Would you want a function here at DU that allows you to block posts by keyword?

[NightWatcher]

I sure would. Today's enmasse block: Hampsher, hamster, or whatever the hell her name is that has everyone in a tizzy today.

We could call it the Palin Blocker 2000?

[phantom power]

1. I can think of some use cases for that.

Assuming it isn't too much development effort.

[seabeyond]

2. i wouldnt use it so would not matter to me. if it makes du more enjoyable for others, that is fine.

[NightWatcher]

4. I asked the question, but I still dont have anyone on ignore

so, eh, either way I dont care. I like to watch the trainwrecks sometimes

[seabeyond]

16. i am the same. and agree about the same. nt

[sharp_stick]

3. I could see a use for that

Especially if you could set it to expire in a couple of days.

[Lance_Boyle]

5. I requested something like this back in the days of the old DU.

Wanted to filter out every thread in the lounge with the words "cat" or "kitty" in the subject. Never happened. Perhaps a browser plugin would be a better way to handle this?

[sudopod]

6. I never want to be exposed to things I might disagree with. nt

[ZombieHorde]

7. No, we'll just start seeing H4M5H3R. nt

[Safetykitten]

8. Yes, I want to block the word "cheesecake"....oh and "puppy".

[MineralMan]

11. Oooh! Can I block "kitteh?"

[provis99]

9. I'd like to know how I can block entire forums.

Starting with the gungeon.

[MineralMan]

10. Such a feature is very, very hard to design.

For example, many early sites, especially sites where students went, banned the word "breast," only to discover that they had also banned information against breast cancer and breast feeding and chicken parts.

I'm afraid you'd have to try a few things you'd like to see banned out on us. We'll show you why they wouldn't work and would block things you actually did want to see.

Keyword banning almost never works very well. Words have many uses. Blocking a word almost always backfires on the people blocking it.

For another example. Block "Palin" and you disable viewing of information on Michael Palin as well as Sarah. Block Bachmann, and you block every thread about anyone with that last name.

It simply won't work.

[CTyankee]

15. Here is what works!

I go on DU and scroll through GD, GDP, Political videos and LBN.

I click on the posts I want to read.

I don't click on the ones I don't want to read.

I find this system to be extremely satisfactory.

[MineralMan]

20. That's always been my system as well. However, I use

the Latest Posts list for browsing. I've noticed the little "hide thread" boxes there next to each thread title. I haven't used them, though, since it's far easier just to let my eyes travel past threads that don't interesting me. I click only one threads I want to read.

I think it is an excellent system.

[CTyankee]

23. I don't hide threads either. I'm afraid of what might happen...

[Evergreen Emerald]

12. I would like the ability to re-write posts to conform with my beliefs

Block? That is thinking too small. I want the ability to re-write posts as I see fit. That way, I do not have to listen to any other thoughts but my very own.

[Safetykitten]

13. LMAO!

[DevonRex]

14. No. We can decide for ourselves what to click on or not. Nt

[sabrina 1]

17. Censorship? No thank you!

I already have issues with much of the censorship that has become prevalent on political boards. If people can't handle seeing things they do not like, then maybe politics is not for them.

And with all the censorship I've seen on all the boards I've ever frequented, it never solves the problems. If anything, it exacerbates them. If it did, we would have beautifully polite boards where there never are personal attacks or angry posts about one thing or another. We would all be discussing things in a completely rational way.

But, when you keep doing something for several years, censoring debate eg, and the problem hasn't shown any signs of diminishing because you have to keep doing it, I guess you have to conclude it doesn't work and try to find another way.

[Iggo]

18. ATA.

[Shagbark Hickory]

19. Yes. There's too many redundant, pointless and annoying posts about certain subjects. nm

[damntexdem]

21. Other: why?

Hey, if it blocked advertisements that get posted, find -- but I'm doubtful that a keyword block would do that.

I guess I could go for a Casey Anthony block.

[eShirl]

22. if you could block combinations of words it would be better

like "penis" AND "garbage disposal"

because I don't want to block all posts with "penis," just some of them

[CakeGrrl]

24. Nah, I don't need to block or put people on Ignore.

I can do that manually.

;-)

[MineralMan]

26. Manually and intelligently.

Both are important. Our best filters are our own brains.

For example, my built-in filter has kept me from going to Fire Dog Lake for a very long time now.

[TexasProgresive]

25. OOO Yeah!

I'd also like the ability to block any DU forum.

[Aerows]

27. I'd like a

mechanism where we can up-rate and down-rate responses, in addition to the current on that only allows uprating and downrating the original post.