"The best argument against stifling." Topic

I have never made a secret of the fact that I use the STIFLE tool, and am not bothered by it when it is used against me.

All kind of Harrumphers are opposed to the STIFLE function, for a host of invalid reasons.
All of these are false, and easily refuted.

However, KevanG said the following:

Personaly, I dont stiffle anyone because there is far too much comedy value.

on
TMP link

I am always annoyed by the easily offended who want to limit how I enjoy my "TMP experience".
KevanG gets it. THAT is how he enjoys TMP, so more power to him. At least he is not telling me how to enjoy mine. He chooses to not use them, while I choose to use them, and embrace them when used against me.

As of this post, I have 173, which is surprising to me, since the last time I checked it was 164. I was not aware that I was any more obnoxious lately than normal. This just shows that you cannot really say how or where you got them, but I digress.

You said stifle.
huhuhuhuhu.

Yeah, I know. But I am a big boy and can take the repercussions like a man.

I don't stifle – if there's someone I don't like I just skip their posts. And sometimes even the real jerks say something sensible.

The Stifle Score is a crock anyway – I'm willing to bet that at least half mine are from people who haven't used TMP for years, and a lot of those only signed up to taunt people and try to yank their chains. There's a short hand word for people like that but we're not allowed to say it

And sometimes even the real jerks say something sensible.

Life is too short to have to wit for that rare occurrence.

I currently stifle no one.

For a brief period in November I stifled a few because I needed a break from them.

In January I also issued a blanket amnesty.

My subscription, my rules.

In general I second 20th's view that even those with whom I disagree occasionally have something worthwhile to say.

Sorry, can't come up with a good argument against the stifle. I've found it to be useful in helping to control my high blood pressure.
As for those who like to think they can control certain things. Remember, no authority without responsibility, no responsibility without authority.

How about a Stifle Amnesty Day, where everyone removes 1 or more "stiflees" from their list?
I'm sure this just bought me several more…..

I stifled a guy once: it was the only way that my browser wouldn't go nuts trying to fit the photos he uploaded in his posts, in my screen!

Since I haven't stifled anyone, even those who I find obnoxious. Reason is that sometimes I like to get ed off… it's therapeutic: I can get angry for something stupid, and then keep my cool with important issues.

I have been on TMP under various guises since the late 1990's and I have never stifled anyone. I guess I'm tolerant. On the other hand, under rvandusen, I've been stifled 12 times since 2010.

I'm not sure why since I can't recall ever arguing or getting involved in any TMP controversies.

It has a place where someone is being clearly offensive, persistently obnoxious or shows a tendency to post with the intention of provoking arguments. Who needs to read stuff like that?

Otherwise, I see no real point in *****ing someone just because you disagree with the substance of a post or perhaps how it is worded. Many posts show signs of being typed quickly and the reader may discern nuances that the poster never intended. The idea that someone is completely incapable of posting anything of interest to me simply because I didn't agree with what they said somewhere else is strange. There seem to be some very thin skins out there, but each to his own.

Meh. I can't be bothered. I simply don't care enough when someone says something I don't like here. I just move on. To me, stifling seems to require enough energy to rise to hating something someone says that I take the time to do something that involves censoring them from my own experience on the site. I just can't get to that level of hate on a public forum for my chosen hobby.

Well, I have said before that I personally would kind of like to know what I did to upset people, but then I read OFM and realise it is their right to stifle me, not mine to understand why. I kind of figure though that there are some topics that just get you marked down. I don't lose sleep anymore, but I do keep an eye just to make sure I am not being more obnoxious than usual.

But if Bill wanted to add another feature to an already overcrowded day, he could flag up what post attracted teh stifle maybe. Would that even be feasible in practice?

John… I KNOW what are you doing… (Ha!Ha!).

You OUGHT TO BE the number one in all the statistics, so you are opening account after account and stifling yourself
to be number one too on the stifle list!!!!.

But you have to work harder my Emperor because it seems it would be a loooong race to the top!! (big smile).

Amicalement
Armand

But if Bill wanted to add another feature to an already overcrowded day, he could flag up what post attracted teh stifle maybe. Would that even be feasible in practice?

I tend to stifle someone for an entire body of work.
I am honoring the career, rather than a specific act.
So, the particular post is irrelevant.

I don't want the people who stifle me to read my post anyway :-)

Well, speaking as the King of Stifles, I can't understand the mentality behind handing them out if you are spending your precious time on a forum (a place for the interchange of views and opinions) but hey – my momma told me one day I'd excel at something and looks like she was right, God Rest Her!

Sparker

You may be the king of stifles, but it appears I am the Emperor of Stifles-check out the recent count.

I think the stifle is a kindly device provided to please those who seem to have the inability to ignore those who disagree with them and have different viewpoints. A device to keep them calm and sane, as many obviously are not used to being disagreed with and just don't know how to cope with it. For some I think, it is much better to hide other people's viewpoints, since it will save them from thinking about or questioning their own beliefs and that would never do, would it?

