I've Never Used IGNORE On DU, And I Never Will

[Syrinx]

I have never put anyone on my ignore list, and I don't plan to start, even with all the cool new programming that elad has done.

There are a few people on here that annoy me, or that even evoke feelings of rage. But I will never put those people, nor anyone else, on ignore. The reason is simple. If a person is on DU, they probably share my core values. Unless, of course, they are a freeper troll, and probably won't last the day anyway.

Out of nearly 100,000 registered users, I doubt that any pair of us agree precisely on every single issue out there. And sometimes it might be healthy to hear an alternative viewpoint -- one that I didn't already share. Sometimes I can be convinced that I'm wrong, just like any honest person.

I don't want Democratic Underground to degenerate into a set of high school cliques, with groups of people alienated from one another.

If we are here, and we are sincere, we need to interact. When group A is wrong, group B should convince them so, in a friendly and polite manner, if possible. If we share the same underlying values, we should personally, and as a group, accept dissent around the edges.

I'm not saying that DU should abolish the "ignore" option. I'm just saying that we probably shouldn't use it.

[Skittles]

1. suit yourself

I don't put up with people who insult me - they are gone for good

[Syrinx]

3. Okay, Skittles!

I'd rather be ignored than have my ass kicked. ;)

[Nutmegger]

41. Same with me.

And I don't feel bad about it either.

[Skittles]

58. I usually put people on ignore to let off steam

I have found that most of the people I absolutely cannot stand turn out to be trolls and are dealt with by the mods. :)

[UncleSepp]

2. Hear hear. Even if a person's posts are problematic...

... putting a problem on Ignore rarely makes it go away.

[JI7]

4. DU might not work as well without ignore

using the ignore button isn't about not wanting to hear a different opinion or groups of people turning into cliques.

things can get very intense on DU and result in personal attacks and very hurt feelings. it's never about thinking you are better or too good than the person you put on ignore.

for many ignore IS the best option.

i personally have never put anyone on ignore. although there are people i ignore. hahhaha.

what's the programming that elad has done ?

[JI7]

7. just read about the new ignore function

not sure i like it. maybe the limits on it will keep it from being abused though.

[SoCalDem]

32. Like you, I have an "internal" ignore feature and don't use the DU "ignore"

My opinions are mine, and I'm willing to state them. Occasionally there are people who vehemently disagree, state their opinons, and that's it. I read theirs, review my own, and move on.

I'm just not into "argumentative debate" about things that I personally have no control over. Life is too short to have enemies..cyber or otherwise.

If people disagree with me, I just accept the fact that everyone has their own philosophy and it's not my "job" to try and change anyone's mind:)
(and it usually does not work anyway :)..)

[radfringe]

5. i've used it a couple of times

and from what I could tell later on - those that I put on ignore ended up being tombstoned by the mods within a couple of days

I've used the HIDE THREADS more often in the past couple of months for threads relating to smoking

[NashVegas]

27. I've Noticed That, Radfringe

I haven't used the ignore function in more than a year, but at one point, I noticed that in certain threads (ie, those with major flamebait potential) I would always see a couple of chunks of sub-thread where my ignored posters were getting into it.

[Bluebear]

6. Same answer as to this other thread, your stomach is stronger than mine lol

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=3077249&mesg_id=3077249

[Syrinx]

47. I'm not casting judgment on ignore users, lol

I had not seen that thread before, or I wouldn't have offered this one. It's a funny coincidence that piedmont is one of my fellow Alabamians. Not sure if that means anything. ;)

[Raine]

8. To each their own

I've used it and will continue to do so. I can take anyone disagreeing with me but if they personally insult me they go on ignore. I'm very easy to get along with but I will not take personal abuse and when someone gets abusive with me I will push back. Instead of getting into a pointless back and forth I would just as soon save myself (and them) the aggravation and just put em on ignore. :think:

[riderinthestorm]

38. I thought it was against the rules to get personally abusive. Don't you just alert on that post?

That seems like it would be more effective.... :shrug:

[Raine]

40. I do that too

but in the future I just don't have any contact with them.

[cboy4]

9. Yea, here's what's funny about people who use the ignore button:

I bet you they peak anyway to see what's been blocked out in a thread, so what's the point? LOL!!

It's human nature to be curious and peak, right?!? COME ON, ADMIT IT! ;)

I don't have anyone on ignore.

Besides, the people (mostly the stalkers) I theoretically would want to place on ignore seem to get quickly TS'd anyway.

Hey, I'm happy to discuss just about anything with anybody.

That's what this place is all about, if you ask me.

[jeff30997]

11. You're cool cboy4 !

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[cboy4]

13. What did you say jeff30997? I have

you on ignore.

hehehehe ;)

[jeff30997]

16. LOL!

:)

[Maine-ah]

12. lol, thats what I did, then I decided not to use the ignore

button anymore! I only used it on one person, but as I continued in the thread I was like, ok what did that jackass say.....and had to peek! I think the new feature, for extreme circumstances is a great idea. There are some people who will follow you from thread to thread and just insult you.

