Why I want the ability to ignore entire topics

[Forager]

22 minutes ago, mistagoat said:

I don't believe anyone has suggested that this be an automated forum process.

 

Hmm. I read it like he wants to be able to ignore topics as in all threads related to a topic. Something would have to make that determination for each thread.

 

If when y'all say topics that means threads, then yeah you should definitely be able to do that and eliminate it from your feed.

 

 

[mistagoat]

3 minutes ago, Forager said:

 

Hmm. I read it like he wants to be able to ignore topics as in all threads related to a topic. Something would have to make that determination for each thread.

 

If when y'all say topics that means threads, then yeah you should definitely be able to do that and eliminate it from your feed.

 

 

I gotcha, just a crossed wire in the terminology. I envision a button like the follow button inside each thread that the end user would press to hide individual threads from their view.

That's how I interpreted the OPs request though I don't want to put word in anyone's mouth.

[BjorJlen]

   Ok, now this was an interesting topic and thread. I was going to reply to many comments here, via the multi quote option, as it is a cool feature, but I figured it would be a bit too much, so instead here's my two cents on the subject, and various replies...

   First, GM Crumpet, you being British... that actually explains a lot with a few of our discussions about a particular awesome lady we both know. 🙂 You poor man you 😋

   Second, in regards to the feature to "where the user has to select a topic and choose to ignore it" as @biostem said, that too is one option I too could accept. I have most times found that the more options we have, in many situations, the better it is, so I am cool with it. Also, and maybe it's a compromise, is that another section be created in the forums entitled "For Silly's Sake", or "Crumpet's Mad House", or "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World" and all such OP threads be moved there instead by the thread moderators. Of course, this is not a perfect system, because 1) some could be quite upset that their "fun" post was moved there, 2) it would mean more work for the Moderators, and 3) it wouldn't work for those good threads where (objectively) silly fun comments were made. Also, for perceived censorship reasons too obviously. But it is an idea... sorry, just thinking out of the box here (Let me back in!!!).

 

   And third... to the OP, I and others hear you, and it is understandable, but it also reminds me of TV issues as well. Commercials... check. Shows or movies that "some" people object to for a variety of reasons and say "that needs to be taken off the air"... check. Political speeches... check (sorry, I just had to add this one lol). Whenever I hear anyone complain (legitimately or otherwise) about these things, I immediately think of things like "Hit the Mute button", "Just change the channel", "Turn off the TV", or even "Go make a sandwich or take a walk... it is a nice day after all for it".

 

   Like I said, your feelings are valid, as all feeling are (though sources may vary), but some of the replies/suggestions some of the other posters have made here too are equally as valid. Me? When I see such things, I can take it or leave it, as it's no big deal to me personally, as sometimes we all could do with a good laugh (it can be a hard stressful life at times after all), or even go "sigh". It's only when things totally hijack a OP's post that it can really get bad (though not always). And after all, It's like Tom Baker, the 4th Doctor in the first episode he appeared in says, "What's the point in being a adult, if you can't be childish occasionally?".

   But just like everything else in life, balance is important... if only for one's sanity. And too much of anything, including the air we breathe or water we drink, can be bad and sometimes even kill us. Everything in moderation as my Dad used to say decades ago. So yeah, that's my 2 cents here, and hopefully, it wasn't too long and someone got something good out of it. Otherwise, I may have to pay 5 cents instead, and I am not sure if I have that at all... or really, any sense... 😛

   Just be at peace everyone, cause you know what? This too shall pass.. 😉

 

   Love ya all... T

Edited Thursday at 04:45 PM by BjorJlen
Grammer, lovely grammer... sigh

[Sanguinesun]

18 hours ago, srmalloy said:

"Why I'm Leaving", "Why I'm leaving too", "Why I'm Displeasing", "Why I'm heaving", "Why I'm believing", "Why I'm weaving", "Why I'm grieving", "Why I'm Reaving", "Why I'm Leavening", "Why I'm Thieving", "Why I'm Cleaving" -- ignoring individual users is useful when you get someone being an unrelenting jerk, but there should also be a way to ignore entire topics, so that when you decide you've had enough of a particular topic, and don't want to see it any more, you can hide it -- or, as in this case, when you get an ongoing stream of people who think it's cute or funny to post an ever-increasing number of inane rhyming-subject topics that just take up space in a subforum's topic list.

