Above Top Secret

[[File:Above Top Secret logo.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Above Top Secret logo]]
{{conspiracynav|1}}
{{cquote|[[Irony|Deny ignorance]].|4=Above Top Secret's motto<ref group=note>Told like gospel on their site. Unfortunately, this would mean that they essentially deny themselves.</ref>}}
'''Above Top Secret''' is the internet's beehive for all things [[conspiracy theory|conspiracy]], [[UFO]], [[paranormal]], and just about anything [[crank]]-related. The domain was registered in 1997 by Simon Gray, and he started developing the webshite in 1999.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/19990125092943/http://www.abovetopsecret.com/ abovetopsecret.com main page], archive snapshot from 25 January 1999.</ref> Initially, it was a compilation of various documents and texts concerning shadow government, the [[New World Order]], and related theories, but it primarily focused on [[extraterrestrial]] life and alleged attempts by the government to [[cover up]] its existence. 

The site became popular following the [[9/11|9/11 attacks]] and has undergone several changes in appearance and focus, and mutated into one of the largest and most popular conspiracy theory discussion boards on the internet with over 9.5 million posts of, apparently, "substance".

The site advertises itself as and embraces the beliefs of the alternative conspiracy media, but it is all very stylized and utilizes all sorts of gimmicks to attract viewers, which doesn't seem like a good presentation for "classified" information. One might say this is so it can be accessible to the brainwashed [[sheeple]], so the "truth" can set them free, but is it necessary for it to almost [[Poe's Law|satirize itself?]]

Unsurprisingly, the site earns a poor rating from rating from [[Media Bias/Fact Check]], which groups the site into its "[[conspiracy]]-[[pseudoscience]]" category and calls them a "Right Biased Strong Conspiracy website and discussion forum based on the promotion of unproven or debunked claims."<ref>[https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/above-top-secret/ Above Top Secret], [[Media Bias/Fact Check]].</ref>

==Forum==
The site's main feature is the forum, harvesting 94 subforums (due to the lack of child boards, it appears quite cluttered). Some of them will make you think, "WTF is this doing here?" while others seem to need merging. Of course, the main activity rests in news, conspiracy, politics, current events, and... ''mystery''. New topics are constantly being opened by the site's users, but very few of them are actually theirs, instead being lifted from their friendly neighbors at [[Infowars]], [[Godlike Productions]], or some other [[webshite]], which does lead to [[The Faking Hoaxer|some hilarious results at times]]. Even still, they claim ownership of the articles they hijacked. Ironically, the moderation staff employs a lot of [[censorship]] when policing the site, including a tendency to censor rival conspiracy theory websites.

The site initially focused mostly on UFOs and aliens, and today it remains a driving force in the message board. New topics featuring Photoshopped images, fake videos, sci-fi excerpts, and quotes are constantly opened. The claims generally range from "I saw a UFO." to "[[David Icke|Jesus was a reptilian alien cyborg from the constellation Draco.]]" Some of it makes a good read, though.

Bans are handed out for breaking the site's "Terms & Conditions", which seem to be randomly and loosely enforced, heavily dependent upon the mood of moderation staff on any given day. Users are not notified why they are banned but suddenly find their account login credentials will no longer function.<ref>[https://archive.ph/4PKBt Terms and conditions]. Archived from abovetopsecret.com.</ref>

Any and all criticism of the site is considered "carpet pissing" by the forum staff, and posts critical of the forums are removed, with the user generally permanently banned. This type of censorship seems to defy the site's motto of "deny ignorance", as criticisms about staff bias are swept under the carpet and hidden from the wider user base.

==Political leanings==
{{cquote|I thought this "rational wiki (?)" entry was interesting on the web. I like how its the nutters of whichever side is currently out of power that overtakes the board. Am I a [[moonbat]]? I was not all that political during bush. So maybe now that trump is in office the religious whackjobs can feel more comfortable and leave this board...|||A puzzled client on Above Top Secret notices this very page<ref>[https://archive.ph/aWTTs ATS Rational WIKI]. Archived from abovetopsecret.com, 10 March 2017.</ref>}}

On political subjects, the site's user base used to swing towards the radical end of whichever side was currently out of power. During the [[George W. Bush]] administration, many far-left users inhabited the forums; [[9/11|9/11 Truthers]], people calling Bush a [[Fascism|fascist]], and various conspiracy theories about the [[Iraq War]], the [[USA PATRIOT Act|Patriot Act]], and the [[2000 U.S. Presidential Election|2000 election]] were never more than a couple of clicks away. When [[Barack Obama]] was elected, most of the [[moonbat]]s left and were soon replaced by equally rabid [[wingnut]]s, with the site crawling with [[birther]]s, religious whackjobs, claims that Obama was a fascist and/or a [[Communism|communist]], and claims that [[Aurora shootings|the latest]] [[Sandy Hook massacre|mass-murder spree]] was a [[false flag operation]] so that They could take away your guns.