[cboy4]

15. . . .

"...but as I continued in the thread I was like, ok what did that jackass say..." :spray:

You're funny! ;)

[Skittles]

23. no, I do not PEEK

if anything I am simply surprised at some people who reply to my posts and don't seem to be aware I am no longer aware of their existence

[cboy4]

28. Not even one teenie weenie, itsy bitsy peek??!

hehe ;)

[Skittles]

57. no, honestly I don't

but I should not have said I ignore people for good - usually after I let of my steam I un-ignore people - except for one DUer, a person who did something so incredibly backhanded I would never want to interact with them ever again. :)

[Left Is Write]

44. I don't either.

If I put someone on ignore, it's because I don't want to read the post. Why would I "peek"?

[WiseButAngrySara]

26. But you can't 'peek' for 7 days, and by that time it's archived, right?

n/t

[cboy4]

29. ???? What do you mean you can't peek for 7 days? . . .

Sure you can peek!

on edit: read Puglover's response #24 below. (Unless you have Puglover on ignore!!) :rofl:

[WiseButAngrySara]

31. LOL! No, Puglover won't be ignored by me! See Skinner's note

and below...



"The revolutionary new feature is #4: "Block Replies To Me." This feature gives you the ability to block any other DU member from either replying to your posts, or from posting in your threads. In other words: If you don't like someone, you can choose not to have to interact directly with that person, ever.

We understand that the new "Block Replies To Me" function is a big change with the potential for abuse. For this reason, we have programmed some special conditions on its use so members will think twice before using it.

The first condition is that if you add someone to your "Block Replies To Me" list, you cannot remove that person from the list for seven days. This will make it impossible for someone to engage in anti-social behavior of repeatedly turning-on-and-turning-off the block to game the system.

The second condition is that when you block someone, that other person will (most likely) know it. There is no way to keep this function anonymous. When that other person sees your posts, the reply link will change to say "cannot reply" -- and the blocked person will be given a direct link so they can return the favor and block you from replying to any of their posts."

[cboy4]

33. Oh, gotcha....you were referring to the new change.....I was

referring to the old way. ;)

[Left Is Write]

45. That's only the block function.

If you block someone from replying to your posts, the action can't be undone for 7 days.

If you are just ignoring someone, you can still temporarily unignore them if you want to look at their posts. Of course, if you want to look at their posts, putting them on ignore doesn't make sense in the first place.

[WiseButAngrySara]

46. Thanks for clearing that up! But I bet I never use any of the

multiple choice options, unless I go into the I/P forum! (It can be vicious in there!)

[tavalon]

54. My stalker had thousands of posts before putting me in their crosshairs

and given that I still see "ignored" with some regularity, I assume they are still here and that their post count is all the higher. I will admit to the occasional curiosity when I see it but I've head enough experience with that headcase - don't need any more and I do get amused when I see some one else posting a slapdown to mr./ms ignored.

There are a number of other folks here that I know I vehemently disagree with and am never going to see eye to eye. Those folks aren't officially ignored and actually, I have seen some things of interest from them. From my stalker, none.

[jeff30997]

10. Well,Syrinx,I think you have class.Then...

I agree with you,because ignoring other peoples opinions is wrong,

whether you agree with them or not,ignoring peoples is putting

your head in the sand,just like any extremist do!

[Syrinx]

48. thanks!

Compliments are nice. :hi:

[Ghost in the Machine]

14. I've never used it either...

what's the point? Everyone has a right to their own opinion or view, everyone has a right to state their opinion freely and everyone else has the right to like it or don't like it. Just because you disagree with someone one one issue doesn't mean you're going to disagree on every issue.

Oh.... and everyone has the right to be wrong sometimes, too!

PEACE!

Ghost

[FuzzyDicePHL]

17. It's not just about blocking others' opinions tho

I've used ignore so I don't have to read posts by folks who're consistently negative, dour, bitter and otherwise just a downer. "Energy-suckers," as the wonderful Luscious Jackson put it. I don't humour them IRL and I don't humour them here.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

21. I use it for a different reason: prolific posters of drivel

I've never had an exchange with most of the people on my short ignore list.

They are people who are obsessive thread-starters. Who can't seem to bear a forum front page that doesn't display at least one of their opinion pieces. Whose opinions are largely fueled by wild speculation, or mawkish sentimentality, or an ill-formed grasp of why humans act the way we do. Or possibly booze. In short, drivel. Produced in such copious amounts that it's easier to ignore them than to hide threads (a feature I like even more than ignore).

I could ignore proven boobs w/o using the function, but it saves me time not to be lured into writing a response that I abandon before posting with a "fuck it, it's not going to change his/her mind anyway." Ignore is for my convenience, not their censorship. They can post all the tripe they want without bothering me with it.

