"Why do Stifle Counts Change, Even If You Aren't Posting?" Topic

One of our readers, who has been away from TMP for a while, recently asked me why his Stifle count changes – going up one day, down the next – even when he hasn't posted in weeks.

One reason is that people often unStifle (and then re-Stifle) the same members – unStifling them so they can see what they said, then (often) putting them right back on Stifle!

Another reason is that many people go back and read the old topics on TMP, and so may Stifle you for something you wrote months or years ago! They may not even realize you've been gone.

Been there….

larryleadhead.org/c53.html

larryleadhead.org/c58.html

To update, I am at 164 and holding steady now.

… and in other news, Larry Leadhead still isn't remotely humorous.

Yeah, I'm getting used to the roller coaster ride myself.

Funny thing is, I have a stellar trade Gold Star count, but I must be evil for voicing an opinion.

Ah well, like the OFM, I've learned to shrug it off,

Hmmm… stifles. Let me check something real quick, brb.
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Nope, I still don't care.

Is there no 'statute of limitations' on stifles? Doesn't historic stifling play into the hands of petty pedants?

Deos one's stifle count decrease when members that stifled one become inactive? Not that it really matters…..

I have had that happen to me, back then I still womdered.

These days I do mot care anymore. I try to be unpolitical and just promote the hobby. If people want to stifle that, especially based on topics they did not care enough to read month ago, it is their loss not mine.

Was on 2 last week, now on 8. Hmmm, ah, yes.

TMP link

Still worth it!

And now we have an Argentinian Pope. Glad to see the "The Hand of God" in action again – non Brits see Diego Maradona.

I won some Larry books… I love them.. and my stifle count is an amazing percentage. I wonder if there isn't a PhD in the cultural relativism demonstrated.

What Pandabelly said.

@olicana, well played.

Eric

I enjoy Larry – but sometimes it cuts too close to home. I have friends who are RPG'ers and *adore* The Order of the Stick which I just don't really get. They give me the same blank expressions after reading Larry. :)

"One reason is that people often unStifle (and then re-Stifle) the same members"

People confuse me..

Sometimes some real tool might have something to contribute to an interesting discussion in which he takes part.
I then unstifle the idiot to see if he has anything intelligent to contribute. Usually he doesn't, so I re-stifle the moron.

Mahy times, whenever someone launches a "Why am I being stifled?" moan, that attracts at least 20 new ones. Then they gradually ablate off after he learns his lesson. Sometimes.

Since my 164 have been pretty stable, I think that the hard core stiflers have pretty much done their bit, and I can count on 164 as a baseline. Or not.

Stifling is used by bed-ters. And, no, stifles don't have anything to do with mom, apple pie, free-speech etc.

I was wondering about this very point nonly today – had been at 150 for soem time, yesterday down to 149, today at 151. And I hardly posted yesterday.

I cling to the belief that most of these stifles were unsavoury elements who left years ago. Unless you know otherwise…..and if you do you probably can't read this anyway.

I have never stifled (no, not even the casual racists and the occasional drive by nazi) and can't imagine that I ever will.

Deos one's stifle count decrease when members that stifled one become inactive? Not that it really matters…..

My understanding is that the answer is No.

Just noticed that I've succeeded in breaking through the 40 barrier today. It seems that some people don't seem to like knowing what the Pope actually said, did and supported before he became Pope.

As has been said, why stifle? I personally wouldn't want to miss seeing a making a of himself.

And of course the fastest way to increase your stifle count is to comment on stifle topics – pro or con, it doesn't matter.

9

Stifling is used by bed-ters. And, no, stifles don't have anything to do with mom, apple pie, free-speech etc.

Dear Editor likes them. So, his opinion is the only one that maters, no matter how dumb you may think they are.
He is the Vince MacMahon of TMP.

I got 15 stifles alone for my oscar one leg jokes, im staying off popes.

I have a couple people who I consider to be Bad Apples. I stifle them so I don't have to see what they have to say. But every once in a while one will say something that gets a lot of responses so I unstifle and re-stifle so I can figure out what the conversation is about.

Stifling is basically a feature that lets you ignore someone without bothering anyone else. I think it's a great feature and while yeah curiosity sometimes gets the better of me, who cares? If you're really so obsessed with how many stifles you have, then don't say things that get you stifled.

If you're really so obsessed with how many stifles you have, then don't say things that get you stifled.

Rhubarb Prada Pudding Enema Flics from Roumania!

Meh. Robert

I stay the same for a long time , then gain 4-5 usually about stifle threads, then say the same again for a while.

