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Original poster

Why Can't We Have An 'Ignore' Button?

58 replies

CKDexterHaven · 22/08/2014 15:13

Mumsnet is a constant target for trolls and anti-social men's rights types who constantly derail threads, constantly rehash old tired arguments and sometimes post downright offensive comments. Wouldn't it be easier for women to get together and talk in the way they want to talk and keep threads on-topic if there was an 'ignore' button as there is on other sites.

If you are unfamiliar with this it is a button which allows individual users to block the posts of posters they feel to be trolls, deliberately offensive or derailers. It does not prevent people who wish to see these posts from seeing them. There are people out there who really hate that women get to talk to one another and it would be great to just skip over them.

Other forums have this, why can't we?

OP posts:
Original poster
CKDexterHaven · 22/08/2014 15:55

I agree that name-changing is an issue but it only takes a second to reblock someone. On another forum I have people on 'ignore' but they have no way of telling this, other people don't have them on 'ignore' so they don't name-change and I don't have to see their comments.

My hope for the FWR threads would be that people get savvy to the trolls pretty quickly and block en-masse, instead of engaging them in argument, and thereby the thread would still be easy to follow. It's a bit annoying when you have ignored someone and other people, who clearly feel the same way as you, spend time arguing with them instead of keeping the thread on topic.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 22/08/2014 15:47

I think I have more hidden than not Gilbert. I try and stay in the lighthearted bits, The Litter Tray and a bit of a look in Teenagers.

I haven't hidden Education yet as I have school age DC but even those topics can get a bit Hmm.

GilbertBlytheWouldGetIt · 22/08/2014 15:37

Know what you mean, Sparklingbrook. I hid the FWR board for ages for the same reason.

Sparklingbrook · 22/08/2014 15:33

I have said this many time but I have hidden AIBU as a complete topic and have hardly seen a troll, it really is a massive improvement.

GilbertBlytheWouldGetIt · 22/08/2014 15:27

It would be nice in theory, the trouble is that as you say, threads get derailed by these annoying posters, so if you ignore one, the rest of the thread wouldn't make a lot of sense, as you still end up reading the derailment! Bit like when someone's posts get deleted en masse, you end up playing detective and eventually figuring out what was said.

Sparklingbrook · 22/08/2014 15:26

Is that even possible? I think determined trolls can get round the IP address thing? Might be wrong though.

GilbertBlytheWouldGetIt · 22/08/2014 15:25

Not if it blocked posters by IP address.

Sparklingbrook · 22/08/2014 15:24

Posters that name change all the time-that would be the problem.