Atheists & Agnostics
Related: About this forumHow do you feel about using ignore? I'm really contemplating it
I've been on DU since October, 2001. In that time, I have only ever put one person on ignore and it was done accidentally, and didn't even realize I had them on ignore until I was randomly going through settings and saw it. Thankfully, it was a one-post poster so I really wasn't missing out on much.
But I know there is a growing number of you filthy heathens that use ignore liberally (heh), and I wonder how you feel about it if you do use it, and for those miserable sinners that don't, what are your thoughts?
In theory, I feel that if I can't "ignore" someone in real life, then I shouldn't have the option to online. But there are just some people who should change their user name to "Deflect," because that's all they do. Regardless of the topic, their only purpose is to deflect the conversation from the point at hand to whatever bullshit minutiae they want to use to derail the conversation. It works staggeringly well, and I fall for it every time.
Until the other night, when I didn't. I saw the poster responded and I realized "you know, I really don't give a fuck what they have to say to me." So I only clicked on "my posts" to make the yellow go away, and I haven't read their response because, honestly, I really don't give a fuck what they have to say.
As it stands, i think I'm the only AA poster who DOESN'T have this poster on ignore, so I'm interested to hear your thoughts on the matter. Should I use it, and avail myself from the headache? Should I not, because of that whole "know thy enemies"?
I'm quite torn. I think my DU experience would be much more enjoyable. But at the same time, I have a problem with allowing bigots get away with their bigotry because everyone who would oppose it has that person on ignore.
Oh, and if you're interested in that facebook group, where this conversation can be held on a *completely* different and more open level, please PM me. We have a great group of assholes posting there on a regular basis, saying all kinds of things that can't be alerted on!
Tobin S.
(10,418 posts)For one thing, I don't usually get too controversial on here so I haven't really made any enemies that I'm aware of. Also, I haven't seen anything here that's really pissed off enough to warrant ignoring the poster.
If I got into this place more and was more confrontational, I can see myself probably using the ignore feature at some point.
Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)and it was an experiment instead of my wanting that person on Ignore. I put MFM on Ignore just to see how it all worked for one day. To be honest, there were a lot that I missed because of it. Not only do you not see their post, but you will not see any posts after that one either.
So let's say there is a shitfest going on and that person stated it....you won't even know there is a shitfest. Well, maybe I get a sick enjoyment out of watching train wrecks, or maybe I just don't want to be the only one who doesn't know what is going on, but I have yet to use Ignore again.....although I was so so close with a poster who finally got banned, but that was because he had nothing to say that ever made any sense, not because he pissed me off.
Right now, I do use my own version of Ignore, which is to see a name and just move on without reading it---but I have the option of checking the post out if I see enough controversy.
Then again, I don't often go to that other forum, so that is another reason that I don't get my blood pressure too high.
Warpy
(110,900 posts)I use it temporarily during some sort of contretemps that has knees jerking all over the place. Once the tempest has blown itself out, I take them off ignore.
The second one is permanent and exists for people who have gone out of their way to be unpleasant. I have to be really certain I'll never miss the poster when I use this one.
Ignore is one of the best things here. The site is nicer without word jumpers and self righteous religious police.
In the meanwhile, I seem to have cured my hypertension. I think judicious use of the ignore feature has been a contributor.
JoeyT
(6,785 posts)not so much because I'm opposed to it as because I misplaced my box of fucks to give a long time ago and can't really be bothered to look for it. (I'm real fun to try to manage at work.)
If someone were bothering me to the point they were making things less enjoyable, I'd definitely put them on ignore.
frogmarch
(12,145 posts)I've been tempted a time or two. What always stops me is my fear of missing something.
valerief
(53,235 posts)Other times, I couldn't be bothered. About once a year or so, I purge the Ignores.
And start all over again.
Promethean
(468 posts)It is easy to tell who these people are. They can't keep it from slipping a bit in many of their posts.
LostOne4Ever
(9,267 posts)DU is about entertainment. Some post here to vent, others for news, others cause they like to argue. But no matter the reason its because posting here is pleasurable on some level or another.
There is no reason to allow someone to diminish that if you don't have too.
And they have drinks too! Mmmmm Secular Margaritaville!!!
[center] [/center]
OffWithTheirHeads
(10,337 posts)Some folks are just assholes
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)But I can understand if some folks decide to use it. Everyone has their limits, even if it's only on a temporary basis.
