General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMaybe it is just me
But anytime one finds oneself on a message board that boasts being 'democratic' and yet discovers that there is an 'ignore' button that lets people shut off input... well, I just don't find that to be very 'democratic'. Stifling potentially disagreeable discourse is a tactic used by... other political groups. Why does it exist here? Like I said, maybe it is just me.
betsuni
(25,760 posts)OldBaldy1701E
(5,195 posts)betsuni
(25,760 posts)USALiberal
(10,877 posts)brooklynite
(94,911 posts)OldBaldy1701E
(5,195 posts)Yes, we all have the right to ignore everything around us. Beneficial or otherwise.
Croney
(4,674 posts)with the former guy's actual name in it, so I think we should have a button that automatically changes it to shithead.
Rorey
(8,445 posts)Maeve
(42,305 posts)That doesn't seem very 'democratic'.
The input isn't shut off--it's just deemed something that particular person doesn't want to deal with. Like ignoring Faux News.
OldBaldy1701E
(5,195 posts)So the general position is, if one cannot utilize an 'ignore function', one will be flooded with only things that you did not want? I have never used one and I also have never seen this happen. Strange...
Maeve
(42,305 posts)Most who use the ignore function do it to avoid people they have already found to be either irritating or not worth the read. It avoids fights as well--like not walking by the neighbor who you know will try to yell at you or try to engage in useless chatter. Or avoiding bridges that have trolls under them...
I've been here almost 20 years and have seen how DU has developed. I have put very few on ignore and most of those were eventually banned.
Rorey
(8,445 posts)I begged. I pleaded. I tried to bribe them.
Actually, I don't know (or care) if they did or didn't. I wasn't offended. I suppose there may be some folks who ignore me without making an announcement that they're going to do so. It's all good. If they choose to deprive themselves of my truly awesome posts, it's their loss......or gain.
ret5hd
(20,557 posts)everyones computer, upon booting, defaulted to displaying your latest posting?
OldBaldy1701E
(5,195 posts)ret5hd
(20,557 posts)stillcool
(32,626 posts)I rarely use it, but when someone is being an asshole, and are annoying enough, it comes in handy. I block Fox too. Is that anti-Democratic?
OldBaldy1701E
(5,195 posts)of censorship. And, how it appears in our society. But, being able to ignore what others might share with you is a person's right I suppose. May not be the smartest thing to do, but one can do it.
LizBeth
(9,952 posts)or someone they do not want to listen to? That sounds a lot like the cancel argument. Not only do they want the right to spew racist, sexist bigotry but they demand no one react when they spew their garbage or they are being picked on and canceled out.
Interesting argument.