Feature request: Killfile

[rich]

Hi Bubba

If it's not too much trouble, is there any chance we could get an "ignore" option for individual members? There's a few people on here who post pages of junk which I can't be bothered to wade through each time I visit. I see there is at least one mod available for SMF:

http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=185

cheers

 

[susie]

If it's not too much trouble, is there any chance we could get an "ignore" option for individual members?

What an excellent idea!

 

[Hughie]

That's a bit unnecessary, imo.

It's easy to ignore threads that hold no interest just by clicking on them, and then off. They then disappear from the "unread posts" list, until another post is added.

One of the disadvantages of an ignore feature is that it's quite possible an "ignored" contributor may be actually contributing something interesting/useful.

Horses for courses, though.

Wouldn't use it myself, although there's plenty of threads that are dull and boring. Likewise several posters I could easily apply it to!!!!!

 

[bubba]

I agree that the drivel is getting out of hand and i'm getting fed up with it...but i'm not entirely sure this is the answer.

I'm not saying that it's *not* the answer but perhaps the moderation needs to toughen up, i.e. any drivel on any post outside of "idle chat" get's deleted.

I'll think on...

 

[Peter Burgess]

It's possibly a useful function for those who have no 'ignore' function in their own brain. I don't find it too difficult to ignore things I'm not interested in. And I'm sure there are plenty more people out there who don't need it, after all, lots of people ignore me all the time without needing a forum function to help them. 

 

[Peter Burgess]

I agree that the drivel is getting out of hand and i'm getting fed up with it...but i'm not entirely sure this is the answer.

I'm not saying that it's *not* the answer but perhaps the moderation needs to toughen up, i.e. any drivel on any post outside of "idle chat" get's deleted.

I'll think on...

Good luck if you choose to do that. My experience elsewhere is that you can never please everyone, and will end up having nasty arguments about trivia. And before you jump to any conclusions, Dep, it's not what I think you might be thinking. 

 

[susie]

lots of people ignore me all the time without needing a forum function to help them. 

Yes, but it would be so much easier with a forum function.

 

[kay]

I'm not saying that it's *not* the answer but perhaps the moderation needs to toughen up, i.e. any drivel on any post outside of "idle chat" get's deleted.

But please can we still post drivel on 'idle chat'? I know there are plenty of drivel boards out there, but I'm fussy about who I share my drivel with, and cavers in general are a decent set of people.

 

[rich]

It's possibly a useful function for those who have no 'ignore' function in their own brain. I don't find it too difficult to ignore things I'm not interested in. And I'm sure there are plenty more people out there who don't need it, after all, lots of people ignore me all the time without needing a forum function to help them. 

It's a lot easier to ignore someone in the pub. If someone is boring you, you can talk to someone else -- but on a web forum you get their chatter on any topic they feel like no matter what!

On Usenet you'd receive some serious flameage for being offtopic, but I suppose that doesn't work when you're talking to people who might be belaying you next week 

But please can we still post drivel on 'idle chat'? I know there are plenty of drivel boards out there, but I'm fussy about who I share my drivel with, and cavers in general are a decent set of people.

Sounds good to me.

 

[Peter Burgess]

but on a web forum you get their chatter on any topic they feel like no matter what!

Please tell me why you feel obliged to read it?

 

[anfieldman]

I agree that the drivel is getting out of hand and i'm getting fed up with it...but i'm not entirely sure this is the answer.

I'm not saying that it's *not* the answer but perhaps the moderation needs to toughen up, i.e. any drivel on any post outside of "idle chat" get's deleted.

I'll think on...

Yes the drivel is out of hand but as long as it's in 'Idle Chat' I personally don't think it's a problem. As I was explaining to one constant moaner the other night, you can only ask a finite number of sensible questions on this forum. Newcomers to caving will inevitably ask the same questions over again (and be directed to previous threads by those who can't be bothered to answer again).
If you listen to people talking in The Hunters do they talk 'seriously' about caving all the time or does the topic deviate into meaningless drivel?? Like most pubs it goes to drivel in the end, or at least funny drivel. This forum gives me a laugh and brightens my day when I get home pissed off from work.
IMHO the main 'drivel culprits' are usually the ones who contribute the funniest quotes. I think that an ignore button is fine. You can choose to use it or not just as you can choose to read or not.

 

[graham]

If you listen to people talking in The Hunters do they talk 'seriously' about caving all the time or does the topic deviate into meaningless drivel?? Like most pubs it goes to drivel in the end.

Not drivel, but not necessarily caving. I go to the Club pub meet most weeks. I talk club business ('cos I'm the treasurer & some barsteward always wants money) I talk caving, especially when there's been a new discovery or someone's back from a trip abroad. But I also talk about just about everything else under the sun, 'cos these guys are my mates, close friends, some of whom I have known for a hell of a long time.

 

[Peter Burgess]

But I also talk about just about everything else under the sun, 'cos these guys are my mates, close friends, some of whom I have known for a hell of a long time.

Post of the Week (so far). 

 

[graham]

:-[

 

[Dep]

I agree that the drivel is getting out of hand and i'm getting fed up with it...but i'm not entirely sure this is the answer.

