Hooked on the IGNORE Key

[Demeter]

First, it was just the hopelessly deranged Freepers, come to spread their mental poison on Democratic Underground. I gratefully put them on IGNORE, and found that within weeks, most of them had been exorcised by the Moderators anyway. So I felt justified to take personal offense to the level of IGNORE.

Then it was the rude and vulgar. I simply didn't want to be subjected to such abusive language. Most of those disappeared, as well, although some continue to post, and after turning them back on for a bit, I usually RE-IGNORE them shortly after.

Today I put on IGNORE someone who basically lied a big lie--one that could be verified by 30 seconds of Google, if it weren't common knowledge by anyone following the history of the subject.

And I'm beginning to wonder--Is it me, or has the quality of discourse on DU gone down the drain, never to return?

[ejpoeta]

1. i have been absent for awhile taking a break so i don't end up in the loonie bin.

It seems in general everyday life the level of discourse has disintegrated, so it makes sense that it would happen here as well. You don't mean to do it, but somehow it subconsciously happens. i mean, when there are people ramming other cars on the road because of a bumper sticker, we've come to a very dangerous and destructive place. instead of having a cogent argument we are combating with sound bytes and talking points. we live in the age of google.... there is no excuse why people can't look things up themselves and find out the truth but it's easier to just say what 'he' says or 'she' says. i tend to wonder sometimes at the frenzied way in which the information is being put out there. the only ones who win in this situation are the corporations. they WANT this. as long as we are fighting amongst ourselves they win.

[seabeyond]

10. people say it is not different. same today as yesterday. i dont believe. i agree, people are mean

uglier than they use to be. i think a big part of it is the nets. i think it has allowed us to desensitize ourselves in ugly. we can say whatever and face no repercussion that a face to face would result in, causing us to think twice about being mean and ugly. we have it thru out now. on tv. our politicians themselves. everyone feels the right to be ugly. it is becoming a part of who we are.

words matter. we become desensitized. shock value escalates. we go further and further.

[Echo In Light]

27. It's b/c conservative dems are rallying a corporatist admin big time...

... and subsequently are in constant 'damage control' mode dismissing the parade of fully justifiable criticisms...something liberals are generally on board with (the concept and legitimacy of) ...so that tells you all you need to know re the ones shouting the loudest and snarling the most often. I've also noticed they often end their tsk-tsk'ing of others with this: :rofl: ...since mocking others is obviously a high priority with them - something else that doesn't exactly fit the 'lib' traits.

[elocs]

2. Could be, but ultimately "ignore" is just a tool that each chooses to use as they will.

There's no right way or wrong way, just your way. For me, life is too short to deal with some of the crap that goes on. I look at "ignore" like the "mute" button on my tv, only better.

As far as the quality of the discourse here, it is like the good old days--they always look better in hindsight. Just imagine, to some, these will be the good old days.

[Roland99]

3. I've seen an increase in the pro-corporate segment

Those happy to see the likes of Evan Bayh and other corporate whores.

[truedelphi]

22. Me too. People who like the notion of Oil drilling,

Or clean nuclear energy, or clean coal. Yet seem to think their stance is environmental. (A label I am pretty well discouraged about, as it has been co-opted by the Corporate Crowd.)

[Lasher]

4. I don't have a problem with the quality of discourse.

But you probably have me on ignore and won't be able to read this.

[Demeter]

6. You Aren't Yet

If you want to be on my IGNORE list, you're gonna hafta try harder.

[Lasher]

20. Heh heh. OK, I'll catch ya in the next thread.

I'll try to be worthy.

:evilgrin:

[salguine]

5. My Ignore list has swollen to astonishing size. I use it for the reasons you stated (except

language; unless it's personally abusive, swearing doesn't bother me that much if it's in the service of making a point), but I also added "consistently making statements that elevate the Democratic Party—or any party—over fundamental principles of democracy" and "saying something so monumentally stupid that I can never take anything this person says seriously anymore" as criteria for making the list. I have so many people on Ignore that I can't read anything on the front page sometimes, unless I log out. It's taken a lot of the stress out of my life.

[Fumesucker]

7. Never used it..

Although I must say that people who come close to annoying me have a tendency to get a granite pizza..

With OMC at the very top of that list.. Or bottom, depending on how you look at it I suppose.

