I'm all for free speech... but I'm also all for the ability to ignore...
Posted by Ryan McAdams on Fri, 05/23/2008 - 01:11 in I'm just going to be bluntly honest... I am so sick and tired of reading posts by infowars.com and rea1001 that I would gladly pay money for the ability to ignore them...
To each his own as far as posting goes... they should be able to post this stuff as long as they don't violate the site's terms of service but I would really love a way to ignore these guys.
Ryan
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it's really not though, what I'm going for is an intelligent conversation
I tried a couple times in the beginning (of BTM) and now I'm trying again
If you want to ignore users via personal filter or whatever go for it -- it's not my place to say either way
I do think my solution is viable -- because it's based on what has already been done here in the forums --- for example -- if someone doesn't want to read about Ron Paul all they have to do is avoid clicking on the Ron Paul forums link rather than sifting through many titles about Ron Paul
This would work especially well if you are concerned with the type of content being posted
However, you have just made it clear that you would like to ignore certain individuals - so filtering them out specifically would obviously get the job done
I thought you were concerned with content which is what my solution(actually Shelley's I think) adresses
perhaps what led me to think this- is that when you said "infowars.com" I thought you meant the website though I see you are referring to an individual
it -- call it 9/11 related ,,, World Government related , etc. Then it wouldn't fill up as much space on the home page and you could decide whether or not to click on the single category or ignore it completely -- easier then , say , ignoring 10 articles of similiar content
*sigh*
Do you really think that you're solution is viable? I mean come on...
Ignoring another user is not a bad thing. I dont want to ignore specific articles I want to ignore PEOPLE.
You can have the last word... that's what you're obviously going for.
Regards,
Ryan McAdams
as to how you might achieve this
did you read that? Care to consider -- I see it as a solution to the problem you describe
If there was a category on the home page for conspiracy theory, then only one title could fill that category at a time
Just like the Forums were catagorized the front page coud be categorized, there could be one space for conspriacy, one space for Ron Paul, one space for etc. etc.
That way you'd never have to look at more than one title of a post involving conspiracy theory
My comment on what I see as a growing trend in media wasn't addressed to you personally
It's an idea that I've already considered which you're post merely reminded me of
The point is some people dont believe this to be a conspiracy theory.. which again is their prerogative... I personally don't feel like reading it but having them have to say "this is a conspiracy theory" is not going to work... they don't believe it is... they think they are doing the world a service by telling the truth... and who knows maybe they are right... bottom line I dont care to read the content of some of these authors. Not all.
Regards,
Ryan McAdams
to find "niche" markets --- magazines that are made specifically for golf lovers over 60 --- or dirt bike riders between 18 and 35, etc.
I think this is a disturbing trend because it suggests that people are looking to media not to find new ideas, or be challenged, but are instead looking to find people they already agree with.
It seems as though many people have already made up their minds and are looking to surround themselves with the similiar minded rather than encounter oppossing opinions.
I'm not talking about you Ryan specifically so please don't take this personally.
But the reason why I react the way I did to your post is because it reminds me of this trend which I find disturbing.
Practically speaking, I can see how it would be annoying to always come across titles of content you dislike.
But my reaction stems from this, yesterday we banned vulgar language (everyone seemed to agree - myself included) and today we are talking about banning content (or filtering it -- which is just banning it from your personal view)
I think we may have started on a slippery slope already
You're so completely wrong here...
What kills me is that I should have the ability to select the users whom I want to see content from and be contacted by. If I don't want to see content from someone at my PERSONAL user level there's no reason I shouldn't be able to select that... it's a basic function on nearly every site out there that I use.
I'm not asking for BTM to filter anything... I'm not asking them to censor anything... I'm simply asking for the ability to ignore users who I find to be offensive, rude, unreliable or in general unworthy of my time. I know that sounds kind of arrogant but it's something almost every site has. I'm not asking to be able to block the 'featured authors' or anything else.. I simply want the ability to block users who I think post content that is unworthy of my time or I believe to be inaccurate.
I don't see how this is anything like banning content... I'm not asking to surround myself with 'like minded people'.. I'm simply asking to be able to remove the people I personally view as whack jobs who are trying to promote their own site rather than make THIS site as great as it has the potential to be. I don't mind the occasional back and forth over something I don't agree with... debate is what stimulates us to research and educate ourselves... but there's a point at which people are doing nothing but using this as a medium to promote their own agendas and frankly I don't want to have my time wasted with that.
Regards,
Ryan McAdams
An ignore user list would be a useful feature.
I can think of at least one who'd be on mine immediately.
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You can have no dominion greater or less than that over yourself.
-Leonardo da Vinci
recently posted or commented on --
it could be categorized though, so that there is instead a representative post from several different categories
Obviously he is talking about a filter. While it is easy enough to ignore the posts by not reading them, filtering is better. The internet is all about ease and quickness of access, and multitasking. I'd rather filter usernames onto an ignore list so I do not need to sort through their postings to see the ones I will read.
This feature should be easy enough to implement.
I agree With Ryan Mcadams
is banned from this site,
I really don't get your point, and i don't think you need to try to tell me to leave, or get pushy
By the way, I'm the only one who's commented on your post so far -- it may attract some attention for you
Seriously though, it sounds like you're saying you don't like the infowars articles, but are you asking for some kind of filter so you wouldn't have to see them?
I really don't hear you making any explanation as to how you're unable to ignore them. You assert this in your post -- so I think you should be prepared to explain or defend your point of view
No need to start throwing mud the minute someone questions your assertion
I was very excited when I joined. I am a pretty civil person, and even I am getting irritated at the frequency with which responses are no more than "I don't like the way you talked to me."
I feel like I'm in a soap opera script.
That and the fact that half of the people here seem to think freedom is great as long as they are not inconvenienced and can keep expecting to live off other people makes me think I'm in the wrong place.
Sorry to vent on you, but really - do you think you might be able to withstand a strong statement without breaking down and crying...just once?
Tom Mullen
www.tommullen.net
www.myspace.com/skepticsongs
I'm not in the mood for a spat tonight
You tried to draw me out in another forum and here you are again
Don't think I'll take the bait
Even that was an improvement.
Tom Mullen
www.tommullen.net
www.myspace.com/skepticsongs
If I go to the front page and have to see content by infowars.com then I cannot ignore it. I simply want a way so that I don't have to see it. These guys are not adding valuable content in my opinion but that's just my opinion.... I want to be able to ignore them... it's not like I'm asking for a way to vote them off the island survivor style.
Regards,
Ryan McAdams
to ignore them
click on another post --- am I missing something???
Ya obviously you're missing my entire point/desire and now you're verging on that of being an asshole. I said that the feature wouldn't be something for everyone but I know there are other people out there who I talk to on a daily basis who visit this site that are requesting the same thing. How about since you have nothing of value to add to this idea you just click another post.
Regards,
Ryan McAdams
just stop reading them
That's free right?
I want to be able to ignore them so I can see the other content I might miss because of their posts... the recent influx of these 'truth fighters' that post all of these 'truth' articles (which are nothing but regurgitation of posts on their own sites to promote their sites) is really annoying to me (and I understand that's not everyone). It's just me but I dont believe it hurts in any way to have the ability to ignore them.
Regards,
Ryan McAdams