Would it be OK to block someone if they sent you a PM like this?

[LoZoccolo]

I understand that the block feature is controversial, and that my use of it is controversial (blocking people who break the rules or have blocked me), but I think if people really thought about it, they would be able to find some circumstances where blocking is appropriate. For instance, what if you recieved a PM like this?

Subject: You Seem To Have A Real Attitude Problem!!!

I Just finished reading the flame fest that you started on a thread posted by REDACTED. I have to say, your comments in that thread were some of the most ridiculous and uncalled for that I have ever read here.

I sure as hell wish the mods had exercised better judgment and tombstoned your sorry ass. Folks like you contribute little and your fucking pointless flaming just gets worthwhile threads locked and taken out of circulation. But, having read your posts I now fully assume you are a worthless little freeper troll in the category of folks like Cuban-Liberal. That leads me to assume that getting threads locked IS YOUR AGENDA.

Just be aware, I know who the hell you are now. The site rules are quite sclear on disruptors. I will be watching you like a freaking hawk. I will be alerting on any post that sounds remotely snarky. Keep this type of crap up and we'll see how long it is until you get the big fat banning you deserve.

I have a short list of likely disruptors. You just got added. I'll see you around you little troll bastard.

Can you see where there are people you wouldn't want in your threads?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Did a lot of people send you the same PM?

[LoZoccolo]

5. No.

My point, though, is that everyone has a threshold of blockiness.

[burythehatchet]

9. /

:spank: :rofl:

[trumad]

2. Let me guess... A Saints fan?

[Lex]

3. Oh yeah, people send me PMs like that all the time.

Just out of the blue.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. LOL

[Dorian Gray]

33. Me TOO!

I hate it when that happens. ;)

[cynatnite]

4. Geez

:wow:

To the mods that email should go.

[LoZoccolo]

7. It did. n/t

[Redstone]

6. Uh, I'd have alerted before making it public. I'd bet the mods and admins would

have taken it DAMN seriously.

But that's just what I'd have done.

Redstone

[walldude]

10. Yeah but then you'd have missed out on all the attention..

;)

[burythehatchet]

12. this outpouring of love is touching

:rofl:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

17. It's a great way to make friends.

Airing private messages and all that.

[havocmom]

39. BINGO!

:hi:

[upi402]

11. I don't post PM's in open forum

I don't know if it's not polite, and I'm not always polite, but it seems like a bad thing (to me). So I choose not to.

just me though!

[LoZoccolo]

13. They've been tombstoned anyways. n/t

[upi402]

16. ahh

i see
:toast:

[scarletwoman]

27. If they're tombstoned, that saves you the trouble of blocking them, doesn't it?

So I'm not sure what the point of your post is.

[LoZoccolo]

28. My point is that everyone has a threshold of blockiness.

There is probably at least one thing a person could do on here that would make you wanna block them.

[scarletwoman]

52. I sincerely doubt it. I've been on DU almost 6 years and I've NEVER put anyone on "ignore".

Not even you! :evilgrin:

So I highly doubt that I would ever block anyone. My confidence in my ability to uphold my side in a debate precludes any perceived need to protect myself from disagreement.

YMMV, however.

sw

[bananas]

29. Since they've been tombstoned, how about telling us who it was?

Or at least a link to thread mentioned in the PM?

[Redstone]

32. That's be a real bad idea. This particluar knife-fight called DU does have rules, unlike

the one in Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid.

Redstone

[bananas]

36. How about a link to thread mentioned in the PM?

(I added that to my post while you were responding).

[LoZoccolo]

38. Oh alright, if you insist.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=2509947

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

40. Did you just make up that PM?

Was it only a hypothetical?

[LoZoccolo]

43. No. n/t

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

46. Ohhhhhhh You're Talking About OLL From That Long Ago? Sheesh I Thought You Meant Recent.

That poster did have some bite to her, huh LOL

[LoZoccolo]

50. Me posting the Oasis thread in this thread was just a joke. n/t

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

55. Oops. My Bad. Didn't Even Read It. Just Scanned The List Of Names And Immediately Assumed That's

who it was LOL

On edit: I just clicked on the link again but this time read the OP. I actually laughed out loud after realizing the flame war you tried putting forth as the reason was Oasis Vs the Beatles! :rofl:

Yup. Maybe I shoulda read it before rather than scanning the list to see who I thought the perp was LOL

[Redstone]

41. We're all voyeurs, aren't we? I wouldn't mind seeing that myself.

Redstone

[Redstone]

21. I don't SEND ugly PMs, either. I'll have my fights out in the open, and save PMs for

friendly discourse.

Again, just my preference. Though I think lots of others do this as well.

Redstone

[babylonsister]

14. I didn't see the original thread, but that's totally uncalled for. I'd

submit it in an e-mail to the admins. Even though it wasn't said publically, it goes way beyond what the purpose of this board is about.

