Taking Back ATS. A message from forum staff.

We're taking back ATS.

Who took it you may ask? Why, the " diseased Internet rabble " of course... and we want it back.

This community started years ago as a fine and comfortable place to discuss political conspiracy, paranormal phenomenon, alien possibilities, and the frontiers of science. Our membership of well over 1,000 members speaks well of this basic trait of Above Top Secret. Simon Gray (while currently too busy to be involved on a day-to-day basis) deserves everyones hearty "at-a-boy" for building the foundation of what we enjoy today.

However, over the past several months, the "diseased rabble" has invaded in a nearly intolerable way. One needs only spend time on other Internet discussion forums (such as atforumz for example) to see examples of the dreaded disease in action. Or look at BlackVault, or Outpost to see the charred remains of a once fine community laid waste by the diseased rabble.

What is this disease we speak of? Childish morons who argue for the sake of simply starting an argument. They are easy to spot; lacking the ability for debate on real issues with wit and intelligence, they slink personal attacks at participants of discussion instead. Heated debate over serious issues is not what we're talking about here, and if you're able to read this post, I'm confident you know the difference. It's the outright personal attacks, bashing of beliefs, and belittling of others that must and will stop.

Well, your administrators and moderators are now taking an active role in finding the disease, and eliminating it with vengeance.

We will be doing the following without warning :

1- Eliminating idiotic simple posts of emoticons or limited words that make no point. While a simple smile might be tolerated in a humorous thread, a post of "yawn" in a topic you disagree with is pointless.

2- Eliminating entire posts that engage in abusive name-calling and other similar banter . Be warned that during this time of Taking Back ATS, moderators and administrators are exempt from this rule. If you deserve a verbal spanking from the staff, you will get it. If you don't like it, then you are likely one of our targets.

3- Eliminating entire threads that degrade into a mire of idiotic lunacy . We are the judge of what qualifies not you.

4- Banning users who continually do not comply with our Terms and Conditions. There will be no warnings. If even one moderator asks for the banning of one member, I or Bob88 will do it, no questions asked.

5- All of this also applies to the chat room. If you abuse people there, and are a pain, your IP will be banned, permanently from ATS.

6- Eliminating posts placed in the wrong forum. Simon has made it very clear which forum is for which topics. While anything goes in Chit Chat, the other forums are dedicated to specific topics.

7- Eliminating posts that otherwise do not comply with our Terms and Conditions. For example, if you simply cut-and-paste a news article or other content from another website, it will be removed.


We had hoped that awarding the "Way Above" award would help to inspire an improvement in post quality. In some regards, it has. However, the childish diseased rabble doesn't care, they simply want to disrupt and inflate their own ego.

Let me be clear that we are not against any topic or personality (unless abusive). This is indeed a free discussion forum where exchange of ideas is the lifeblood. In no way are moderators becoming thought police. However, posting here is not your right of free speech, it is a privilege offered by Simon who financially supports this site, and has appointed moderators to maintain the peace.

To our fine members that attempt to engage quality discussion, our apologies for this temporary frustration caused by the rabble. We care about this community and will not allow further degradation. We hope that very soon our moderation reverts back to the quiet, subtle oversight it has been, and should be.

Take back ATS!


Signed... your staff

Administrators: Bob88 and William
Moderators: All Seeing Eye, alien, Estragon, Kano, Netchicken, Shadow, Thomas Crowne, William One Sac, krlll, Zion Mainframe, regs









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