Maybe it is just me

[OldBaldy1701E]

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]

1. It's you. It's "Democratic" not "democratic."

[OldBaldy1701E]

17. Of course. (n/t)

[betsuni]

21. Of course what?

[USALiberal]

2. It is just you! Nt

[brooklynite]

3. Democracy includes the right to speak your mind...it doesn't mean people have to listen.

[OldBaldy1701E]

16. It also doesn't mean people should either. But... ignorance is bliss, right?

Yes, we all have the right to ignore everything around us. Beneficial or otherwise.

[Croney]

4. I've never used the ignore button, but I cringe when I see a subject line

with the former guy's actual name in it, so I think we should have a button that automatically changes it to shithead.

[Rorey]

7. LOL, I like that NT

[Maeve]

5. We don't get a vote on what we find acceptable?

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]

15. Let me get this straight

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]

19. No, you don't have it straight

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]

6. Somebody announced they were going to put me on "Ignore"

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]

8. Would you feel better if...

everyone’s computer, upon booting, defaulted to displaying your latest posting?

[OldBaldy1701E]

14. Did yours do this before? (n/t)

[ret5hd]

18. Before what?

[stillcool]

9. somebody put you on ignore?

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]

12. No, I was just dwelling on the prospect

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]

10. Are you really suggesting to be Democratic a person has to be forced to listen to something

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.

[OldBaldy1701E]

11. Did you feel you were being forced to before? (n/t)

[WhiskeyGrinder]

13. People protect themselves from others all the time. It stifles nothing.

[we can do it]

20. It's you, and I appreciate not having to listen to trolls.