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Using the "Ignore" function? Or do you ignore that option?

02:02 / 02.03.06

Without using any names and causing any problems, have you ever used the "ignore" function? I personally have never used the option and I don't plan to, no matter how much a user annoys me. I don't want any gaps in the discussion and I certainly don't want to miss any jokes or debacles.

If you've ever used it, do you think it helped? Obviously it doesn't resolve conflict, but maybe it calmed you down.

Here's a problem I have with the ignore function. What if you ignore somebody who's super-annoying and while you're ignoring hir and ze talks about you behind your back? What then?

Here's an old thread about the ignore function that serves to analyze the idea. Click here to read the Overlord's personal opinion on ignore function, and as a bonus, he writes in Caps Lock.

All Acting Regiment

02:24 / 02.03.06

I've never put anyone on ignore. I can see that if there was somebody literally just posting garbage and not engaging at all then it might be useful, but usually I want to see the turtle's head as it drops into the pan...

Tuna Ghost: Pratt knot hero

02:26 / 02.03.06

Personally I do not use that function. It's not like I can mute some asshole out on the street, so I'd rather learn to just tune out ignorance with my amazing mental powers.

Besides, you'll never know if someone you've ignored actually says something thoughtful and intelligent.

Less searchable M0rd4nt

10:19 / 02.03.06

I use it when I'm feeling frazzled or I've had a few, and I just know that a certain poster is going to set me off. I try not to use it all the time though.

10:27 / 02.03.06

I never use it. If only there were an 'Ignore Introduction Threads' button I'd use that.

Whisky Priestess

10:36 / 02.03.06

I used it a few years ago, when a certain regular poster was ANNOYING me mightily, but I couldn't break my Barbaddiction.

It worked (and was a great relief) to a certain extent, but then other people would keep quoting X and/or referring to (ANNOYING ANNOYING) stuff X had said, so it sort of defeated the object, which was to stop me exploding in ANNOYANCE.

10:42 / 02.03.06

I tried it once but it made threads often tantalisingly unreadable-

Poster A- ...so that's why Feminazis are a myth.
Poster B- (you are ignoring this person)
Poster A- I WILL RIP THE LUNGS FROM YOUR CHEST MOTHAFOKKA WITH MY BARE HANDS I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'D POST THAT... ect

My monkey curiosity gets the best of me, I have to look.

Not at the turtle's head though.

14:09 / 02.03.06

I've used it very seldomly and never for very long but think of it as a beneficial addition to the board. It's a last resort, though. And it did make me feel better but solely in a "Ha, ignore you, you fucking fuck!" way. I'd use it more if despite occassionally raising my ire the general Barbelith poster wasn't simultaneously raising an interesting counterpoint/view/or furthering the discussion in some important if not delicate way.

Also: Haus posted something pertinent to this discussion here.

15:52 / 02.03.06

It worked (and was a great relief) to a certain extent, but then other people would keep quoting X and/or referring to (ANNOYING ANNOYING) stuff X had said, so it sort of defeated the object, which was to stop me exploding in ANNOYANCE.

It's had the opposite effect for me. It's sometimes easier just to get the jist of what X said, read the rebuttal, and move on. A good filter in that way, but an option of last resort. I like that it only lasts for a week as well. It means you can't passively ignore someone permanently. You get a while to cool off, but ze will be back.

15:54 / 02.03.06

I don't really see how a moderator can responsibly put anyone on ignore. But maybe I'm being a bit of a jobsworth about it.

16:01 / 02.03.06

I had previously thought that there was some application in the ignore function that allowed moderators to ignore posters in other forums with exception of the ones they moderate. I've just done a test and apparently not. I'm not sure why I even thought this.

16:02 / 02.03.06

I find it very useful. Sometimes you just can't settle things in a satisfactory manner, and it's better than feeling constantly needled, particularly when it may not be the other party's intention to needle you. I don't use it to block trollishness, just when the chemistry is bad and there don't seem to be other options.

People I had on ignore previously (QALYN) have ended up being some of my favorite posters, incidentally.

Less searchable M0rd4nt

16:02 / 02.03.06

Really? Not even for an evening, say, if ze is aware that hir resistance to the temptation to tear the idiot a new one is lower than normal?

Would you also demand that anyone in a mod hat MUST read ALL hir fora EVERY DAY WITHOUT FAIL? I'm intrigued.

17:06 / 02.03.06

Tread lightly, Smoothly. I've got myself in trouble for saying much the same thing before now.

I use the ignore button that's in my head. It's quite handy.

17:41 / 02.03.06

Really? Not even for an evening, say, if ze is aware that hir resistance to the temptation to tear the idiot a new one is lower than normal?

Well, for one thing I thought people went on ignore for a set period of time, I didn't realise you could unignore them the moment the need or desire arose.

