"Should the stifle be removed?" Topic

I find it odd that the stifle mechanism exists on a site where people are meant to read, argue and debate matters.

If I don't agree with or like what someone had posted, I have the simple choice of replying, disagreeing, discussing or simply ignoring the post, as others have with my posts. I have never used the mechanism and don't intend to.

I really can't understand why this site allows, what I consider as s to use the stifle, unless such an act of is acceptable. I mean, how hard is it to ignore a post! It has to be an act of .

I think the stifle should be removed. It is not necessary. Those who stifle should . Ban it now.

Of all the people least likely to win me over with this argument John, you are probably the last. I barely ever stifle, but can assure you that if it were not for the fact that most of your posts are limited to Boards I rarely visit, you would be one of them.

All a stifle is is a mechanism for allowing you to ignore what someone says. Do you think everyone should be obliged to get a newspaper delivered, since they always have the choice not to read it?

If we want to reduce the sorrow it causes some people bafled by the concept of 'Choice' the easiest way would be to rename it the 'Filter' button.

By the way – is the same thing as a Vanity Review?

Pat

no

what I consider as s to use the stifle

Way to earn some more, insults are always appreciated.

Nope. But then I've only stifled one person (the )

I've no issue with the function

Let the stifle be unbroken,
Bye and bye, Lawd, bye and bye,
It removes obnoxious s,
From my eye, Lawd, from my eye.

I have never used the mechanism and don't intend to.

I used to feel the same way, until I came across a TMPer who constantly spouted moronic, infuriating rubbish, yet with whom I could not, despite my best efforts, resist arguing. The stifle function saved me a lot of aggravation.

It has to be an act of .

I don't see it as an act of , as it wasn't done with intent and I haven't harmed the stifled member in any way. As a side note, I would quite happily carry out a act against the member in question, but the stifle ain't it.

…? Again, I don't think so. An admission of personal weakness in the form of a lack of self-control in this instance, but I wouldn't call it .

No. I've only ever stifled two TMPers but changed my mind. But thst's me. I've only managed to pick up two stifles though, and you've managed 99. As you're going around accusing people of if they have a different opinion to you I can see why.

Sane Max

The newspaper is not really a good comparison, since all sorts of readable material, including leaflets etc, are put through people's doors. People decide to read or throw them away. It is not rocket science, is it?

If I can read or not read a post, reply or not reply, then surely others can do the same without a pathetic stifle mechanism? How would they know if someone is posting something they might be interested in?

To stifle just suggests a mentality. Can't people ? I really do wonder what sort of 'pleasure' people who stifle get out of it? Okay, I'm probably being a bit harsh and will no doubt attract more stifles. But I can live with it, and without the stifle. A shame others are not to do the same.

Agent Brown

I have no problems with people having different views to mine. I wouldn't expect otherwise. I have had several discussions and debates without anyone losing their cool or using the stifle. I've accepted that I have been wrong in some cases and right in others. That's how it should be.

It is just my opinion, but I do feel that those who stifle, rather than debate or ignore posts, are s of a sort. I mean, how hard is it to ignore or not reply to a post? Come on, why go to the bother of using the stifle mechanism when you can simply ignore the post? You have to be somewhat in order to do so.

Who cares, the whole thing is silly.

How would they know if someone is posting something they might be interested in?

User Name – Gazzola

That's How.

when you can simply ignore the post?

That's all the Stifle button is for – to make ignoring posts slighty easier – it's a bit like the 'No Junk Mail' stickers people can put on their mail-boxes, to stretch your Metaphor. You are getting upset about it, taking it personally. Why bother? If people don't want to trouble themselves with my Literary Gems on here, why is that a problem for me?

Pat

Hi Gazzola,

This is a place people come to enjoy their hobby, and if one or more people are preventing them from doing this then they have every right to stifle them. I've never stifled anyone, but that doesn't make me any more or less of a person than someone who has stifled many.

People who stifle are not "s", or indeed "". That is a little rude if anything: they are just people who don't want to hear what you have to say.