[salin]

18. I used it once by accident

I don't use features much and was trying to experiment with the then brand new feature "buddy list". Then one day, on a thread - I had this strange phenomenon (to me) posts were marked ignored (or however they are marked - I can't really remember) - went back to my preferences and found the mistake - and was surprised that I had put someone I really enjoy reading on ignore! Corrected that real fast.

I don't use the "hide threads", I don't ignore - though I do skip reading threads and if irritated I may skip over a posters post on a particular thread for the moment. Its called self-regulation.

My hope is that people try the feature out - find problems with it and decide to go back to normal - but with a higher degree of their own self-regulation.

[aikoaiko]

19. I can ignore people just fine without a button.

:)

Seriously, I never understood the ignore feature and even more dismayed about the new and improved ignore.

When I've had a problem with a poster, I just don't read what they say or at least I don't respond. Poof. No more problem.

[CTyankee]

22. My god! Somebody using common sense?

Exactly my sentiments. For one thing, DU is not my full time job. I never use the ignore function nor the Hide Thread. I don't even know how and am not interested in learning how. While it is annoying when some folks twist what you say, or don't really read your post but decide that you've said something you haven't, you can try to argue with them. Failing that, you can just say "Well, we must agree to disagree." Or say nothing and walk away from your computer, go to the library and take out some interesting books.

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. The ignore function is for sucka fools

I mean you, beeeee-otch!

Oh, wait. You can't hear me. Well go fuck a tree, muthafuckaaaaah!

;-)

[Puglover]

24. I tried it once.

And then, when I saw "ignored" it kept bugging me and bugging me and finally I took them off ignore to see what they said. Doesn't work for me.

[WiseButAngrySara]

25. I've never used the function either, and probably won't

use the newer version, but if I ever enter the I/P dungeon again (which will probably also be never!) I'll use it with gay abandon!

[tavalon]

55. Call me stupid

What is an I/P dungeon?

[donheld]

30. I don't use the word "never" often

It's a mighty long time. Who can really say never and never go back on it?

[tavalon]

56. Besides, Loki

loves that word almost as much as "always". Snort!

[NotGivingUp]

34. putting someone on ignore is like conversing with a group of people

and not being able to hear what one person is saying in response to you or anyone else. i don't understand how this is an advantage.

[Downtown Hound]

35. I've used it once in all my time on DU

and the person I used it on has since been tombstoned. Funny, because I told him I thought that would happen to him in my last post to him also. Heh.

[kentuck]

36. Neither have I...

Hwever, I suspect it has been used on me a couple of times..:)

[rman]

37. it can take years before a disruptor is exposed

I think everyone should decide for themselves whether or not to use the ignore function.

[noonwitch]

39. I've never used it

A political web board should never be one in which people are afraid to express opinions that others might not like.

I'm pretty thick-skinned about insults and such, anyways, especially as it pertains to internet insults. It's not like it's people literally in my face screaming insults in a threatening way or something.

[Left Is Write]

42. I don't use ignore on people with whom I simply disagree.

I don't use ignore on people who are presenting an alternative viewpoint I might not have considered.

I use ignore on people (and admittedly, it's been a very very limited number in just over two years) who have demonstrated an inability to converse rationally and/or without attacks.

[bigwillq]

43. I have, only once

and I didn't like how it said 'ignored' every time that person posted, so I took them off.

[LittleClarkie]

49. I'll use it, then curiousity gets the better of me and I just HAVE to know what the person is saying

So I always end up taking them back off pretty quickly.

[Syrinx]

52. that reminds me...

Back when those beheading vids were coming out, I knew I didn't want to see them, but I just couldn't help myself. But I got so freaked out by that, that I've successfully resisted the temptation to watch the Hussein execution. Ghoulishness is bad for the soul, it seems.

[Rocinante]

50. Me neither

But I don't get involved in pissing fights anyway. Hey there Syrinx! :hi:

[Syrinx]

51. hey randoon!

I'm not exactly into water sports myself. ;)

[tavalon]

53. Don't worry, this new thing won't destroy DU any more than any of the other new things

that have come around through the years.

I used to share your point of view on the ignore function and I even added that I believed that if someone pissed me off that much, I must need to learn something from them. Snarf! Then someone with a high post count started, for lack of a better word, stalking me. Looking up my posts just to jab at me. I gave in to the ignore feature and my life got much better. So much better, I decided to use it on a couple of other annoyances after I noted that they really never had anything useful to say. Then I just quit using the feature. I think I put 3-4 people on it overall. I'm unlikely to use the newfangled ignore feature any more than I used the old one but it's nice to know that if I get another stalker (it happens - in life and in cyberlife) that I have good tools at my disposal.

As a weird aside, when I occasionally see "ignored" on a discussion, I wonder which of my banished ones have posted. Of course, I always find it amusing when someone responds to them with a berating comment.