Lordquinton
(7,886 posts)If someone is bothering me I use my years of internetting skill to just remove them from my reality.
JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)None from religion but I don't go there often. I've got a few of the more grating attention whores down in that black hole.
Julie
skepticscott
(13,029 posts)But finally decided it was worth it in the case of one really useless poster who does nothing but waste bandwidth. Haven't missed them a bit. And the couple of times I've seen a lot of missing stuff in a thread and got curious about what was there, taking them off ignore to check has been a waste of time. They're still a massive asshole.
Bottom line...no one anonymous person in one room on one internet site should make that big a difference in the totality of your life, one way or the other.
defacto7
(13,485 posts)Hellooooo? Hey! Anyone out there? HELLOOOOO?
I guess no one can hear me. On DU no one can hear you scream....
... hello???
JimDandy
(7,318 posts)defacto7
(13,485 posts)How_ Do_ You_ Do_ Sir_!
note to self -> maybe it's just a bot or something....
Thank_ You_ For_ The_ Reply_ To_ My_ Comment_... Sir_.... And thank you for not ignoring me.
note to self -> maybe I said too much... maybe I shouldn't have said that.
Never_ Mind_ About_ The_ Ignore_ Comment_. I_ Was_ Just_ Joking_..JKJK... LOL.. HA.
----
Yeah... Ignore is the friend of many! I don't use it much myself anymore.
Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)forum a completely different experience.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,149 posts)was so that I could put them on ignore. The combination of never seeing any of the posts they make, or the shit they stir up, and not feeling I have to check the contentious threads in the group to see how far people are going in insulting each other, has made that group so much better for me.
There are various people with whom I frequently disagree in that group; but it's when they cross the line into arguing in bad faith (so to speak) that I think ignoring them is worth it. When they are people that are, in your personal opinion, trolls, rather than people who haven't thought things through.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)That's precisely why that individual has made it onto so many ignore lists. It's one thing when one is committed to a viewpoint and defending it endlessly (if erroneously) but when every single discussion with an individual ends up in the muck, with him smiling because that's just what he wanted, there's no freaking point. Don't give the trolls the satisfaction of pissing you off - they LOVE the attention.
edhopper
(33,188 posts)I can think of a few that would fit your description.
MadrasT
(7,237 posts)For cluttering up GD with too many OPs I think are stupid.
I do, however, use this technique liberally:
Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)"That poster" fits the bill.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)At the very least, it makes it too hard to cite previous posts from certain parties. (for good and for evil)
trotsky
(49,533 posts)Last edited Mon Jun 2, 2014, 01:15 PM - Edit history (1)
It's been a wonderful year and a half not seeing that person's jerkwaddery - and clearly, he hasn't changed a damn thing based on what I'm hearing from you.
There are people in there who drive me batty, no question. BUT there is just the one who is just a complete asshole stuck with a third-grade "I know you are but what am I" mentality.
Totally worth it.
progressoid
(49,825 posts)It's helped reduce my stress level! I may clean it out later, but I'm going to give it a little more time.
jaded_old_cynic
(190 posts)As can be seen from my low post count, I don't say a lot here. Even though I've been a member since 2002. Usually, I just like to catch up on the latest news and read the threads, so I don't normally discuss much unless I feel I have something to contribute to the dialogue. That being said, since I do read a lot of the threads, I can understand the desire to click the ignore button, as some posters (who shall remain nameless) can be nigh on to exasperating at times with their passive aggressive B.S. and their gold medal mental gymnastics. However, color me silly, but I believe that every person has something useful to say, and although I may have a long wait (if ever) to hear anything useful from those people I try to remain hopeful.
Hope springs eternal.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)And truth be told, I gave him about a dozen more chances to clean up his act than he deserved.
But when even the group's scolder-in-chief not only refrains from saying ONE THING against his abusive, juvenile behavior, but fucking encourages it by calling his infantile comebacks "snappy," well that's just too much. I made one last desperate attempt to clear the air and turn a new page, but he refused. Been on my ignore list ever since.
LostOne4Ever
(9,267 posts)But when it comes to their own behavior they can be anything but that.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)It's about not criticizing religion or religious belief. Well at least SOME religion or beliefs. I've seen the most prominent tone trolls go after some faiths with reckless abandon - mocking creationism, Scientology, Mormonism, etc. That's the thing that never seems to register - if they're going to declare faith and beliefs special, then they're ALL special. They don't get to declare that these deserve special treatment, and those don't.
jaded_old_cynic
(190 posts)You have a much more extensive post count than mine, so you are involved in a lot more conversations than I. So if I participated as frequently as you do, I probably would be a lot more inclined to use the ignore feature.
trotsky
(49,533 posts):-D
Iggo
(47,486 posts)Last edited Mon Jun 2, 2014, 06:29 PM - Edit history (1)
There's nothing remotely honorable about putting up with some of these people's bullshit.