I'm not saying that it's *not* the answer but perhaps the moderation needs to toughen up, i.e. any drivel on any post outside of "idle chat" get's deleted.

I'll think on...

Good luck if you choose to do that. My experience elsewhere is that you can never please everyone, and will end up having nasty arguments about trivia. And before you jump to any conclusions, Dep, it's not what I think you might be thinking. 

Not at all, my thoughts and experiences are the same as yours.
Conclusions? My mind doesn't work like that! 

 

[Dep]

Killfile for some users isn't a bad idea in principle, but if over-used it can lead to a very quite forum with just a few very learned (and quite dull) people talking about one subject only, completely unaware that beneath the killfile level (and of couse invisible to them) there is a vibrant community of people all chatting about all sorts of things, having a good time, making friends and just occassinally even talking about caving.

Speaking as someone who has a very clear idea of how much work is involved in adminstering anything like this, it is far easier to learn to skim-read and mentally 'killfile' as Peter suggested near the start of this thread.

 

[Known by None]

Killfile for some users isn't a bad idea in principle, but if over-used it can lead to a very quite forum with just a few very learned (and quite dull) people talking about one subject only, completely unaware that beneath the killfile level (and of couse invisible to them) there is a vibrant community of people all chatting about all sorts of things, having a good time, making friends and just occassinally even talking about caving.

Speaking as someone who has a very clear idea of how much work is involved in adminstering anything like this, it is far easier to learn to skim-read and mentally 'killfile' as Peter suggested near the start of this thread.

Instead of Killfile you could always have an "opt out" policy where anyone offended by humour or banter can go to their own elite section where they can discuss bolting and lunar-influenced rope strains at a sub-atomic level, or kick the ass out of SRT theory to their hearts content, with absolutely no danger of humour rearing its ugly head.
Everyone I have met so far in the caving community has been a mine of information and a good laugh, whilst I appreciate some people can take banter a bit far (I have been guilty of a few karmic follies) Killfiling people because you dislike their posts or don't share a common interest is completely arrogant, skim reading and viewer's discretion works just as well. If you feel that you can't ignore someone without it being absolute and permanent, or at least tolerate them.. then perhaps it isn't them who have the problem.
Deleting posts is all well and good, but what is drivel to one person might be of interest to another... I like the banter and the quips and sometimes even the drivel is funny, if that is abhorrent then there is always www.google.com full of info and god forbid, no humour whatsoever.

Is it a problem that really needs solving? you know... all those bloody cavers having fun?  I hope not, I've seen forums die out because of folks no longer wanting to post due to heavy handed mods and asinine functions. Idle chat and the shit heap seem fine, why the need for change?

 

[Dep]

Killfile for some users isn't a bad idea in principle, but if over-used it can lead to a very quite forum with just a few very learned (and quite dull) people talking about one subject only, completely unaware that beneath the killfile level (and of couse invisible to them) there is a vibrant community of people all chatting about all sorts of things, having a good time, making friends and just occassinally even talking about caving.

Speaking as someone who has a very clear idea of how much work is involved in adminstering anything like this, it is far easier to learn to skim-read and mentally 'killfile' as Peter suggested near the start of this thread.

Instead of Killfile you could always have an "opt out" policy where anyone offended by humour or banter can go to their own elite section where they can discuss bolting and lunar-influenced rope strains at a sub-atomic level, or kick the ass out of SRT theory to their hearts content, with absolutely no danger of humour rearing its ugly head.
Everyone I have met so far in the caving community has been a mine of information and a good laugh, whilst I appreciate some people can take banter a bit far (I have been guilty of a few karmic follies) Killfiling people because you dislike their posts or don't share a common interest is completely arrogant, skim reading and viewer's discretion works just as well. If you feel that you can't ignore someone without it being absolute and permanent, or at least tolerate them.. then perhaps it isn't them who have the problem.
Deleting posts is all well and good, but what is drivel to one person might be of interest to another... I like the banter and the quips and sometimes even the drivel is funny, if that is abhorrent then there is always www.google.com full of info and god forbid, no humour whatsoever.

Is it a problem that really needs solving? you know... all those bloody cavers having fun?  I hope not, I've seen forums die out because of folks no longer wanting to post due to heavy handed mods and asinine functions. Idle chat and the shit heap seem fine, why the need for change?

This seems to be the emerging consensus...

 

[Peter Burgess]

Would it be too outrageous to suggest we have a Sulkers' Corner section, only for serious discussion, where any flicker of a smile is stamped on by some miserable curmudgeonly old sod of a moderator? And leave the rest of the forum for real people to relax with their friends?

 

[Downer]

Is it a problem that really needs solving? you know... all those bloody cavers having fun?  I hope not, I've seen forums die out because of folks no longer wanting to post due to heavy handed mods and asinine functions. Idle chat and the shit heap seem fine, why the need for change?

Ah, I have just posted something much the same.  Anyway, one thing about the S H is that you cannot post to it. When the forum was reinstalled you could start topics there, that was stopped but the ability to post was also lost at the same time. That seems a shame considering that "shit topics" are sent there to die. If no-one can post to them they are already dead and may as well simply be deleted. Unless it's intended to be a Hall of Shame to impress visitors with how we deal with our own miscreants.