I have to admit that I find it hard to imagine being so wound up that I couldn't trust myself not write and post something I believed I'd regret, but then I'm a pretty even-tempered sort of chap. It sounds like Ignoring would have to be a very pre-emptive act. I mean, you'd have to put them on Ignore *before* they'd provoked you enough to tear the idiot a new one. So I suppose there's a good chance that MC has me on Ignore already.

Which brings me onto the next thing, which is that it seems like a bit of a cunt's trick to put someone on Ignore without letting them know. I kinda think that members have a responsibility to reply to direct questions in discussions. I'd only be further irritated if I got into an argument with someone and they just started to ignore everything I said.

Of course I don't demand that every mod read all their forums EVERY DAY WITHOUT FAIL. But if you're plainly around, I think other users can expect you to pitch in when required. It would worry me if a member could go postal only for the mods present to do nothing beause they had hir on Ignore.

18:02 / 02.03.06

I thought the opposite: that telling somebody you'd put them on ignore was a way to try to get them to react, and a petulant one.

18:08 / 02.03.06

Well, in effect both could be quite rude, couldn't they? Although there's always the option of bringing a sub-conversation within a thread to a close with a definite statement and then putting the person on ignore for the duration of the discussion so as not to be further enraged/upset/annoyed by their views.

Less searchable M0rd4nt

18:15 / 02.03.06

There have been one or two posters--not many, but they do crop up, especially in the Temple--who are so all around worthless that just seeing their username can get me wound up after a while. They are rare and tend to end up getting banned, though.

Smoothly, no, I don't have you on ignore. I kind of smart under the implication that I plonk people if they happen to disagree with me. (I don't think I've employed the Ignore button yet this year, in fact.)

fred: Of course I don't tell people that I'm ignoring them. What Earthly purpose would that serve?

Less searchable M0rd4nt

18:19 / 02.03.06

Which brings me onto the next thing, which is that it seems like a bit of a cunt's trick to put someone on Ignore without letting them know. I kinda think that members have a responsibility to reply to direct questions in discussions. I'd only be further irritated if I got into an argument with someone and they just started to ignore everything I said

Uh, what? You'd need an immediate, instant response to any direct question? You couldn't possibly wait a few hours, say?

18:46 / 02.03.06

It sounds like Ignoring would have to be a very pre-emptive act.

Well, pre-emptive after some experience. I see it as an option to avoid (for a while) posters who have had, in the past, a negative impact on my experience here. So it's a decision best made prior to engaging Poster X. I would hope that no one here is setting phasers to Ignore in the middle of a fight (and from what I can tell, no one is). I'm fairly certain everyone agrees that'd be pretty bad form.

And yeah, Smoothly, you can Ignore and unIgnore pretty much at will.

Tryphena Absent

18:52 / 02.03.06

I tried to use the ignore button a couple of times about 3 years ago. Everytime I saw the username of the person I was ignoring I took them off ignore because I wanted to know what they'd written. Basically the ignore button is useless for me- I do know someone who uses it to great effect though, so it's clearly a personal thing.

19:31 / 02.03.06

Smoothly, no, I don't have you on ignore. I kind of smart under the implication that I plonk people if they happen to disagree with me

Sorry, MC, I meant that to sound more rhetorical. I just wanted to underline my point about it being pre-emptive - that you'd have to put someone on Ignore when you thought they might be about to wind you up. It was a flourish, sorry.

Also, I'm probably over-projecting my own Barbelith experience, which doesn't include forums where I understand the majority of the truly enraging behaviour takes place (Temple and Comics if the Policy is anything to go by).

Uh, what? You'd need an immediate, instant response to any direct question? You couldn't possibly wait a few hours, say

Well, if I could see someone continuing to post in a thread but apparently ignoring me, I think it would wind me up a bit. I wouldn't be to know that they would ever respond to me.

Everytime I saw the username of the person I was ignoring I took them off ignore because I wanted to know what they'd written.

That's what I expect it would be like for me. But my impression (an impression what MC seemed to confirm - just seeing their username can get me wound up after a while) was that the Ignore function hid the entire post, not just the main text. How does it work exactly?

Tryphena Absent

19:38 / 02.03.06

It blocks out the post but not the username I think. Why don't you try it randomly... put me on ignore and view this thread.

Tryphena Absent

19:40 / 02.03.06

It tells you, where their text would usually be that you have them on ignore. You can click on a link in the post that says stop ignoring this user.

19:42 / 02.03.06

cunt's trick

herrmm?

20:17 / 02.03.06

Yeah, sorry about that.

Whisky Priestess

13:30 / 03.03.06

Smoothly - I don't think I was a mod at the time (I can't remember, it was a while ago). Plus the person was a very old and respected member of the board, not a troll or anything. Just ANNOYING.