Ignore. Use it. Love it.
AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)Why let the computer do it for you?
Rainforestgoddess
(436 posts)But none from religion.
Basically, every time there's a shooting, and the gungeon trolls come out of the woodwork, I start clicking ignore. As a Canadian, I don't understand the gun masturbation that happens "down thar", and it makes me ill when I read it.
Other posters might anger me, but it's not until you trigger revulsion that I hit ignore.
Gore1FL
(21,029 posts)I have in the past.
kairos12
(12,817 posts)deucemagnet
(4,549 posts)I'd have better luck logging on to Call of Duty and trying to engage the first adolescent who says he fucked my mom last night in a discussion about religion. That's when it's time to use the ignore function.
FiveGoodMen
(20,018 posts)Rob H.
(5,340 posts)and when we moved to DU3 I cleared my Ignore list, thinking that maybe, y'know, I might have been overreacting. Nope. Some of the same people that were on it then wound up back on it, and for the same reasons. I just ask myself, "Would I put up with someone IRL who's a colossal knob as often as this person is?" and if the answer's "No," on the list they go. Oddly, a lot of the people I put on Ignore back then have since been PPRed.
It makes DU a much more pleasant experience overall, imo.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)Some notables who are no longer with us yet made it to my ignore list easily:
papau
humblebum
LARED
And the weird guy who always had his line about beer money.
Jokerman
(3,517 posts)I used to be able to see all the posts in a thread with just the person on ignore hidden. I could often glean by the replies who the ignored person was and if there was any reason to see their post. To be honest, I enjoyed seeing the replies to someone I ignored. It was a kind of validation of my decision to use ignore. If it looked juicy enough I would logout of DU, hit the back button and read the ignored posts.
Now entire sub threads are just gone because of one poster. Even the number of replies hides the ignored user and any one else who engages them. I don't even know the conversation existed.
On DU2 I didn't feel like I was missing anything but the jerks but on DU3 I miss the jerks and the rational people calling them on their bullshit.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)Great at how well it makes the jerk invisible, not so great that it hides everyone else smacking them down.
Rob H.
(5,340 posts)I had forgotten that on DU2 on the ignored poster's posts were hidden and responses to him/her weren't. I kind of miss that, now that you mention it.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)You could usually figure out whose post had been hidden by the responses. Don't think it's right to hide posts of folks who have done nothing wrong.
greendog
(3,127 posts)At least 45 of them are gun nuts.
Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)"best decision ever".
Goblinmonger
(22,340 posts)I was the one pulling nonsense in the host forum.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)kdmorris
(5,649 posts)You just suck.
LostOne4Ever
(9,267 posts)trotsky
(49,533 posts)OK to lock? OK.
But the usual suspects just can't keep themselves from bringing their stinky garbage wherever they go.
Iggo
(47,486 posts)Count me out.
(I mean, even if I was still a contributor, you could still count me out...lol.)
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)Transparency and all.
Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)Lets just say that the person of interest butted in for the sole purpose of seeing if he could start some shit.
And that is all he does, which is fine, except that it was a forum where we have been explicitly asked to not do that.
edhopper
(33,188 posts)I just don't respond to many stupid posts.
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)that way when ignored showed up in my posts I knew who it was.
When someone new had to be added I replaced the original one.
Then I added someone for spamming and had two for a bit.
Then recently I said fuck it and jumped to 50+
Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)That one's depraved defense of tossing dead babies in unmarked graves has succeeded in convincing me that it has no agenda other than to be an annoying troll.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)Goblinmonger
(22,340 posts)OK, I can. But seriously, can't one fucking believer in there just say how much bullshit that thread it? It is so damned obvious what is going on and not a word from one of them.
It is fucking sickening.