In the latter half of the 2010s, the site's politics began to reflect the increasingly [[Far right|far-right]] tilt of conspiracy theorist culture. Much of the site was in the tank for [[Donald Trump]] during the 2016 election, and by late 2017, Trump supporters had overtaken the forum, having driven off most progressive members. [[QAnon]] now takes up a good chunk of the forum's discussion, along with fear-mongering about foreigners, Muslims, leftists, and Kids These Days. The staff/moderation team exhibits and posts with a clear [[alt-right]] and conservative bias, leading to a slow purge of Democrats and left-leaning members. One staff member has even (on occasion) used a Confederate battle flag<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130921202047/http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/mem/burdman30ott6 ATS Member "about" page]</ref> in a clear attempt to advertise their political beliefs.

The [[horseshoe theory]], though, guarantees that a lot of the content, especially the less politically-charged stuff (like the aforementioned aliens), tends to show up whether it's leftists or rightists posting.

==Other features==
In a desperate attempt at getting more traffic and money, the site started a weekly news report called ''Conspiracy Chicks'', featuring an all-female staff. As you may guess from the title, it's mostly centered on the fact that good-looking women are reporting it rather than the actual content, which is just your average, trivial conspiracy blabber. Not even Alex Jones has stooped that low.

They also hosted a weekly ''ATS LIVE'' streaming broadcast show, which again discussed generally trivial, often kooky, and odd matters. The videos featured all sorts of editing and effects to make them more accessible, as well as spin-off series to further that goal. They also allow user-generated content.

Perhaps the most curious addition to their multimedia vault was a somewhat amusing comic, called "Mr. Mask's Adventures in Conspiracy." The comics are presented as video slideshows with sound effects and voice acting. It is fan-made, but people liked it so much that it made it to the front page.

==TinWiki==
From 2006 until 2008, site members had a wiki devoted to [[tinfoil hat|all the things they discussed]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://tinwiki.org Wayback Machine results for tinwiki.org]. archive.org.</ref> It described itself as:

{{quotebox|[T]he first full-feature Wiki dedicated exclusively to all the topics that inspires the authors to consider "[[tinfoil hat]]s". Topics such as [[conspiracy theories]], [[Unidentified flying object|UFO]] cover ups, [[extraterrestrial]] programs, [[New World Order]], [[Illuminati]], secret government programs, top secret bases, and nearly any other "alternative topic" that would cause paranoid fear of the government reprisals, wire taps, and email monitoring are the focus of this collaborative Wiki.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20060717064115/http://tinwiki.org/wiki/Main_Page Main Page]. Archived from tinwiki.org, 17 July 2006.</ref>}}

Among the gems stashed deep inside the internet archives for this incredible wiki are articles describing the so-called  "X-22A Anti Gravity Fighter Disc" that Lockheed Martin supposedly developed,<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20061005064825/http://tinwiki.org/wiki/X-22A_Anti_Gravity_Fighter_Disc X-22A Anti Gravity Fighter Disc]. Archived from tinwiki.org, 5 October 2006.</ref> some [[bullshit]] and [[JAQ]]ing about [[Area 51]],<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20061005054131/http://tinwiki.org/wiki/Electrochromatic_Panels Electrochromatic Panels]. Archived from tinwiki.org, 5 October 2006.</ref> [[secret society|secret societies]],<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20061005054835/http://tinwiki.org/wiki/Secret_Societies Secret Societies]. Archived from tinwiki.org, 5 October 2006.</ref> and a big list of [[cryptid]]s.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20061005103557/http://tinwiki.org/wiki/Cryptid Cryptid]. Archived from tinwiki.org, 5 October 2006.</ref>

This site was possibly a [[satire]], as most contributors would be leery of joining such a project and revealing their identity to The Man. Or maybe not. It's [[Poe's Law|hard to tell]] with [[Kool-Aid drinker|true believers]].

==See also==
* [[Jared Loughner]] – Mass murderer, attempted assassin, and definite crank who posted on ATS but was too loony even for them.
* [[Hidden Hand]] – Self-proclaimed [[Illuminati]] insider on ATS, whose easy-going pro-Illuminati message has been read and spread widely by [[conspirituality|conspiritualists]].
* [[R/Conspiracy]] – If ATS was a [[Reddit|subreddit]].

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/19991117130422/http://www.abovetopsecret.com/ Above Top Secret]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030529095954/http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/index.php Above Top Secret Forums]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
[[Category:9/11 truthers]]
[[Category:Alt-lite]]
[[Category:Alt-right]]
[[Category:Birtherism]]
[[Category:Cartoons and comics]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theorists]]
[[Category:Conspirituality]]
[[Category:Crank magnetism]]
[[Category:Internet kooks]]
[[Category:Islamophobia]]
[[Category:QAnon]]
[[Category:Racism]]
[[Category:Ufology]]
[[Category:Webshites]]
[[Category:Websites]]

Categories: 9/11 truthers, Alt-lite, Alt-right, Birtherism, Cartoons and comics, Conspiracy theorists, Conspirituality, Crank magnetism, Internet kooks, Islamophobia, QAnon, Racism, Ufology, Webshites, Websites