If anything, I don't think we should have a stifle count or a list of the most stifled as that does not seem to do anything more than encourage the green skinned underbridge dwellers to come out and play.

Cheers,

Ace

Speaking of , nothing shows how tough you are like calling people names from behind the safety and anonymity of your computer screen.

Oh, and count me as your 100th stifle, hows that for ?

I don't think we should have a stifle count or a list of the most stifled

That I agree with – and really if there was a way to not let people know they had been stifled I would support it, though I can see the issues it would cause.

Pat

And by the way, it does feel as if this thread was created to increase your stifle count. Are you trying to steal Hollins mantle?

Ever thought of going into Politics John?

Vote for ME, you bastards!

I use stifle so I dont have to try and remember whose posts aren't worth reading.

Nothing to do with retaliation.

Nothing to do with disagreements.

Typically its related to a lack of being on topic, spouting off rubbish that is unrelated.

If how many stifles someone has received was not on the member profile, all this endless crybaby bitching about them would stop in an instant. Nobody would even know they had ever been stifled, and the people who want the 'ignore' facility would be happy.

It is almost as if that stat was put on our profiles to actually cause strife on TMP. No idea why Bill would want to do that, but then again he does a lot of other things seemingly intended to cause strife too.

I cherish the fact that people who think I post nothing but rubbish have a handy mechanism to automatically ignore me.

Each and every "Ban the stifle!" Poll Suggestion is nothing but a solution in search of a problem. They harm no one.

How many times do we have to vote on this? Is this like Al Gore demanding a recount of the Florida votes* every time the vote comes out wrong? And, when you get the vote you want, will you stop demanding a Poll?

* This "event" is now more than 10 years old, and so falls outside the TMP 10 Year Current Affairs and Politics Rule.

I am NOT asking anybody to "shut up", because THAT WOULD BE WRONG. But, I am getting just a little tired of this coming up every 6 weeks or so.

Perhaps Bill should throw "stifle" back into the Bleep-o-matic and DH people who start Stifle topics.

As I am a boring old fart I can understand why some might not want to see my contributions and see no need for them to do so. Thus the ability to censor out my stuff from their view if it is not to their taste is a good idea.

x42

Leave it as is

I'm at the V.A. Clinic for a blister, but now I have a headache too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Clinic for a blister? How big's the blister?

Or is this a seperated by the same language thing where a blister is something different to you?

Seriousness of the complaint rather depends on where the Blister is doncha think?

Woah there!! That's an image I don't want in my head… Aww Hell!

No it shouldn't.

Sane Max

It is interesting how you can agree or disagree with people on this site when discussing wargaming topics, such as scales and manufacturers. No one thinks you are making a personal attack or out to cause trouble. They just accept your point of view.

The problem seems to arise when people DARE to disagree with certain members, which obviously seems to shake the comfy boats of .

I recommended this site a while back, even though I was told by some of those I wargame with, that it is full of . Seems they might be right. People seem to think that if you disagree you are making a personal attack against the person you are disagreeing with. That is pure nonsense.

Ace From Outer Space

Exactly! People come here to enjoy their hobby – AS I DO! I do not come here to cause arguments and I don't hate anyone and I'm not at war with anyone. But I do disgree with what some people say and their points of view.

But to disagree seems to be a no-no here. We must all be Yes men. Don't rock the boat. Okay, I may have been a bit harsh calling people s etc. But really, grown ups do not have to read or reply to the posts, so why stifle? That suggests they are and afraid their views might be challenged and their comfy boat rocked.

As I mentioned in my previous post, it is odd how that does not appear to happen when wargaming topics are discussed. I have discussed scales and manufacturers and no one felt threatened or need to stifle. Interesting that, isn't it?

I do not come here to cause arguments

Good job calling people a '' isn't controversial then?

That said, I agree that if stifles were removed the subject would go away… apart from the regular poll suggestions to bring them back that is… and we could worry about something equally mundane.

