and self-promotion, ala Myspace, etc. While many very early on-line communities did have a sense of unifying solidarity, commercialism has squelched that tendency for what are obvious reasons in my mind (consumerism is ego-based - which excludes the concept of community as secondary, or even tertiary in relevance.)

I can agree with this as well,
but more than that it's a fractal truth
that can be viewed at different scales and angles.
For that reason I will criticize some minutia, or single words.

"Their [color=gold]webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands."
- Isaiah 59:6

Most

The first word here is a weasel word. The sentence works fine without it.

While many very early

Second word of the second sentence is 'many.' I would say 'some' and where are the specific examples. Oh, wait. I believe their is a generality disclaimer in the OP for the sake of brevity. Heh. Ok, my bad. It still should say 'some' or 'all' though, but in the early days there was no such thing as 'many' on-line communities. Of course that was better than the almost zero we have now.

Prodigy online-old-school RepReSent!

* throws up the horns *

The audience is still and
there is the sound of a cricket.


David Grouchy

ATS is exactly what the hundreds of thousands of members make it. Maxmars pithy, yet fairly profound OP is the most accurate illustration of what we've seen happen over the years with several of those hundreds of thousands that I've read yet.

I know this because many of them have described it themselves in many different ways.

Springer...

I simply can't believe where this thread has gone. It is an excellent example of the journey one takes on this message board. There is a ton of truth in the OP, not the person, the content. Sure it takes a bit of time to read, but I can't believe some of the comments I've been following.

Was it the use of many big words that made you feel inferior to the OP? Or, are jealous of the fact that he is undoubtedly smarter than we are? What is it that makes you think this post had anything to do with ego stroking or self recognition?

Lets get a few things straight. I don't know max, and even after this thread I'm not going to become a max groupie (I didn't even add him to my friends list). Are people really that caught up in popularity on ATS? For pete's sake, this whole website is the medium to which many of us come to become enlightened about subjects we know nothing about. It's not a damn popularity contest.

This topic, and OP should have enlightened every single person who has read it. It's a persons view and opinion, I understand that. But, it is very freaking accurate.

I feel bad for max, the negativity being flung his way is not what he deserves. He took the time to give his views, and write a paper. People wonder why the amount of quality, insightful thread progenitors has decreased over the last few years. (thanks for my new word max)

I'm seriously pissed off now. Time to throw darts at my pictures of Tim Ossman, George W. Bush, and Barry Sotero.

reply to post by sticky


If Maxmar knows it, you knew it, Springer knew it and I knew it then why post the thread. That was my point.

Originally posted by DSSONE
reply to post by sticky

 

If Maxmar knows it, you knew it, Springer knew it and I knew it then why post the thread. That was my point.

Knew what, The journey one takes on ATS? Just because a person thinks everyone already knows something, is definitely not a good reason not to share it.

Everyone watches movies, so should Hollywood not make anymore because there are plenty of them already? Maybe that's a bad analogy but that's what I think of your words.

The more the world shares, the better off it is. Just because we may know something, someone else may not. So we should share that information. As a supporter of said information, I should then parrot it to others. The more sharing we do together, the closer we become.

I don't agree with your viewpoint whatsoever. It was a great read, even if I believe I've already gone through that journey. I still believe that others who also have should read this viewpoint of it. For those that aren't as far on the journey as I am. The information is even more valuable.

There is a need, yes, I strongly believe there exists a purpose for any information. No matter how small, or insignificant it may be.

Why should it not be shared? If you don't mind me asking.

Wow.. it's amazing how "Mosque debateish" this thread became.

I thought the OP was brilliant and observant while wrapped in eloquence and then simmered within ambiguity to avoid confrontation..
of course not EVERYONE fits into this pattern, but it's a great synopsis of the social current that's washing through the internet.

How this became an argument for some is one of the most baffling aspects of this site.

--


Great read.


b

reply to post by Maxmars

I think I want to re-read your OP a few more times to really absorb it.

Off the top, I recognized myself in a lot of it.

A stage I went through early on -- one you don't specifically address -- was where I wanted to throw a topic out for discussion but not reveal my own position or investment in it. I found it disconcerting at first that I had to actually write an opinion when I posted a news article. I felt it made me pin myself down when I would prefer to be elusive and somewhat noncommittal. Now I enjoy that part of the process.

In the beginning I was intent on accumulating ATS points and hoping for applause. (Now it's stars and flags that I covet. That will undoubtedly become less of a motivator when I have acquired a certain amount. Then it will be some other status symbol.) I also take pride in raising my status as a solid to a bronze contributor. That's not all bad, as it requires a commitment to a desired level of achievement.

I am definitely at the stage where I feel myself to be a member of the community. I believe I have crafted an ATS "persona" which I take pride in and strive to live up to. I hold myself to my own standard of excellence.

I enjoy debates and am not intimidated when people rant and rave at me and vigorously disagree. The only thing that gets to me is when a few people have called me a troll. I joined in 2007 and have contributed steadily since then so I am not a fly-by poster. I do often have an identifiable political leaning but, as with most people, I am not predictably consistent.

All in all, I have to say ATS challenges me more than any other forum on the internet or since college. Right now I see myself eventually becoming a more and more mature contributor and look forward to it.

Another thing I'd like to throw in is that as I become a more mature member I seem to create more threads that don't get a lot of response and I don't really care. I have gotten applause on a couple of threads that didn't seem to go much of anywhere. I have always done that from time to time. I can guess that I'm not always good at predicting what will grab a lot of peoples' attention, but sometimes I just value the responses I get and it doesn't really bother me if it's not wildly popular.

I guess one of the things I'm trying to say is one has to create one's own niche on ATS, and that will color your experiences here in many ways.