[lamp_shade]

8. Same here - ignore, purge, re-ignore. About 1-2 months ago I purged all 132 on my list, but before

I did I copy/pasted it to a file. I did some research and found that (1) at least half were DK groupies and (2) most were not OP's but rather repliers. I re-built my ignore list very carefully with OP's only (the really nasty ones) and am amazed at the difference. There are now only 21 on my list.

[Demeter]

9. Congratulations to Poster #8!

First on my IGNORE list to post to this thread.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. LOL

But if I'm on your list you can't read this.

[ixion]

11. It has degraded, in my opinion

since Obama took office. There's been a group here who, with the intent of keeping us on message, has poisoned the debate.

So I agree the discourse has degraded. I don't think it will last. As soon as the dems lose their majority, these people will go away, becausee they're fair weather people.

[seabeyond]

12. i have never used the ignore button. i like the surprise that even those i consistently dont like,

sometimes i get to say hey, i agree... or whatever. and i like to know what soemone has to say whether it is going to be somethign i agree with or not. and sometimes those that i really dont like will say something that gets me to thinking, and that is what i like to do most.

i am ignored by at least a handful though.

it doesnt bother me at all, and fine. it is irritating when they follow me around saying, nah nah nah nah nah... i cant hear you.

[KharmaTrain]

13. I Ignore Ignore...

It reminds me of this:



While I may not agree with what is posted here, I respect the right of those who are members to speak what they will. As you mention, the Moderators do a great job dealing with the trolls and there are some of us who like to play with the food before it's pizzafied.

This place is pretty straight forward...you don't like a topic move along, don't like a poster, ignore their threads or bums rush their posts...I see "ignoring" a silly concept in a place where ideas and thoughts are supposed to flow. But then what do I know??? I'm probably being ignored right now. LOL.

[salin]

14. Been around a long time.... the type of discourse changes

but the rancor, has always been with us. It seems like the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Then again, I don't participate much any more - so it is much harder to tick me off. I can just hide threads when I read.

YMMV

[Demeter]

15. I Have Hidden Threads That Will Not Die

because I'm tired of them filling up the top of the forum for weeks, especially if they are inane.

[seabeyond]

17. i will use the hide thread button. some subject disgust me, or make me so mad, not worth

my aggravation to see subject line continually.

[WeDidIt]

16. Just one note...

Be very careful about anything you read today. What may seem to be a big lie may, in fact, simply be a lame attempt at a joke.

Posted: April 1, 2010.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

18. I have three people on ignore at the present time.

I'll probably remove them once I recover further from my latest MI.

The worst one was someone who dropped the "F" bomb on me 4 or 5 times in one sentence. I had never used the ignore until then but I thought that went well beyond the civilty gauge of childish and crossed into the realm of being downright disrespectful. My heart doesn't need to deal with that kind of behavior at the present time.

The worst part is that it's someone who always seems to get a lot of front page time.

[truedelphi]

23. Was it a long sentence or a short sentence? n/t

[Altoid_Cyclist]

31. It was about 5 or 6 words in length.

It was sort of along the lines of bleep,bleepity, bleep you bleep.

[Missy Vixen]

21. I've been here since 2001

I agree with you.

I'm thankful for the "ignore" function.

[ecstatic]

24. Before I rec or unrec, whose side are you on?

hehehe

[goclark]

25. It's just not you ~

This seems to be a good I button week.

[jellen]

26. I Don't Have Anyone On Ignore

I want to know who's out to get me.

[DainBramaged]

28. My ignore list is legendary

got a calculator.......


Actually, I purge it almost monthly nowadays. Most of the turds eat granite pretty quickly, and the Anti-Union/Anti-American global trade apologists get the big red X pretty fast. Then there are the folks who don't live here, aren't citizens, yet think they can dictate how our lives are lived. They don't get a second look.

After nearly nine total years here between two accounts, I have little patience for the theater of the absurd.

[GreenMetalFlake]

29. good one

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

30. Some people like sticking their heads in the sand.

If that's your thing, have at it. :shrug:

[rucky]

32. I've only put 1 person on ignore, ever.

OMC

[pipoman]

33. Ignore is lame

Why do people think everyone should agree with them? It is a sign of an inability to change one's mind. If you have a bunch of people on ignore it says more about you than those on your ignore list. Reminds me of the old bastard who thinks real women don't wear pants.