Option to block users comments

If I may break the 4th wall, if only for a moment...

Threads like these and petty rants against threads/posts that people don't like are cat-nip for trolls. This is what they are looking for, a cause to rally against. Do you see how Tradiban exploits emotions for content? It's the same shtick over and over, and over and over it produces results. Do what you will but the only way to defeat the trolls is to ignore them. A filter may help with that but I think you will find that so many people subconsciously need the trolls that you will be lost in the conversation, wondering who said what and why and wholly missing the context.

Godspeed.

It seems like a tiered commenting system, similar to Reddit, would work very well here.  Sub-threads of the main conversation could be replied to separately.  Off-topic or derailed conversations could persist without cluttering the main discussion and unwanted sub-threads could simply be 'closed'.  
Sure this doesn't truly 'block' anyone, but I think it would have a near-identical effect.

George Perkins wrote
I too, have been disappointed in the spirit and tone of the discussions here recently.  In particular in the aftermath of the 3 accidents in the last month (at Greece, the Flatiron, and Bastille Crack), and have been questioning my participation in the site as result of it.

It aggravates me that REI / MP has not taken a stand on those threads or weighed in on this thread. At least not that I have seen. Still, it would probably be hard to decide on and target a “worthy” majority.

Josh Lowy wrote: It seems like a tiered commenting system, similar to Reddit, would work very well here.  Sub-threads of the main conversation could be replied to separately.  Off-topic or derailed conversations could persist without cluttering the main discussion and unwanted sub-threads could simply be 'closed'.  
Sure this doesn't truly 'block' anyone, but I think it would have a near-identical effect.

Exactly, or simply adding a thumbs down option that hides down voted posts unless you opt to see it would have a huge benefit.

I have suggested before, that we implement a downvote system. A certain amount of downvoted, temporary ban. If it happens again, banned.

Josh Lowy wrote: It seems like a tiered commenting system, similar to Reddit, would work very well here.  Sub-threads of the main conversation could be replied to separately.  Off-topic or derailed conversations could persist without cluttering the main discussion and unwanted sub-threads could simply be 'closed'.  
Sure this doesn't truly 'block' anyone, but I think it would have a near-identical effect.

seconded 

upvotes, downvotes, sub-threads...

I'm looking forward to playing the social media validation game!

Josh Lowy wrote: It seems like a tiered commenting system, similar to Reddit, would work very well here.  Sub-threads of the main conversation could be replied to separately.  Off-topic or derailed conversations could persist without cluttering the main discussion and unwanted sub-threads could simply be 'closed'.  
Sure this doesn't truly 'block' anyone, but I think it would have a near-identical effect.

While I don't think is a terrible idea, Reddit has a substantial problem with misinformation or jokes getting way way upvoted over accurate/on-topic discussion. I think with this system the forum would need really active moderation to avoid getting derailed into MemeProject, which would defeat the purpose of the up/down vote system...

Tradiban wrote: [....] Do what you will but the only way to defeat the trolls is to ignore them. [....]

This is what is being proposed.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion wrote: I have suggested before, that we implement a downvote system. A certain amount of downvoted, temporary ban. If it happens again, banned.

No potential for abuse with a system like that. None at all.

Seriously, though, allowing downvoting and hiding low-rated comments that people can still opt to see sounds reasonable, but banning based on downvoting would encourage PM cliques to gang up on others and get them banned.

There are people here who aren't trolls but whose posts I find highly annoying. I would like to be able to downvote their posts. But I would not like to help ban them just because they annoy me.

People that want others blocked should just stop reading the forums or go somewhere else.  Unless there is clear malice involved, and not just mischief, leave them be. I enjoy Tradiban and sometimes HB. (no homo).  See what I did there?

Tradiban is someone goading a poster into defending their position through a rather combative style. Sometimes posters have curiously formed opinions on a subject that makes one scratch their head and want to know WHY they think that: what led them to believe that this is true?  

The whole John Long being attacked was fun to read. The SJW special snowflake replies make me laugh, and wonder when they will join the rest of the real world...

Don't block users, it shows weakness and lack of character.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion wrote: I have suggested before, that we implement a downvote system. A certain amount of downvoted, temporary ban. If it happens again, banned.

I think there is already a high dislike prejudice built in for certain posters...what would keep me from going in & down voting you on every post (royal you)  just to be petty?

I want to block everyone who whines about trolls... I think I would rather climb with the so called trolls than anyone who gets all wound up over forum posts. You guys wouldn't have survived the chan's or early reddit... It's like everyone wants a safe space where everyone agrees and you never have to consider another view. That's toxic to me.

How about a chrome extension that can do this? I love the MP forums and have read many informative topics. But over the last two years, a small number of trolls has degraded the quality of the forums.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion wrote: I have suggested before, that we implement a downvote system. A certain amount of downvoted, temporary ban. If it happens again, banned.

Things got out of hand after adding the "thumbs up" button, and as a result going more in this direction (a downvote system, subthreads, etc.) would be a move in the worst possible direction.

What it really comes down to is I am unsure why there is any tolerance here for people who think sites like this, and the people who meaningfully participate in them, are a net negative. Just get rid of those users.

Why can't people just use the flag option more?

mediocre wrote: Why can't people just use the flag option more?

Or just delete the posts of the users who hate this site, instead of removing only the posts those same morons flag...

Well....

I side with not downvoting. It's bad enough having a bunch of people "like" cruel comments, when they are aimed at you. I asked (and was shot down) to be able to tell who has liked comments. I'd just as soon know, good or bad.

I also don't like flagging (and apologized for the recent flag), and the one the other day was maybe the third in five years.

Nor banning. A conversation, and these are conversations, includes everyone. I have conversed, on and offline, with pretty much all of the "troublemakers". They are just people.

Yeah, Tradiban trolls. Trad also.has a huge amount of content contributions, even, gasp, in the forums. I have quite willingly taken his bait to be able to have a point/counterpoint on several threads over the years.

Last? I'm one who would have been silenced, especially early on, primarily for the sin of being new and talking back, and I am still on some "hate" lists, I'm sure. Some would cheer, some would not, but what if the next ​​​​​noob ​​​who irritates you is our future rgold?

"Forum" is an open platform for the discussion of ideas.

Like it or not.

Best, Helen

There seems to be a lot of confusion between the implementation of a block function (controlled by each individual user, with their own separate criteria) and banning (controlled by admins and prevents that user from participating at all).

If there is a genuine fear that you may miss good content from the trolls, why not add a time-limited option to each block? That way, if a user thinks that someone's behaviour is probably temporary, they can set a timeline to see that user's posts again.

England wrote: Yes the options are: grow a pair, get a spine, don't click on the forums, stop being so sensitive......

Buck Rio wrote: Tradiban is someone goading a poster into defending their position through a rather combative style.

Jon Hillis wrote: You guys wouldn't have survived the chan's or early reddit...

You sure take this internettin' seriously. It isn't some battle or measure of worth. People are dinkin' around when they have free time. They don't need to read everything anybody feels like posting to earn a badge, or have some rando online forge them into a better person.

Obviously the MP team would need to think about how possible remedies to this perceived issue - including doing nothing - would impact their forum's tone, utility, usage, etc. I'm fine with my own system of dropping the posts on my end for posters that I've decided are a net negative, but a forum option to do the same is fine by me. I don't think it needs to show the blocked users their "block score" as I'm sure many would compete for high score. I also don't need to downvote to filter what other people see. I think the current upvote is pretty useless.

I'm OK with the fact that I may miss something if I decide to filter - somehow my day will go on.