Blocking - useful tool or easy way out?

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 10:00am

So I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are about putting another poster on the block list. I currently have no one on my block list although I'd rather not read certain posts because they p*ss me off too much.

If you block someone doesn't that mean you give up or are just helpless and cannot cope with it anymore? Or is it the best invention ever in your opinion and saves you a lot of tears and sweat?

Have you blocked anyone in the past? And did you think it was the right thing to do?

I'd love to read other people's thoughts.

QM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 10:18am

Useful. Life is too short to deal with Internet trolls.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 10:28am

I can understand why someone might block someone else, but I don't see the need. If I did block somebody I would run the chance of missing something.

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 10:39am

Useful. Blocking Tiny-Toon as well as some others has made my life complete.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 10:42am

I have never felt the need to block anybody. With simple self-restraint, I simply scroll over, don't respond to (pm's), or don't engage in conversation with those who are troublesome.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 10:48am

I've never blocked anyone, though I've been sorely tempted at times. I just ignore the annoying posts/posters.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 11:03am

People who use the block feature want to live in their own little world where nobody challenges them to think. If you don't like what someone posts, then just keep scrolling.

Blocking becomes a pain in the neck when someone posts to a thread and another poster who has that person blocked isn't in on the conversation and posts something mindless because they weren't able to read the block posters thread.

Updated On: 1/10/05 at 11:03 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 11:11am

I have happily blocked some of the nastier right-wing posters (like the late UN-lamented RodneyK), who just like to piss off the liberals here. Blocking them just makes BroadwayWorld more pleasant. I know they're there, I know their candidate won, but I'm challenged to think in OTHER places of my life. I come here NOT to think about it.

It always reminds me of this great song from "Dear World":

----

If music is no longer lovely,
If laughter is no longer lilting,
If lovers are no longer loving,
Then I don't want to know.

If summer is no longer carefree,
If children are no longer singing,
If people are no longer happy,
Then I don't want to know.

Let me hide ev'ry "truth" from my eyes
With the back of my hand.
Let me live in a world full of "lies"
With my head in the sand.
For my memories all are exciting.
My memories all are enchanted,
My memories burn in my mead with a steady glow;
So if, my friends,
If love is dead,
I don't want to know.

Updated On: 1/10/05 at 11:11 AM

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 11:18am

Gotham,

If you can explain to me how Tiny's incessant Brooklyn shilling challenges me, I'd be glad to unblock her. (For the record, I've seen, and enjoyed the show)

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 12:53pm

TGIS, I do admit that shilling can be annoying and I can understand why you would block a shill (shiller?). My comment was directed at people who start inflammatory threads, but don't want to listen to the opposite viewpoint.

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 12:57pm

Yeah, I get it. I've blocked people for all sorts of reasons. I blocked Matt_G last week after I got tired of his hysterics.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 1:32pm

Very useful. I was tired of the main board being clogged with "Wicked" posts. My block list contains all those people who started those posts. I haven't had any run ins with these posters per say, but enough is enough.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 1:46pm

The thread called "Dem Propaganda - It's good for a laugh" is a perfect example of a thread worth blocking. It's designed merely to annoy, not to open a discussion.

The words "Dem" (rather than Democrats") and "good for a laugh" in the subject line and the overuse of the expression "ROFL ROFL ROFL" are attempts at condescension and belittling.

The poster of that thread used to be on my BLOCKED USERS list. Other users persuaded me to remove her, saying that she was really a "nice kid," so I did. I am reconsidering that.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 1:57pm

"Other users persuaded me to remove her, saying that she was really a "nice kid," so I did."

First of all, I'm a guy.

Second, that post is not nearly as bad (or as frequent) as your posts doing the exact same thing.

Third, if I annoy you so much, then please make use of the blocked user feature.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 2:00pm

you're a he, goth? well, i demand that you send me back the victoria's secret wear immediately!

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 2:01pm

Now see, I considered blocking Matt_G, TGIS. But then I thought a)the board would pretty much disappear as he posts so much and b) the implosion was just too much fun to witness. I have blocked others though and am not sorry in the least. Some people contribute nothing worth reading to this board.

[timote316]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 2:03pm

I blocked some people shortly after I joined due to their posts annoying me, but I missed too much when people responded to their posts. I unblocked them, and now my list in empty. I don't remember who it was I blocked, but I've gotten used to their sarcasm since (might have been Matt_G or bronx, don't remember). As for others (Tiny comes to mind), I've just learned to keep scrolling when I see their avatar lol

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 2:03pm

I was wondering what pervert sent me ladies lingerie and signed it "Love, Papa".

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 2:07pm

that's papa-pervert to you, mister, now that i know you're not a sister.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 2:21pm

Well, clearly I unblocked the wrong person! I'll find out who the "nice kid" is and unblock her. Ciao, Gotham.

Updated On: 1/10/05 at 02:21 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 2:24pm

"now that i know you're not a sister."

I understand where the confusion came in. On one post, I said that I looked like John Cameron Mitchell. You must have thought I meant when Mitchell was Hedwig.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 2:49pm

Well, John Cameron Mitchell is the spitting image of Rachel Griffiths, so saying you look like him doesn't define your gender either, I would say.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 3:05pm

(feeble attempt at pasting pics gone awry)

Updated On: 1/10/05 at 03:05 PM

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 3:09pm

papa's big talker, but mrs. mambo keeps a spyderco civilian with her at all times lest she find out that papa did more than talk.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 1/10/05 at 3:18pm

oh, I damn sure blocked Rodney K and his various personas. Anyone who crosses the line like that deserves to be blocked. He was violently offensive. I have also blocked certain people for a spell who contribute NOTHING to a political discussion. But, anyone who makes valid contributions to a thread, stays on. I have NEVER blocked papalovesmambo, for example.

I might just try blocking those that start multiple Wicked threads. Just to save on Advil.