But really, grown ups do not have to read or reply to the posts, so why stifle?

If you really believe that, then why the crusade against the stifle? The stifle is simply a mechanism to make it easier to not read posts.

You say that those who stifle are s. I think that those who are bothered by stifles are sufferers of "Mommy's Special Little Man Syndrome", self-centered narcissists who can't bare the thought that someone doesn't want to read what they write.

"Waah! Mommy! The mean man is ignoring me! Mommy! He won't pay attention to me! Waah! Mommy, do something! It's not fair! I'm special and everyone has to listen to me! Waah!"

There are some on TMP who hate my guts.
They stalk me and make remarks designed to irritate me and make me fly off the handle so I go into the DH.
They are now gray boxes.
Occasionally I will un-stifle them to see if they have anything intelligent to say. They hardly ever do, so I restifle them.
Honestly, it's just far too much work.

Stifles serve a very useful function.
"Ignore" what they say? How? It's right there in black and white! Light gray is much better.
Stifling s keeps John much more mellow.

"", indeed. You are just upset that some people think you are not worth listening to or reading. I'm not one of them, as I have obviously not stifled you. Yet.
I doubt I will "learn anything" by not stifling, but will avoid heartburn.

Anyone who considers me a moron has two choices. They can stifle me, or they can spit all over their monitor as they lay the smackdown on me. "Ignore"? Really? Seriously?
Frankly, I wish my stalkers (you know who you are) WOULD stifle me.

In fact, I really like the "reverse stifle" option, in which I could hide what I write from my stalkers!

Now that would be , to be able to deliberately hide one's wisdom from someone

Some one pass me the and this could go on for a while (again)

It usually does.

We need a Super TMP of 12 members to argue endlessly, pointlessly and without result, while the rest take a break.

No we don't!

highlandcatfrog

You sound a little upset? What's the matter, isn't your stifle mechanism working?

As for caring about people reading what I post. There are not that many attending this site that I would want to read my posts. !

But some know how to behave and debate and discuss like gentlemen. They can accept different points of view. They've made my visits here enjoyable.

John the OFM

I am not bothered if people don't read my posts. I couldn't care less. That's their choice.

But I am baffled why they feel they need to use the stifle mechanism? Why not just ignore the post, as I have on done on several occassions? Is it that hard for some people? Seems pretty simple to me.

And the fact they can't ignore a post and prefer to stifle is suggesting far more than just not wanting to read the posts. Could it be ? Who knows. Who cares. There are far more important things in life.

Gazzola: Unleashing personal attacks sure is an interesting way of demonstrating that you are the 'grown up' around here. What a unique method to show that you are the courageous one holding the moral high ground!

I thank you for demonstrating why the stifle is such a useful tool. Having availed myself of it, I won't be responding to you again. Enjoy your time in the DH.

I don't get the stifle thing. But if it's like a odd baseball stat that somebody takes pride in, or shame in, why ruin there enjoyment?

No. Keep it as is. I only stifled one person and then unstifled him. I can read a thread and if I think it will irk me to the point of being obnoxious, I can walk away.

Yes!
No!
Who cares?

Gazzola, play nice & people will (possibly) unstifle you.

Does the solve your problem?

It is almost as if that stat was put on our profiles to actually cause strife on TMP. No idea why Bill would want to do that…

My thinking was that certain people would reform, once they realized how many stifles they had earned.

That worked out well, didn't it?
Do what you want, Bill. I will miss it, but then I am only an OFM.

This has to be the most hilarious thread I've read in days.

The irony meter reading is so far off the scale I have to think it's a put on.

Bill. John.
Couldn't the two of you kiss & make up?

My thinking was that certain people would reform, once they realized how many stifles they had earned.

When in fact what it is is a stick to beat people with during an exchange on here. The "what does xxx amount of stifles say about you?" has been thrown at me or others several times recently, as if this is the very definition of moral degradation.

If you don't like stifles, don't stifle people. Simple.