FYI ATS

[Karl12]

Reckon it started going tits up when Aquino actually did a AMA.

[l0st]

ATS hit the skids when posters were allowed to continually derail threads just to argue with each other. Plain & simple.

The notion everyone has a right to their opinion doesn't preclude the fact some of those opinions are being vented in completely the wrong threads. Letting people play that nonsense to preserve "site traffic" killed ATS. 

It's easy to blame social media but the fact Millennials & GenX have no clue how to write a coherent paragraph or stay on topic is also because no one holds them to that standard. People learn by example. Here in "cyberland" Mods aren't just thread-police. Pulling someones post & mentoring them in how to express a idea or opinion in a better way is what I mean by "learning by example". 

The older threads on ATS with the great topics & info equally were coherent, thoughtful and almost NEVER did you see a Mod Warning to STAY ON TOPIC.

I dunno about that. There used to be plenty of "manners & decorum" warnings that went up. I do agree with you on the political trolling that kept derailing every other thread, regardless of topic.

[jaded]

Agree the political trolling went wild, altho so did interjecting religious beliefs regardless of relevance to the topic. However the most egregious misconception was letting members getting away with

-The right to post their opinion in any thread regardless of the original subject matter.

Watching threads completely devolve into back-biting off topic nonsense runs off more members an gives a very negative appearance to new people just checking a site out. 

It was always interesting to ponder what would happen if Mods could just remove sections of threads that completely went off the rails an stick them into their own thread in a section called "Derailed". One thread for each chunk moved with a thread header referencing it's point of origin. 

It's transparent, to a degree identifies improper behavior without points or banning, lets those opinions remain so not censorship, basically a nicer "wall of shame". Posters could continue their thoughts in THAT section while everyone else could continue focusing on the original topic subject matter. 

In a perfect world, right? LOLOLOL!!!!
Disclaimer: Can't imagine some of my stuff wouldn't end up there as well!!

[Maxmars]

ATS posters were not "allowed" to do anything that anyone wasn't allowed to do...
ATS was about self-expression and dialogue; so no matter how obtuse, or ill-received; political utterances were not to be censored.

What was actually 'targeted' was when it became a matter of clearly disruptive intent, flagrant 'non-contribution' to the dialogue, childish and petty 'TV' partisanship, or belligerent activism.
And remember, the ATS staff were a team of unpaid people trying to keep to a code... I was proud of their efforts.

Many migrated here, and we are not "passed" that ideal; without the discussion, where could we expect to be? 
Learning by "osmosis" from the talking head world? 
Consuming whatever passes for wisdom from suspect media productions? 

From my perspective, DI is the next generation... a natural refuge from commerce and social-engineering driving what you must think and consume.

I grant you that it's more casual and relaxed for members of the "mainstream social media" mindset... but neither ATS nor DI was ever "mainstream."  It was a point of honor.  We denied ignorance there and here... that's not just some trite marketing slogan... it's a real thing... a posture which can serve us all.

[captinofcats]

This was sent to me by a friend via Email and thought some of you might be interested. Those were the days....

Yes indeed, those were the days. It had been around for a time before, but I recall joining sometime in 2005. I remember a lot of the major threads and events that occurred on the site. Great community..Things started to degrade however when the rest of the world became heavily distracted by politics in the late 2010s.

[Karl12]

Agree the political trolling went wild, altho so did interjecting religious beliefs regardless of relevance to the topic. However the most egregious misconception was letting members getting away with

-The right to post their opinion in any thread regardless of the original subject matter.

Watching threads completely devolve into back-biting off topic nonsense runs off more members an gives a very negative appearance to new people just checking a site out. 

Egregious is a good word for it mate and yes the practise does not give the best impression to potential new members

When it comes to the reasons why groups or individuals actively engage in it there's some relevant info here on 'forum sliding', 'consensus cracking' and 'topic dilution'.

[Creaky]

Disagree and will argue the point…
Anyway, think ats evolved over the years, think it was also on point with the biggest conspiracy on the planet
Think the Trump vs Obama/Clinton/Biden/Harris Republic Democrat-political divide is Part of the greatest conspiracy of them all
Think it’s the very tip of the iceberg, underneath is a global, NWO, alien and demonic/religious agenda that has been hidden and about to breach in front of the whole world
I actually think people see and know that deep down, think they can see it coming, just havnt connected the whole thing 

so, ats evolved with what people were seeing, thinking, unraveling

Just my opinion and not really going to argue it


just an aside, I found it searching crypto topics, @2010, stayed for its eclectic nature and only participated in the topics I wanted to, ignored those I didnt
it helped me grow as a person

[ArMaP]

What I think was a problem with ATS was the fact that positions got more extreme and people less likely to accept opposing views, probably because of the "Facebook effect" of people being used be being "liked".

One thing I noticed was that several women (that usually hid the fact they were women) decided to leave ATS when things started to be more extreme, so that created an even more male forum "population".
I also noticed that on another forum in which I was an adminitrator.

[jaded]

What I think was a problem with ATS was the fact that positions got more extreme and people less likely to accept opposing views, probably because of the "Facebook effect" of people being used be being "liked".

One thing I noticed was that several women (that usually hid the fact they were women) decided to leave ATS when things started to be more extreme, so that created an even more male forum "population".
I also noticed that on another forum in which I was an adminitrator.

Well not all of "us" left.
  ​​​​​​​

Just my 2 cents but when things get ridiculous (extreme) if you're already putting up with it at work or home it just takes the fun out of enjoying the forum. Personally since DI & ATS are assumed to be idea driven, deny ignorance I don't much think about the identity of anyone. The avatars I do pay attention to. 
Sky727 I want that siamese cat back!
  ​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​

[727Sky]

Well not all of "us" left.
  ​​​​​​​

Just my 2 cents but when things get ridiculous (extreme) if you're already putting up with it at work or home it just takes the fun out of enjoying the forum. Personally since DI & ATS are assumed to be idea driven, deny ignorance I don't much think about the identity of anyone. The avatars I do pay attention to. 
Sky727 I want that siamese cat back!
  ​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​

Trust me I tried !!