Author Topic: Forum killfile/ignore list (Read 4148 times)

Chibiabos · « **on:** June 06, 2005, 11:42:43 pm »

I'd like to suggest an option for a user to ignore all posts by certain other users on the forum. Yeah its an ugly thing to think anyone might need, but some people take offense to some other users' posts that might be construed as inflammatory, but rather than responding in kind or complaining to admin about it, sometimes its probably just best to put some users on an 'ignore list' so there's no temptation to post any reply (or new thread) that might be construed as retaliatory or inflammatory and provides users with a quick, easy tool to avoid an ugly flamewar on the forums.

Maybe this could be tied in with the Messenger to create an all-out ignore block.

CarLOS · « **Reply #1 on:** June 06, 2005, 11:48:32 pm »

The only forums I have seen this on is VBulletin and as a phpBB mod. I dunno if it's available for Ikon? ':?:'

Misha · « **Reply #2 on:** June 07, 2005, 12:31:15 am »

Here's what's wrong with this idea.

UserA posts some question, and after a few replies, UserB responds. The thread now takes a turn and starts discussing the points UserB has brought up. UserB has no life, so he keeps respondin to others, and pretty soon the entire thread has revolved around what UserB posted.

You happen to have UserB ignored because he's a jerk and you hate him and everything he stands for. You see this thread and think it's interesting, so you go in and start reading (And you DO read all the other posts in a thread before you respond, right?). After a while, you have absolutely no idea what's going on. People are making random replies to something you can't read, because you have UserB ignored. And you can't tell what's going on, because the forum doesn't tell you it's skipping a post, it just does and acts like UserB never posted.

It's easier to just ignore the person in your mind then in the actual software. You don't have to respond to every post that you disagree with.

Chibiabos · « **Reply #3 on:** June 07, 2005, 12:49:13 am »

I congratulate you if you are so perfectly disciplined. I, however, am not and I imagine I am not the only one to fall somewhere short of being perfect.

Misha · « **Reply #4 on:** June 07, 2005, 01:00:43 am »

I wasn't attacking you, nor did I claim to have perfect discipline.

But the fact of the matter remains, ignoring a problem does not make it go away.

Chibiabos · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2005, 01:22:19 am »

I can't change the other person, I can only change myself.

Discretion is the better part of valor, I've heard. For me, the best way to win a fight is to back out of it.

Raust Shieldra · « **Reply #6 on:** June 07, 2005, 11:54:42 pm »

This situation is not a coin but a die, There's the point of godo where one wouldn't put stress on the staff of dealing with these people, then there's the point of threads making no sense to those who are blocking, and then theres the third part to this, the staff is there for a reason, if some one would insite so many flames and so much offense to some one to make them need a block on thier posts they likely have the same effect on other users and should be dealt with by the staff. Further more even if it is only to one member that these things are offensive, to keep posting along those lines once the person knows is intentional and abusive to userA , there for userB needs an attitude adjustment as such abuse is not permitted on these boards.

« **Reply #7 on:** June 08, 2005, 03:14:56 am »

Close your eyes when you see a post by someone you don't like!!!

Problem sovled

Yip · « **Reply #8 on:** June 08, 2005, 05:16:41 am »

*puts Chibiabos on his ignore list*

j/k

'>

I would agree with Raust. If someone is being that offensive they need to be dealt with by the staff. Users are expected to give each other common respect. When someone isn't doing that, ignoring them that way will not fix the problem.

Note, if someone is bothering you with PMs, you can set those to block the person.

Chibiabos · « **Reply #9 on:** June 08, 2005, 05:23:01 am »

I have PM'd the staff and they seem to not understand the bother I am having at an inciteful post by a certain user after witnessing something they did on IRC that really irked me. It would really just be simpler to me to ignore them. My only other option, I'm afraid, is to delete all my posts and leave and I'd rather not do that.

When it comes to this ... does everyone think its best for a user that has problems with another user to just leave rather than having a feature like an 'ignore user' command to deal with it?

Sumarra · « **Reply #10 on:** June 08, 2005, 11:52:34 am »

Chibiabos, you seem to not like what you are hearing from the others in this thread but their points are valid. Please try to understand.

If you block all the posts from one user then the threads they post in will not make much sense to you and this could cause confusion within those threads when you reply to them.

Dealing with a troublesome fur is difficult, I understand how you feel about it. But it simply isn't easy to do what you are asking. Truly, the best thing you could do is learn to ignore that user on your own. When you see their posts either ignore each post or ignore the entire thread. Just don't read it.

I know that makes reading the board more difficult but if you can find enough enjoyment out of the other threads and friends you've made here then isn't it worth it?

Also, don't give up on reporting to the Admins and Mods about this troublesome fur. They may not take action this time but with enough complaints and separate incidents they most certainly will.

Good Luck!

Chibiabos · « **Reply #11 on:** June 08, 2005, 12:42:51 pm »

Sumarra, I've been on board that had an 'ignore user' feature before and it worked well. There were no such problems as people are describing. In place of any user on my 'killfile,' it simply stamped '*You have this user on ignore*' and that was easy to understand ... and any thread started by that user simply didn't show up while i browsed the forums.

I have some 10 years' experience on the 'net now and from that experience, this would be the best way of dealing with it.

Admins are notoriously busy, and it once took 4 months to get one reply out of one awhile back. On this particular issue, I am getting replies after just a couple days, but it seems very much they don't agree with me.

Its really much easier, simpler and more effective to be able to deal with a problem I'm having with another user myself by feeling free to read forums and such without having to worry about reading something from someone who is just trying to rile me.

Raust Shieldra · « **Reply #12 on:** June 08, 2005, 10:04:44 pm »

The staff does care whats going on, and there likely is action being taken, it wont happen publicly or be reported to you though, it will all be dealt with in private. Just because you don't see whats happening to deal with it doesn't mean nothings being done.
The major problem I see with this was already stated, no one would report abusive behavior once thats in place, they would simply block the user, instead of doing thier part as a member and keeping an eye out for abusive behavior. If no one is reporting such behavior, it will leave holes of information or evidence the staff may need to deal with such a problem.

WhiteShepherd · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2005, 11:48:27 pm »

We can check and see if this software feature is available and look into it's addition. Yes we are busy especialy now. If you think a user if trying to rile you let us know about it and we'll look into it closely.

WhiteShepherd