No one will be forced to take advantage of the “ignore button” and I can’t see where one person’s utilization of it will hinder another’s experience here. It seems to me that it isn’t a bad tool. We all know how advantageous it is to have a box full of tools.
I dunno, I've been to other forums where people are "oh yeah, I'm gonna *ignore* you! who's with me?!" which seems sort of lamer than 7th grade. No offense to 7th grade members. I think that it's reasonable to allow unfettered dialogue, as long as there's no bad words and no namecalling. If people don't believe strongly enough in their position ("T1 suxx worse than T2" or "eating carbs suxx" or "my CDE suxx...") to add a credible "because..." well, then the flames will continue. If you want disconnected conversations that don't arrive at conclusions, you can hang out on Twitter!
As a non- "in" member here and a sometimes contributor, I would like to say that the thing that I have always liked about TuD is 1) the acceptance of diverse opinions, 2) the polite corrections to those who may wander off the reservation of general thought here, 3) how this is a warm and welcoming forum, especially compared to some others.
I occasionally check, but don't comment, on another forum where opinions or views are more rudely attacked by the "regulars." This happens more often with new posters who have not figured out the philosophy of the regulars.
I don't know if I am articulating what I want to say but, in general, I would rather see an occasional knock-down drag-out debate than to mute out the person whose views many of you do not like. I have no idea who is being referred to but I do know that I have a choice not to read the posts. Just my .01 cent.
I agree, Nell. I never just follow 'someone' to make a comment because I don't like them or whatever. I participate in a conversation because it has interest to me - it moves, compels me. I don't personally know anyone on here so it's never personal. Have a debate then; tell me (us) why you disagree, expand on what you're saying, I'll try to do the same, it might be/get heated..but that's a debate. I believe all of us contribute to this website and specific conversations because we feel strongly about said subject(s). But to get so upset where one continues to follow another posters comments just to bash him/her, what's the point? And to suggest someone needs an 'ignore feature', i mean can't one just ignore them; none of us have to be here, ha! Why even get worked up about, what does it matter? Why not just not engage, IMO. To follow someone or go into a conversation and contribute nothing just to attack, adding nothing to support or 'not' the conversation..IDK, again...what's the point? We got enough to worry about..ha! I haven't seen too many conversations lead to name calling, thankfully.
This is getting out into left field a little bit. If there were an IGNORE button, no one would make you use it. As Ren says, someone else's use of it doesn't harm the person who eschews it.
I don't believe depriving an individual of something they want or need just because WE don't happen to want it. "It's for their own good." Nannyism in its vilest form.
Thanks for this post Judith. A former member with whom I had had several heated exchanges said something that I now use to guide my behavior - "When I offend someone, I apologize." It works wonders.
Maurie
One thing I have noticed in my relatively short time here is that there are all sorts of options one may find advantageous and conducive to better enjoyment of Tu. Some people require friendship before viewing their profile is possible. Some prevent their prior posts and activity from appearing on their profile. Some fill their page with photos. The list goes on.
It seems logical to offer (if possible, of course) an option to avoid the posts of someone who just pushes your buttons. In the end, it affects no one but the person doing the ignoring, right?
With respect, what you say is 100% true and valid good advice, and misses the point entirely.
Principled, well intentioned people who can be relied on to do the right thing aren't a problem to begin with. It's the others who foul the nest. They are the reason why this discussion is happening in the first place.
Here is an example of why additional controls are valid: someone (no names) who posts a flaming comment on your page, and has their own page set to "private" so you cannot reply even to try and pour oil on the waters.
Hi David,
People who are not well intentioned should be removed by Admin as quickly as it becomes apparent that they are unwilling to maintain community norms. In this one case, I favor the "death penalty" :-)
In my experience over the past 5 years or so on TuD there have been only a couple of really bad actors. I think the "ignore" feature would help make TuD more like many of the lists I have been involved with over the years and that wouldn't be an improvement.
Maurie
Maurie,
"People who are not well intentioned should be removed by Admin..."
Yes. Absolutely. And that sanction would continue to be available for use when needed. It's not going anywhere.
I just have great difficulty seeing how offering a purely defensive tool to the "good guys" harms the environment. I think we just see this through two fundamentally different lenses.
Ah, well. Difference of opinion is what makes horse races.
David
Perhaps you read the wrong thread because actually, no - there was not an attack on the OP at all but unfortunately, it took place on his thread which is terribly unfortunate. The thread eventually went horribly off-topic and Admin stepped in. Since then, no one has posted in the thread and perhaps that's a good thing but perhaps it is an issue that would benefit from more discussion or at least educate people on the subject matter. Instead, the subject is now dead.
I now have a definitive answer to the original question in this post, so we can put any speculation to rest. But I think this has been a really rich conversation! Not to mention an example respectful disagreement :)
Ning does not support a function allowing members to block others so they can't see content they have posted. One can block personal messages from another member, and can "ignore" another member within the chatroom, but not within the forum, blogs etc. So there it is...
Agreed!
Thanks so much for looking into it, Emily. It seems strange that the feature is available only in chat but it is, as they say, what it is.