Like most of you, I get stifled when I donīt expect it and stifled when I do expect it

What I think is funny (maybe ha-ha funny, maybe strange funny, I donīt really know for sure) is that John the OFM and 20th Maine are amongst my favorite people here, and between them they have well over 300 stifles. I am glad Freud isnīt around to tell me what that means. Not that Iīm glad that Freud is dead or anything, so donīt stifle me for that…

I have five people on my stifle list and three are no longer members, so I think I have pretty good judgement in stifling.

In short, I have no real problem with anyone.

BTW…I p/u a stifle for Rhubarb Strada Pudding…keep 'em coming Ffolkes!

(Just remember to get rid of them a few days/weeks down the pike if we're all playing along here…)

T-Jack, It follows that the more posts you make the more chance there is that somebody will take offense and Stifle you. Between the two you mentioned there are 80,000 posts (most of them John's)! You can see the results… 8)=

"…the more posts you make the more chance there is that somebody will take offense and Stifle you."

This is utter nonsense, in that it assumes that 'offense' is the basis/reason for the stifle.

Fact(boys and girls): The reason for the stifle is…

Because you can. No other. No deep meaning. No known motivation. And most importantly: No revelation/implication of the stifle-er's moral or intellectual fortitude.

It's a lark. It's fun. It generates same – and for that reason I think it's a good facet of the site.

ps- I miss Connard

Oohh a stifle thread, how thrilling…..have you noticed that Tango chappy makes an awful lot of posts….? ;-)

Because you can.

Well, sure!

If we never had it, I would not find it necessary.
However, we do, and I would howl like a scalded cat if they were taken away from us.
I have never stifled anyone whose opinion I valued.

I LOVE the fact that you can never know, only guess, who stifled you.

"Because you can. No other. No deep meaning. No known motivation. And most importantly: No revelation/implication of the stifle-er's moral or intellectual fortitude.

It's a lark. It's fun. It generates same – and for that reason I think it's a good facet of the site."

Not True for me. I have Stifled a couple of times just for fun. But not for long. The Stifles I have given were due to the behavior of the person I Stifled. Whether it be offensive remarks aimed at myself or another Member,rudeness,arguing,hijacking threads,ect.Especially if its a pattern. I usually take someone off my list to see if things or their behavior has changed. Most of the time they haven't. So back they go. I just don't Stifle for the "fun" of it. Its my prerogative as to who and why. And as I have said before in similar threads its pretty funny that some here equate using the button with being "thin skinned"," feelings easily hurt",Ect. Or as a sign of weakness. Some use the button so to no longer have to see some of the actions and rudeness that our fellow posters commit here. And some can become quite nasty. Some wear it as a sign of pride that they have never used it. Well kudos and good for them. But I like others could not care less if I receive one or if I give one. Its none of their business. And as I have said so many times before its none of anyone's business. Robert

Not True for me. I have Stifled a couple of times just for fun. But not for long.

that is probably what most of us do. I stifle because someone irritates me for a while, then I unstifle – because I'm not a hang and flog 'em type. I kinda figure that, if anyone steps well over the mark, the editor will step in.

Stifles are a cold shoulder….a play hard to get….a subtle wink…..come on baby light my fire.

I just realized the Bill has a much higher stifle count than me, other than he's been around a lot longer than me. How can you stifle the editor? I know you can, but for practical purposes why?

So are 61 accounts locked? And by the way I'm on record I won't ever stifle anyone.

If I'm interpreting the data correctly, I got my latest because I'm not sufficiently angry about cupcakes. Cool.

That is so cool – olicana's original post is "snip"ped, but on his member page it shows the original comment in full under why he got sent to the dog house.

How does one get bits of a post "snip"ped? Can one do it voluntarily or is it supposed to be automatic?

Marc, it's done by the editor. Yes, you can see one comment normally explaining why someone dawghoused. Without seeing the whole thread it isn't always obvious why though. In this case don't joke about religion. Olicana must be the billionth person to make a joke about Catholic priest and little boys, but making it on these forums is is a mistake as some people take their religion very seriously and therefore, rightly, take offence to it. There are loads of recorded 'choir boy' scandals so you could say it is a joke based on historical precedent, but it can still offend as obviously not all priests are kiddy fiddlers. Good use of the dawghouse as gives a cooling off period.

To stifle or not to stifle, that is the question

whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer

the views of outrageous disagreement

or to live and let live

for he who disagrees cannot affect your mind

unless you let him through fear of being proven wrong!

'Death to the stifle'

I am up to 16 stifles which surprised me because last I looked it was at 4. I don't post that much and I just laugh at it. I guess I am better at offending other's sensibilities than I realized. To those who have stifled me I offer this pffffttt! That's as close to a raspberry as I can manage on TMP.