How will the new "Block User" function affect the September 11th forum?

[Bolo Boffin]

Part Two - since some people are being prevented from posting in the other thread. Welcome to the All-Skate thread, which is properly titled with the actual names of things and all...

[AZCat]

1. I didn't realize that some people were blocked...

from responding in the other thread. That seems to defeat the purpose of asking everyone's opinion.

[Bolo Boffin]

2. Yes.

Hamden has blocked me, which means I can't respond to anyone on the thread, even if they are replying to a comment I'd already posted to the thread. I don't know of anyone else Hamden has blocked.

[AZCat]

3. It does not appear that I am blocked.

But we'll see how long that lasts, and we'll eventually see how (if at all) the DU landscape shifts because of this new feature.

[LARED]

13. I'm blocked as well

I wonder how many CT'er are thinking - "finally we can get to the truth without all those disinfo agents distracting us."

[pauldp]

4. As I suspected, the new feature at DU will just create more threads

by people who wish to respond to the threads they are blocked from.
"Block User" is a silly idea IMO.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

5. I've been blocked from there too

How laughable this system is.

[greyl]

6. I think what's laughable is that particular abuse of the system.

I also think it's probable that the specific blocking we're talking about wasn't enlisted to stop replies to that latest thread, but to prevent people from bumping other very embarrassing threads that came up in the discussion.

[Bolo Boffin]

7. OOOOOOOhhhhhhhh!

Feel free to post links to those threads here.

[greyl]

9. Mmmm, I'll think about it. ;) nt

[Generarth]

10. DU Headline - Blockhead Blocked!

:7

Truthfully now - it's a stupid feature. I'm sure you'll make use of it though.

[William Seger]

19. I won't

I love to get replies from blockheads.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

22. Really? Who blocked you?

Just kidding, sir.

[greyl]

8. So far, it looks like only 2 people have initiated it, then others blocked them in kind.

In other words, several people have only those 2 people blocked. I think that may mean something to someone who was especially interested in the quality of this message board...

I think the feature is working out just fine.

edit:clarity

[Kingshakabobo]

12. I count three using the feature. n/t

[greyl]

21. Ah yes, count updated. ;)

I bet it doesn't go higher.

[Kingshakabobo]

23. What makes you say that? nt

[greyl]

24. My undying hope for humanity? :)

Plus, the fact that it doesn't look to me like those 3 people made their decision to block independently.
I think it was more of a 'group' decision made by a few who react similarly to debunkers.

[Kingshakabobo]

25. I'm quite sure one lady and her 'hench-woman' were coordinating via PM.

I've been tempted to ask a few people on this forum how old they are......sometimes I wonder.

[greyl]

11. Also, from the 2nd sticky "Block User" thread:

What if a jerk uses this function to block a nice person? Or what if someone uses it to block out people who disagree?

Unfortunately, this is going to happen from time-to-time. But we believe that the vast majority of DUers are good people who will use this function wisely. And keep in mind that there is a built-in disincentive for someone to overuse the function: Those people who use it for evil rather than good will likely see their own ability to participate diminished as they get blocked in response by all the people they have blocked. They will be able to post in fewer and fewer threads.

If this function is used widely, I think it is inevitable that we all will be blocked by a few people. That's just proof that those people can't handle polite disagreement. :) It's the troublemakers that will find themselves blocked by lots and lots of people.
the rest

[DoYouEverWonder]

14. What?

What did you say?

I can't hear you.

:sarcasm:

[vincent_vega_lives]

20. Does a mental block count?

:crazy:

[MervinFerd]

15. Does this effectively create a private 911 users group?

The management had previously refused to do that, for very obvious reasons.

So, now, the most loony ConspiraToon threads can be private and continue without rebuttal?

[salvorhardin]

16. Hamden has blocked me too

Which is just as well because I think that thread was pretty much at an end anyway.

I understand why this feature was implemented but like many others I think it will have the effect of creating schizoid forums, at least in the more controversial forums.

On edit: I was actually debating whether to start a thread like this last night.

[William Seger]

17. Some posters will use the board as a support group instead of a discussion forum

I can understand the intent of the new feature, but I think it will mainly be used on this particular board by people who aren't willing to accept any challenges to the nonsense they want to post. As I recently "discovered" on another thread (although it wasn't really a surprise), a lot of the people here have such a deep personal attachment to the bullshit they're posting that they have a "negative emotional" reaction to having someone point out that it's bullshit. It's exactly like insulting someone's religion, and cultists need to discuss their religion among themselves.

HamdenRice has now added me to her "cannot reply" list for simply pointing out that her description of what happens on this board was bullshit. That's because HamdenRice either lacks the intellectual ability to distinguish between that and "name-calling, hijackings, distraction and other troll like behavior," or she lacks the intellectual integrity to stand behind what she posts.

[Kingshakabobo]

18. "what a crock"..That's some pretty strong language there fella. n/t

[SidDithers]

26. I could still get in, and posted my thoughts in the other thread...

though there are posters in that thread that I cannot reply to. If PCTers want to fantasize without the mean old skeptics crashing their party, let 'em. As William said up thread, some posters use this forum as a support group rather than as a place for discussion.

:toast:

Sid

[Lithos]

27. Locking

Meant to include this originally.