And I've often wondered how the stiflers cope away from the website? If someone is disagreeing with them they can't press a button and make them disappear, can they? What do they do? How do they cope?

Anyway,there are far more serious matters in the world than someone diagreeing with you on a website forum, the place where that is generally meant to happen. But, as saddened and as puzzled as I am at my stifle count, I find the number of stifles you have even more puzzling? Funny old world, isn't it?

Anyway, I only have one more thing to say –

DEATH TO THE STIFLE!

Meh. None of your business if I do or not. Robert

Sparker and Gazzola,

If I had stifled either one of you I would never have known who had the most stifles.

Gazzola and Sparker.
It is true that you are both pretty obnoxious but your numbers boggle the mind.
I am very impressed. I also have no clue what you have done to earn such negative respect.
Perhaps, stifles feed on each other and multiply?
Or maybe something more sinister is in play here.

Gazzola,

Well blow me down. I suppose I should be gracious about it and offer my congratultions!

However I shall return – I shall be more obnoxious than thou…

I don't care what you do in the privacy of your own computer…….I just think it's silly.

"Perhaps, stifles feed on each other and multiply?"

Tribbles perhaps? Robert

Don't like to stifle myself. Why would I want to censor someone?

Sparker

It has been said many times but the beauty of the web is that you can read, reply or simply ignore posts. No one makes you read and no one makes you reply. It is the posters choice.

But for people to latch on to the stifle to prevent themselves having to read or reply is beyond belief! Do they turn the news off in case it is bad news? Do they not support their team or look at the result in case their team lost? Do they not look out of the window in case it is raining or snowing?

And I found it quite amusing that my stifle count went up when I wasn't posting. So if I post more, it might go down! The whole stifle thing is a joke in my opinion.

Like I say, people can't stifle people in real life – they have to listen, stand their ground or run away, which suggests that the stifle is a form of running away and hiding in case their own mindsets are challenged. In my opinion, the stifle is a tool of the weak. And if they are weak, I suppose they probably do need a helping hand to get through the day.

And please Sparker, we are not obnoxious, unless it is accepted that anyone who dares to disagree and dares to offer their own viewpoint is obnoxious. But it is a good excuse for people to stifle, not that some people need much of an excuse anyway. But people who know me in real life do not find me obnoxious because I disagreed with them over something. I imagine it is the same with you.

Death to the stifle!

I don't stifle, but I get plenty. I suspect because my world view offends a few people, rather than me being personally obnoxious. Cest la vie.

Those who find my world view obnoxious are probably the kind of people who I would find tedious, ill-informed and bigoted. I miss nothing – it is not my role here to educate, just to talk about toy soldiers.

Incidentally I find the OFM personality online to be quite unpleasant. I am sure it is deliberately cultivated, but frankly it reminds me of the stereotypical basement dweller, who resents having to run the pop-tarts up to Mom's bedroom, as it takes time away from demonstrating their innate superiority and intellect via teh interwebs… Stifle away!

Do they turn the news off in case it is bad news?

No, but I do not have to force myself to listen to Rush Limbaugh or Chris Matthews either.

Incidentally I find the OFM personality online to be quite unpleasant.

The fact that I can quote this is proof that I have not stifled you. Yet.
However, I am reminded of the Rick/Ugarte dialog in "Casablanca":
"You despise me, don't you?"
"If I ever gave you any thought, I would."

"If I ever gave you any thought, I would."

I believe is was more like, "If I ever thought about you I probably would." You see if Bogey knew enough to know He'd despise Lori then He'd have given it some thought.

I like the comedy value of looney posts as well and I think it's a good reminder not everyone is on the same page, reading from the same book or even in the library. People who work with other people all day long probably don't need reminding how many of them are crazy but I spend almost all my time with family and friends who are comparatively rational and sane and it can be quite a shock unless I keep myself acclimated.

I do agree with the people who take exception to the term stifle, that connotes more a general silencing than a personal one, mute or skip would be a more accurate and less pejorative term.

I don't stifle. It makes me feel much better about myself to see the vacuous, idiotic rubbish that some people post on here.

Your point about OFM is interesting, in the context of web personalities. John and I have overlapping interests in military history and wargaming, which, in a global context, makes us 2 individuals in a tiny pool of like minded people. I happen to know that I share his political alignment. And I suspect that he is also white, male and middle aged. (These last 3 shouldn't mean a damn thing, but it seems to be a tenet amongst otherwise educated and liberal people that this is important.)

And, purely based on my experience of Americans around the world, I am sure that he is generous to a fault, gracious as a host and delightful as a guest….

And yet I also find his on-line prescence grating? How can this be?

