Dear Rob...- Page 3

[VeraCharles3]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:05pm

Thank you Jordan for instigating this and thank you Rob for listening and putting a solution into action.
I do think threads may get a little confusing if we ignore certain people but I'd rather have a confusing thread than a hate filled one.

[tazber]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:07pm

LOL gimmick!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:10pm

"Wouldn't that make threads confusing?"

The ignore button did make threads confusing. That was one of the things I didn't love about it. All of a sudden somebody you knew and loved would post something that didn't make any sense and you'd get that feeling you missed a chapter because you had. I would then turn the ignore button off and find out that what the person I knew and loved had written was suddenly hilarious in the context of the troll post by the person I had ignored.

So you lose a little something when you use the ignore button and the more you use it to shut people out of your threads because you can not bear to read one more of their baiting posts, the more disjointed your experience becomes.

[suestorm]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:14pm

Rob your boards are awesome. its great that everyone is created equal no matter how long they have been a part of them, or their gender, sexuality and political leanings.

censorship is dangerous, so maybe a LIKE/DISLIKE function would go along way in voicing displeasure with a comment, but keeping the exchange of ideas open.

I do wish you would look into all the vile misogynist insults being thrown around here. the guidelines do mention this but nothing ever seems to be done.

And please look into the BULLYING.

Thank you.

Updated On: 8/21/13 at 02:14 PM

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:18pm

I'm all for maximal expression on this site with a light hand from the moderators. But allowing me to have the choice whether to block someone would be very, VERY much appreciated.

I generally do a good job just ignoring people. But when something is so disruptive that Reg and Carlos and others contemplate leaving this rag-tag community, then it needs to be addressed. And I'm glad that's happening.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:18pm

A private business that runs a message board is not a democracy. Eliminating trolls in no way qualifies as "censorship" though it is a favorite accusation hurled by trolls.

Anyone with any experience here can look around and see people who post peacefully and respectfully and like and love each other across and between all political stances, ages, genders and sexual orientations.

Updated On: 8/21/13 at 02:18 PM

[suestorm]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:21pm

i wish that is true Namo, but just look at any thread where GOD, The Pope, Russia to name some are mentioned.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:22pm

As Torrance Shipman once said, 'This is not a democracy, it's a cheerocracy.'

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:23pm

Amen, Namo. Well put.

I was waiting for the storm to brew and stew over this and here he/she is. Can't imagine what the troll will do once this feature is reimplemented.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:25pm

Reinstate the ignore feature and we'll see how it pans out. I suspect things will quickly return to normal.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:29pm

I can't wait to ignore Sue!!!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:30pm

"GOD, The Pope, Russia to name some are mentioned."

Well, you're wrong, and I hope after I post this most recent example that disproves your assertion that you will leave here because even those examples you just posted are trolling:

Recently, a poster from long ago returned after an absence. She is BELOVED here. When last she posted she had accepted a teaching position at a Christian grade school and had had her first child. People who knew her then greeted her warmly and were very excited to have her back here. EVERY REGULAR POSTER HERE LOVES HER. She proudly describes trying to live her Christian life. EVERYBODY ADORES HER.

The fact that you have posted this list does not reflect the reality of how people are treated here but IS an example of you trolling, suestorm. Using the actual definition of trolling.

[artscallion]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:31pm

yes, PLEASE reinstate the ignore feature. The infestation here is out of control. But they're walking that fine line where they never cross into rule breaking, but are a constant disruption. It's maddening!

[VeraCharles3]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:32pm

Namo - what a nice thing to say

[Wildcard]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:33pm

Individual users choosing whom to ignore is not censorship. It is a personal choice we are all entitled to and is no different from blocking certain TV shows from your own home.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:34pm

"Sometimes one person's troll is another person's long-time online adversary..

Fair enough, but it isn't right for even a longtime poster to enter a thread for no other reason than to attack another poster (which at least one poster in this thread does often).

IMO, any personal attacks, especially those of a violent nature or involving name-calling, ought never be tolerated - so I do think spamming, baiting, and personal attacks should be included as against your rules. I also think that there at least be should be suspensions for those who repeatedly break the rules.

You can include me in those who have used this board less and less because of trolls and personal attacks from a few of the older posters. I agree the ignore button should return. It will remove temptation from those who cannot help themselves from responding to trolls.

Much thanks for the board itself and for publicly addressing this issue.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:35pm

Huge eye roll...

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:37pm

Well said, Namo.

Conversely, there are several posters here with whom I disagree profoundly, including on matters of politics and of faith. Sometimes we have heated exchanges. But they're not trolls. I'd argue they're often wrong, sometimes plain ol' stupid, but not trolls.

Everyone knows the difference. Except, apparently, the actual trolls.

[suestorm]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:39pm

""Sometimes one person's troll is another person's long-time online adversary.. Fair enough, but it isn't right for even a longtime poster to enter a thread for no other reason than to attack another poster (which at least one poster in this thread does often). ""


Agreed Ghostlight. thank you for having the courage to say that.

Namo,Im glad you gave that poster respect, but check out all the other posts,or Pope mentions, not to mention religion in general and the catholic church. just go to the posts where the previous Pope retired, and the post about Benedict making that announcement about homosexuality not being a sin. and how the Pope was responsible for Aids spreading, and all the comments about the Pope molesting children.

Updated On: 8/21/13 at 02:39 PM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:45pm

I enjoy a spirited debate, Reginald, but to post for no other reason than to insult adds nothing to the board. I agree, however, that I would not call them trolls.

I also agree with Namo, especially this:

"A private business that runs a message board is not a democracy. Eliminating trolls in no way qualifies as "censorship" "

No one has a right to the board. We are here because Rob has provided it to us.

Updated On: 8/21/13 at 02:45 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:45pm

So proof that your assertion is wrong does nothing to change your trolling. See? See why you are a troll? Calling you out on your trolling is not bullying. It's calling you out for being the troll that you are. When you exasperatingly continue your trolling after being called out on your trolling, people may have resorted to doing ANYTHING THEY CAN to get you to leave with your trollish ways.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:48pm

I have no doubt posters will use the block feature. But as Namo said, I caution everyone to use it sparingly. The more people you block, the more you alienate yourself from a normal thread "conversation."

Still, the trolls will be "gone" in a matter of seconds after it happens.

The thing about trolls is that's their only reason for being here. They don't join in discussions with normal (even contradictory) comments, because they have nothing to contribute other than stirring the pot and agitating others so the attention switches to them. They're starved for attention. And even negative attention is better than none (to them).

If you take that way, they will go away. They'll be bored that it's "not about them."

That spells death to a troll.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:48pm

Don't let derailment of the topic at hand continue.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:50pm

"I caution everyone to use it sparingly."

Which is probably why the sense behind the scenes here is that people didn't use it very much.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 8/21/13 at 2:51pm

"Don't let derailment of the topic at hand continue."

^ Agreed, Kad. I've said it before. Let's pretend the block feature exists until it's reinstated.



Updated On: 8/21/13 at 02:51 PM