From AMB WIki

theRanter was a messageboard that became associated with AMB through the network plugin. theRanter shutdown at the end of September 2009 and several users came over to AMB.

[edit] Manchy's view on theRanter

The Ranter devolved into three main groups before it imploded

1) Self described cool kids/wannabes(Bruce, Larry Flynt, Ashley, mods/admins)
2) The rogues/trolls(Manchy, Hypoxic, Whitetrash, Quick)
3) The perpetual outsiders (Doc, Lafong, Jigglies, Nomad)

Open warfare between the three groups was constant and somewhat fun/brutal 
depending on which end of the pointy stick you were on.