From the DU rules:


3. Civility: Treat other members with respect. Do not post personal attacks against other members of this discussion forum.

4. Content: Do not post messages that are inflammatory, extreme, divisive, incoherent, or otherwise inappropriate. Do not engage in anti-social, disruptive, or trolling behavior. Do not post broad-brush, bigoted statements. The moderators and administrators work very hard to enforce some minimal standards regarding what content is appropriate. But please remember that this is a large and diverse community that includes a broad range of opinion. People who are easily offended, or who are not accustomed to having their opinions (including deeply personal convictions) challenged may not feel entirely comfortable here. A thick skin is necessary to participate on this or any other discussion forum.

[Redstone]

26. What, no "broad-brush, bigoted statements?" Then I'm not allowed to say,

"Freepers are morans and generally knuckleheads?" Durn.

Redstone

[Sugarcoated]

15. I don't know whether you should ban them

but that's very nasty person there - showing them for what they are is probably enough. I got a vile PM from a poster named Trotsky many months ago that was totally uncalled for, it never occured to me to post it, maybe I should have.

[blues90]

18. sounds pretty threatening to me

I have no idea what you posted so I can't answer your question . I prefer to ignore posts I have nothing to add to or that I have no interest in or I know by reading other replies that I will fane a flame .

However I would not like the PM you got .

[havocmom]

44. Knew someone who used to send threatening letters (snail mail)

to himself so he could fret and complain about them. A therapist pal called it Munchausen by Postman :rofl:

[Guaranteed]

People that talk about people. nt

[LoZoccolo]

22. Are the luuuuuuuuckiest people in the woooooooorld!

I can name that tune in eight notes.

[scarletwoman]

19. I just can't IMAGINE why ANYONE would verbally abuse you so!

You poor dear.

[MrSlayer]

20. I would just laugh at them.

The whole blocking thing to me is childish and silly.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

23. I Don't Care What The Context Behind That Is. It Was Completely Inappropriate.

[LoZoccolo]

24. Another question: if you were the person who sent me that PM...

...wouldn't you like to have the power to block my threads?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

25. No.

Because in my opinion, blocking people is just a way of weaseling out of debates.

[Redstone]

31. Some people feel the same way you do.

And some don't.

Me? I'll probably not block anyone. But if someone blocks me, it's OK with me.

Redstone

[regnaD kciN]

30. Just tell Will Pitt to knock it off...!

:rofl:

[BlooInBloo]

34. Blocking from PM, fine. Blocking from publically viewable threads, coward.

[LostInAnomie]

35. Well, to be fair...

... what you said about American Idol was pretty out of line. :rofl:

[Wizard777]

37. I post on many boards. I have even received death threats through them.

I look at it like this. Most boards have reasonable policies as to what is acceptable to post. Anything that cause me to put someone on an ignore list would also violate those reasonable policies. So I just refer them to the board admin. Personally Ignore features just aren't for me. I wouldn't press my preferences upon others. what I like most about DU is the extent of the freedom of fucking speech I have here. That would get me banned on other boards I frequent. I also believe that freedom Of is protected by freedom from. The ignore feature provides for that freedom from speech wonderfully. Even if it's not my personal style to use them.

[Doctor_J]

42. The only pm's I read are the ones from redqueen

i keep hoping she'll send me a photo. wrt the others, I figure if they don't want to post it, it's likely not worth reading.

[AlCzervik]

45. whats a pm?

[Dora]

48. It's what comes after a-m, and for some of us gals, before the -s.

[AlCzervik]

51. you know what husbands says pms stand for?

Punish Michael Severely.

so true.:D

[Dora]

53. Poor guy. Good thing that's not my husband's name. n/t

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

49. Private Message. (Intermember Email)

[Catherine Vincent]

47. LOL! Oh my!

How funny! I sent a bad pm to someone a while back (don't even remember who), I told him he was being an ass. I believe the topic was about Bill Clinton.

[B Calm]

54. You didn't publicly out the messenger, that's a point in your favor.

[Lilith Velkor]

56. IBTL!

:P

[Crunchy Frog]

57. I don't judge you for putting people on block.

I think it's kind of silly, especially with your hairtrigger approach (I hope I didn't just get myself blocked for saying that). But I respect your right to taylor your DU experience the way you wish.

I don't think I've ever behaved in a way that would merit a PM like that, but if I got one, I would alert on it to the mods before putting the person on block. Actually, I'm pretty sure you can block someone from sending you PMs without blocking them from responding to your posts.

There certainly have been a handful of people I could see myself blocking in the past, but they have mercifully all been tombstoned.

At any rate, I don't think you need to justify your choices to the rest of us. :hi:

[Fenris]

58. Locking.

This is a call-out.