 

Just treating the symptom and not the cause.  But as for avoiding bad topics, its pretty much self will only.

[Rishidian]

6 hours ago, High_Beam said:

 as funny as a laser colonoscopy

Where the sun don't shine?

[Octogoat]

Why I am seething?

[momentarygrace]

 

[srmalloy]

7 hours ago, Forager said:

 

Hmm. I read it like he wants to be able to ignore topics as in all threads related to a topic. Something would have to make that determination for each thread.

The button at the top right for the "General Discussion" subforum is labeled "Create new topic" (emphasis mine), so that was the terminology I used.

[Indystruck]

One of the issues with the internet is people who would never make it as a class clown subjecting you to their standup comedy routine.

[TheMoneyMaker]

2 hours ago, Indystruck said:

One of the issues with the internet is people who would never make it as a class clown subjecting you to their standup comedy routine.

That's not much different than saying "people who would never make it as a know-it-all subjecting you to their their take on "facts."

 

In other words: welcome to the internet, this is what it's all about

[WanderingAries]

22 hours ago, GM Crumpet said:

Full disclosure, I love them myself, and another GM was rolling their eyes and sighing at the whole thing.

 

I can't imagine why....  >.>  <.<  >.>

[WanderingAries]

On 6/4/2025 at 7:09 PM, biostem said:

Do you mean as a reactive step, where the user has to select a topic and choose to ignore it?  If so, then, sure, I'm in favor of such a feature.  Anything that relies upon any sort of tag system for the forum topic won't work, as I doubt you could rely upon such OPs to use those tags.  I could be misremembering, but don't most forums disallow such "I'm leaving" threads, anyway?  If so, maybe just close them ASAP?

 

Yeah, I've kinda wanted the ability to mute threads for a while now, but I just ignore / scroll / "mark all read" after I've opened the ones I want to read in other tabs.

[Krimson]

On 6/5/2025 at 7:33 AM, Snarky said:

you got a laser colonoscopy?

How would that even work? What's the laser supposed to do? 

[ivanhedgehog]

30 minutes ago, Krimson said:

How would that even work? What's the laser supposed to do? 

cut through polyps with minimal blood loss.

 

Had colon cancer..the tshirt sucks

[Krimson]

17 minutes ago, ivanhedgehog said:

cut through polyps with minimal blood loss.

 

Had colon cancer..the tshirt sucks

I've had two with no sedation and no pain killers. They usually collect samples with a mechanical mechanism  

[Snarky]

51 minutes ago, Krimson said:

How would that even work? What's the laser supposed to do? 

[tidge]

On 6/5/2025 at 7:23 AM, GM Crumpet said:

Full disclosure, I am a Brit. I'm from an area west of Birmingham in the Midlands called the Black Country which has produced luminaries like Julie Walters, Lenny Henry and Robert Plant.

 

The reference to Black Country and Lenny Henry reminds me of the time when I was listening to an American news radio program (I think it was some NPR show) and Lenny Henry was introduced as "African-American British comedy icon Lenny Henry".

 

[BlackSpectre]

Agreed. It takes very little effort to avoid reading a thread. It's not like anyone is forced to read one (except for our GMs). 😉

 

Would the ability to hide a thread hurt? Not at all. Is it necessary? Not at all. If thread hiding were a thing, would I complain? Nope. Would I even use it? Nope. If it's not a thing, would I complain? Nope. LOL

 

It's a small, unnecessary little feature that's nice, I suppose.

[GM Crumpet]

4 hours ago, tidge said:

 

The reference to Black Country and Lenny Henry reminds me of the time when I was listening to an American news radio program (I think it was some NPR show) and Lenny Henry was introduced as "African-American British comedy icon Lenny Henry".

 

They did the same to Idris Elba. His parents were African immigrants and he was born in London and always calls himself British. 

Lenny Henry said to the host "I'm not African American, I'm from Dudley" in his broadest black country accent. Fun fact. I went to the same school as he did (different years, he left as I started. He's 5 years older than me.) and his mom and my mom were friendly in a nodding acquaintance way. They both played bingo in the same bingo hall for years.