[POLL] Abolish the "ignore" function.

[MacCruiskeen]

The "ignore" function undermines the very idea of a discussion board.

It encourages dishonesty.

It eases the task of trolls and spooks.

It rewards cowardice and evasiveness.

It is an open invitation to abuse this General Discussion board as a private Data Dump -- and this despite the fact that Jeff and Drew took the time and trouble to set up an actual Data Dump to avoid precisely this problem.

It has allowed one disingenous and solipsistic poster in particular to take giant dumps all over RI General Discussion for years, to the disgust of nearly everyone, yet nothing is ever done about it. Many valued and honest posters have just given up and left because of this.

The "ignore" function has been an unmitigated disaster for this discussion board. It should be abolished.

[brekin]

The "ignore" function undermines the very idea of a discussion board.
It encourages dishonesty.
It eases the task of trolls and spooks.
It rewards cowardice and evasiveness.
It is an open invitation to abuse this General Discussion board as a private Data Dump -- and this despite the fact that Jeff and Drew took the time and trouble to set up an actual Data Dump to avoid precisely this problem.
It has allowed one disingenous and solipsistic poster in particular to take giant dumps all over RI General Discussion for years, to the disgust of nearly everyone, yet nothing is ever done about it. Many valued and honest posters have just given up and left because of this.
The "ignore" function has been an umitigated disaster for this discussion board. It should be abolished.

Let me get this straight.
You have a problem with "one disingenous [sic] and solipsistic poster in particular".
So you want to get rid of the "ignore" function.
When you could use the "ignore" function to solve your problem with the one poster you have an issue with?
Truly an example of "the problem is the solution".

[Heaven Swan]

Exactly. I honestly don't get it.

Could someone please explain the 'ignore' function, how it is used and why it is (or isn't) percieved as a problem
I'm a bit late to the game and wouldn't know what I'm voting for or against.

Thanks!

[norton ash]

Yeah, I don't use it. Some folks might feel that they need to, so if they want it... they can have it. I just skim and scroll predictable pasta.

[82_28]

I think it is insulting and I would never use it. This place pretty much polices itself. But ignore is dumb. Not that its implementation was a dumb idea. Back before Tumbleweed Town there were a ton of kooks here. I think they have been mostly sifted out due to pure attrition.

[Cordelia]

I've ignored the ignore function so am ignorant about whether or not its useful.

[MacCruiskeen]

Let me get this straight.
You have a problem with "one disingenous [sic] and solipsistic poster in particular".
So you want to get rid of the "ignore" function.
When you could use the "ignore" function to solve your problem with the one poster you have an issue with?
Truly an example of "the problem is the solution".

You haven't got it straight.

Once more, slowly: A discussion in which the participants are allowed and encouraged to ignore each other is not merely a worthless discussion; it is not a discussion at all.


Not a discussion.

So you want to get rid of the "ignore" function.
When you could use the "ignore" function to solve your problem with the one poster you have an issue with?

No, that wouldn't solve it at all, obviously. My problem with that poster (and it is most certainly not mine alone) is that he abuses this Discussion Board as his own private Data Dump, thereby spoiling the Discussion Board. If I and a hundred other posters were to ignore the fact that he is abusing the board, that would do precisely nothing to alter the fact that he is abusing the board and thereby spoiling it. Just as choosing to ignore child abuse does precisely nothing to solve the problem of child abuse. Just as ignoring flytipping does nothing to discourage flytipping. On the contrary.

[Iamwhomiam]

Hee hee! Cordelia, you took the words right outa my mouth!

FFS, people need a button to press in order to consciously ignore others?

Talk about mental slavery!

[Iamwhomiam]

I understand you're frustrated Mac, but would it be any different if they were separate posts from many members? I really see more complaints from you about one member's postings than I do of efforts from you to engage in discussing the topic posted. If RI had a great number of active posters the 'problem' of too much information to follow would be the same but with no individual to blame.

I've come to accept frumenschen's posting style myself.

[MacCruiskeen]

It's not fruhmenschen I'm talking about. Fruhmenschen is harmless by comparison, and he did at least take most of his dumps to the actual Data Dump, eventually.

I really see more complaints from you about one member's postings than I do of efforts from you to engage in discussing the topic posted.

Precisely what would be the point of me "making an effort to engage in discussing the topic posted", when the disingenuous solipsist who started the topic has placed me -- and almost every other poster on this (former) Discussion Board -- "on ignore"?

[Iamwhomiam]

Oh, I see. a different problem. Being ignored.

Hell, you'll get used to it, I assure you.

I was joking about fru being in your crosshairs.

Perhaps you might try using the ignore button to block that person's postings from your view. Perhaps that will remedy your issue?

[MacCruiskeen]

Perhaps you might try using the ignore button to block that person's postings from your view. Perhaps that will remedy your issue?

*Sigh* Is this Groundhog Day? See my reply to brekin, above. *Sigh* Is this Groundhog Day? See my reply to brekin, above. *Sigh* Is this

[Iamwhomiam]

Well, you could try the ignore button.

[Iamwhomiam]

Seriously, did you consider my question? Asking you what the difference would be if the volume of information posted came from one or fifty?

I'd really like you to answer this.

No snark, just your honest answer.

[MacCruiskeen]

IAWIA, I'm not sure what point you're making. If 50 posters were to abuse both the rules and the spirit of this Discussion Board as badly as Poster X (let's call him Albanian Delusion) does, then yes, the board would be even less fit for purpose than it is. If 50 posters rather than just one poster were to have everyone else "on ignore", then that would make discussion approximately 50x less likely. But so what? Practically all other posters here have much better manners than he has, so I don't see why you're forcing me to spell out this these hypothetical scenarios so pedantically.

It does function as a reductio ad absurdum, though. Imagine what this place would be like if every RI member carried on the way he does.


https://justmerveilleux.wordpress.com/2 ... levisions/

If I want to subject myself to a torrent of random bullshit with no opportunity to talk back to it, then I'll just buy a dozen TV sets and take out a cable subscription.