Edited to add: Just because I am pretty confidant this will get alerted by our nannies, if you are thinking of hiding this or you want a little context, go to this thread and see what we are talking about. The extreme lengths that are being reached in order to try and deflect any blame from the RCC in the death of these babies is what is being discussed here.
progressoid
(49,825 posts)That obtuse thread reminds me why I don't visit that forum anymore.
skepticscott
(13,029 posts)Both believer and atheist. They would not appear to agree with or support a member of the enemy clan or upbraid one of their own, no matter how wrong they were. The ones who jump in to offer direct support are worse than the ones who sit by and say nothing, despite all of their preaching, but not by much.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)Look at the nonsense and hatred that was spewed by banned users humblebum or LARED. Both had received coveted "great post!" awards from the Lords of Civility. Both were finally exposed as bigoted homophobes.
Because what really matters is never yielding an inch to atheists who claim that oh, maybe just SOMETIMES, religion is at least partly to blame for something.
skepticscott
(13,029 posts)are now being diagnosed as "crazies" by another High Priestess of Intellectual Puffery and Apologetics. With the full approval of their resident Psychology Scold.
Heddi
(18,312 posts)I haven't actually used the ignore button, but I'm VIRTUALLY IGNORING people that annoy me. Meaning, I will respond to posts of theirs, usually OP's, but I don't respond to THEIR response. It's awesome. And it drives them batty! I can see the frothing lips from here. Plus, the use of the term VIRTUAL makes me feel like it's 1986 all over again, and that we live with a dream and a promise of a future filled with Coke-a-cola swatch watches that will never go out of fashion and Max Headroom on TV forever. Aahh. Golden years "whop whop whop"
Goblinmonger
(22,340 posts)Mostly because of a yours and a few other posts in here. I haven't responded to any of them. I may take the next step in responding to the threads but not their responses. If that makes DU suck, then it's back on ignore and, as several have said in here, that ignore list will be longer than before I emptied it due to some of the latest idiocy.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)I added someone to my list today that I should have done a long time ago.
Just couldn't take it anymore.
Lordquinton
(7,886 posts)You get an ignore, and you get an ignore, and you get an ignore! Everybody gets an ignore!
Perfect.
Goblinmonger
(22,340 posts)Getting rid of it was an experiment gone bad. It will be larger this time. If not that, then just trash the Religion room.
mr blur
(7,753 posts)Well, that or take off and nuke the group from orbit.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)The "cool kids" are allowed to mock religious beliefs, make homophobic comments, routinely insult and bash, but it's all OK. Besides, any shit they fling at us, we *deserve*.
And there are some folks in a position to actually do something about it, who refuse out of personal loyalty. That's so unbelievably wrong - but at least it does show any statement they make about wanting to reduce the fighting is a big fat lie.
edhopper
(33,188 posts)Game over!
deucemagnet
(4,549 posts)I enjoy reading the posts that A&A folks make in other forums, and my ignore list interfered with that. Besides, I've so completely lost respect for those that I've had on ignore that what they say really doesn't matter anymore.
The poster remaining on my ignore list is there for an almost complete lack of grammar and punctuation. There are still some things that I can't bear to look at.
LostOne4Ever
(9,267 posts)enki23
(7,786 posts)Last edited Thu Jul 17, 2014, 05:38 PM - Edit history (1)
I've had to use it a couple times. Usually years would go by since I checked, and typically almost everyone on my ignore list had been banned by the time I checked back. I figure... that's empirical evidence of some sort. If the model predicts what it's supposed to predict, you must have gotten something right, even if you don't know what it is.
But that's not your issue. I'm torn sometimes too, so I use it sparingly. I'm currently ignoring a grand total of one person, added only recently, for my sanity sake. I'm not usually overprotective of my sanity, sadly, but I do have my limits. I'm not particularly active here, but I seem to be just active enough to need that little bit of a sanity check. Just one.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,149 posts)It's a fairly impressive prediction rate. One might almost call them psychic ...
kdmorris
(5,649 posts)because I was spending too much time angry at him. It's just not worth it. He's just not worth it.
I had him on ignore for a while because I let him piss me off enough to get a post hidden. Then, after my sons were born, I took him back off because I figured it was just not that big a deal... until day before yesterday. I know it's MY failing. I LET him get under my skin (he's probably laughing gleefully right now), but if I can't control my anger, he needs to be invisible to me.
I can't wander around being angry with 2 1 year olds scampering everywhere.
Other than him, I don't have anyone on full ignore. I do have a few people on mail block and a whole LOT Of people on my jury blacklist.
edhopper
(33,188 posts)I tried to be reasonable, but realize you can't be with some people.
I don't have an ignore list, just won't respond anymore.
intaglio
(8,170 posts)I have only used such things on other sites where I was being personally trolled.