FYI ATS

[midicon]

I think the problem that happened was organic... meaning that it was bound to happen, given the popularity that was suddenly being reported.

"Popularity" translates into something different, in the world of commerce.  It means "potential revenue." 
"Popularity" also translates into opportunity for activist exploitation.

Now, people like to express their beliefs, and predilections, sometimes because we seek affirmation, and other times we seek dialogue to explore.

"Affirmation" can be a dopamine/endorphin-seeking activity.

But when it is a "tool" for profit or proselytization, it becomes "used" to attract attention with the goal of increasing contact (spreading) - ending in a "sale," or in "aggrandizing" a notional "ideology."

Perhaps the fault was comically ironic, a result of members collectively not appreciating the value of the community, and the natural way it evolved, when confronted with agenda-driven crap intruding on the community.

Many thought, "Oh, it's the way of world changing..." throwing up their metaphorical hands and actively disengaging. 
We could have thought "Oh, it's the way of their world changing," and not run. 

In that way, we could have, as a community, steeled ourselves to it and confronted the ignorance itself, if we had 'cared to.'  Many didn't, believing instead that like the common media of today, ATS was "just entertainment." That it was becoming "mainstream." 

It was the telegraphing of the eventuality, more and more people were coming to see what this was all about.  Many of them had no sense of the existing ATS "culture"... only the advertised content.  It all started when the business acumen tried to "sell" ATS in the market.... a naturally good thing to do if you want to grow... but they could not really sell that it was an existing community of casually-connected people, doing research and discussing ideas.

It was UFOs, and Area51, Paranormal research, scientific advances, conspiracy theories from almost every age of man, archeology, anthropology, the animal kingdom - including cryptozoological information, and so on, and so on.   Many more people than admit it, are interested in such things.  They were being sold a playground... where the community had something more like workbenches.  Not a good combination.

To people who routinely aggregate for a generally specific reason... social media is not "just" a social thing.  The core ATS community were never hesitant sheep.  Regardless of contention, regardless of ideological differences, we engage.  ATS was never "just" social media... it became a repository of what some have considered, priceless information.  Superlative dialogues and in-depth analyses of fascinating topics.  The "social stuff" was all the crap we added on because, well... because we wanted to. After all, humans seek balance organically, a true example of "it is what it is."

We risked losing all that.  And there ATS sits... some doggedly loyal members seeking to 'keep it going.'  I applaud them.  But in this case, a devoted community has no agency.  It cannot (without intervention) "effect change."  I have no doubt that if they could "fix" ATS... they would.  (Sadly, I cannot benefit from such a resurrection because I am banned.  And as long as ATS exists, it will not include me again.)

I loved ATS. 

Some have intimated that there was a deliberate effort waged against ATS.... that 'effort' was 'waged' everywhere, including ATS...

What we are seeing is how ATS fared under the reality of their world.  But it did not kill the community, I know because many sought refuge here...

Deny Ignorance is a bold enterprise to undertake, in my opinion... for which I claim zero credit. 
My deepest appreciation to all those who labored to make Deny Ignorance a reality. 

What comes next is unavoidable..., "eventual," so to speak. 

Deny Ignorance is here to stay. 

Many who are still disengaged may find this to be a natural and desirable extension of the ATS we once knew.  They would do well to join up here... because this actually is the future. 

I would never discourage ATS' continued existence... for me it's like a childhood neighborhood full of precious treasured memories under threat of being torn down for God knows what.

And also... the information therein has value that cannot be adequately quantified... ('profitability' notwithstanding.)

I do apologize for going on so long... another TLDR from me.

MM

That was interesting Max. I hadn't considered the idea that that ATS was in essence a victim of it's own popularity. Perhaps the same thing could happen here over time.

I hope the members here who can still post on ATS will send PM's to others and bring them here. That's how I found this website. I'm glad it's here!

I appreciate the time and effort put in by you and everyone else who contributes to the site...and of course the owner too. It has grown on me!