And, before you say it John, I'm sure he finds my on-line persona equally tedious…

So how can this be…I think theres grounds for a thesis here somewhere…

And, before you say it John, I'm sure he finds my on-line persona equally tedious…

Well, duh…

The best argumnet against stifling, is….that there is alwa
ays another thread about whether we should have stifling or not! Same old opinions and reasons!! :-)

Gives me a chance to post this again,
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 or childishness. Some use the button so as to no longer have to see some of the actions and rudeness that some of our fellow posters commit here. And we have seen that some can become quite nasty.s Now some wear it as a sign of pride that they have never used it.Well kudos and good for them.Some say its "censorship" or somehow restricting or denying them their "free rights". But as the poster's comments can still be seen shows that that is not the case. Some here use their right to not to have to read other's comments if they want. But I like others could not care less if I receive one or if I give one. Its none of their business. Robert

No post on this site have affected my life in anyway way, neither has being stifled.

I have never stifled anyone and do not intend to. As far as I'm concerned people have a right to express their views and differences. It is, after all, only a website.

No one should be punished for having a different opinion or for getting a little hot headed.It happens in real life so why expect it to be different on a website?

No one should hate someone for their different viewpoints. I don't hate anyone that attends this website or those who have left. I just disagree with some of their views and sometimes strongly, which some can't cope with. But I don't know these people in real life, so how can you possibly hate them?

We only have one life and hating someone for what they have said on a website or ignoring what they post, just in case in rocks your own cosy boat, is an insult to yourself and an indication of closed-mind mentality. We should be open minded to everyone, even if we disagree with what they say.

Final word on the Devil's device – DEATH TO THE STIFLE

The stiffle…why stop a good laugh?

FAIR WARNING

Do not Stifle The Editor …HE don't like it.

"The stiffle…why stop a good laugh?"

Sometimes I don't find it funny at all what some say. Hence my choice to exercise my right to ignore them and show my disdain in the best way I feel. Robert

whatever floats you Boat

Who has started more "Stifle" threads than anyone else? OFM, is my guess. They are always good for a laugh….

Perhaps the kindest act of all would be for The Editor to lock the accounts of all those TMPers who had accumulated …let's say …50+ Stifles, for six months, so as to give all the other fair-minded yet easily offended TMP members the peace and quite and respect that they clearly deserve.

But then, who would be left to regularly contribute anything of interest or outrage on TMP …perhaps, not even The Editor.

Do away with the Stifle count, I say. Ignorance is bliss and the offended can remain offended, the ignored remain ignored, no one ever gets to know what they 'did' that was so wrong, and nothing else changes.

If people want to ignore what other people say and their point of view, then simply ignore them – no need to stifle them, unless the stifle holds some kind of power buzz, which I think it might do for some people! A sort of 'Ha-ha I can't see what you're saying, rather than I don't like or agree with what you are saying but I will accept you have a different opinion or I will ignore you and not reply to your posts.

And there is no way anyone can be fair-minded and use the stifle! It means you are closed-minded, otherwise those who stifle would accept other people having different opinions to their own.

DEATH TO THE STIFLE!

"whatever floats you Boat"
Yup perhaps it does and I don't care what others think about it.

"Do away with the Stifle count, I say. Ignorance is bliss and the offended can remain offended, the ignored remain ignored, no one ever gets to know what they 'did' that was so wrong, and nothing else changes."

Why not just do away with the Stifle count being visible? That way those who stifle can easily ignore someone and the one being Stifled would not see that they are and be hurt or offended or complain about it.
Robert

Kaoschallenged

I don't think those who are stifled are hurt or offended. Just puzzled at the inability of some people who seem incapable of ignoring posts of those that disagree with them and go to the length of actually hiding them, as if they can't trust themselves or their own viewpoints if they did read them.

I wonder if such people watch the telly with the sound off or the picture dulled, in case they hear or see anything they can't cope with. Just hide reality and pretend the world is exactly as they want it to be, with everyone thinking the same way and agreeing with each other. The stifle is actually an insult to their own intelligence.

DEATH TO THE STIFLE!

Gentlemen, I think you are missing the point. Stifling is purely and simply a mechanism to wind you up. And you get wound up because you ain't really done anything to 'justify' a Stifle and you become confused, because you are essentially nice guys.

TMPers do it because they can and they like to wind you up. They mess with your head. It's fun. That is there prerogative under this set up. They can do it and you can see the result.

The Editor has incorporated the lousy league table system on TMP and added to the confusion by stating that perhaps you ought to consider the way you post if you have more than a few stifles. Baloney, Bill. It's your evil game for your own amusement. And why not – it's your site.

Once that is understood, life should be calm again. Shame it ain't.

Oh, a few people actually do stifle because they don't want to read another TMPers post, but really very few in number.

And as mentioned earlier, what if all those with a number of Stifles were barred from TMP. What sort of a wargamer's site would it become. Honestly, would it remain of interest to you or not?

Do away with the league table, and continue to Stifle to your hearts content.

Love ya,

Blues 4

Well said Blues 4.

Amicalement
Armand

Wound up – no, puzzled – yes! And if the stifle is only being used to wind people up then it should be removed. What a sad and pathetic device for obviously pathetic and weaked minded people to get some form of amusement, if that is what they stifle for.

Now if they had a device in which the member's post you don't like can be blown up, sort of disintergrated on the screen – now that would be amusing and fun. But to hide people's post is just plain sad.

Death to the stifle!

This subject has reached the Meh level.Robert