Aha! I've been muted.

After wondering if I was just being ignored, or if my posts were going unnoticed, I found out I've joined the elite 'Muted' club.

So, I'm now wondering... can muting someone remove the constructive conversations, even those that are heated?

I've never muted anyone because I feel it's censorship this is just my opinion, of course. However, some people will always get to you or post things you may not appreciate, but it removes you from an open dialogue.

So, what do you think? Are mutings used to excess? Are they even necessary?

I can't hear you, you've been muted

Now that that's out of the way...

I only ever use muting rarely, and that's only if the person isn't contributing to any sort of constructive conversation at all....

Then I usually remove the muting after a few days. It doesn't really serve much of a point, it's not punishing the person in question at all.

(edited)

Sort of a temporary muting? Interesting. There have been a few key people on the forums that have been an irritant (to me, anyway), but I guess I've always felt putting them on mute serves no real purpose for me and sort of is a small win for them.

I muted Alby. Then I took it off. But I still don't like Alby.

I would think the only time a mute would be in any way useful would be when the person you want to mute never contributed anything to the conversation. If they were always griefers, or rude, or whatever.

Is it necessary ... yes, for some people. Should it be there? Yes. Some people really ARE happier with the mute button.

*

I think there's a point for me when I'm reading the forums when I have to tell myself to quit posting things until I've gone and done something else for awhile. I get really cranky.

Sin of omission. I think the part you left out was you telling me "Get a Life". Sad really, because my later posts to you were pretty nice, I thought.

Oh... shoot. I'm on mute. Someone quote me here?

I've only muted ones who post things that make the forum hard to read (like gigantic fonts or gigantic images) or only post exessively trollish, pointless messages.

True.. maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment. If I get really annoyed, I just close down my browser window.

I hate it when people I have muted start threads...I can never figure out whats going on then....what'd he say?

True. OK.. maybe the mute button serves a purpose, like a spam filter of sorts.

I guess I can see the value in it in certain circumstances, like those mentioned.

Juro like I said in my last responce to your IM in forums "get a life" to which you turn around and start a thread about it.

Yup I consider this harrasment!

If I choose to Mute someone one its because they openly in this forum

A) insulted or belittled me personaly
B) had added just spam or trolled my thread.

Your cannot force ppl to talk to you.

Yes your on Perm Mute now. I dont take kindly to inuendo and threats!

*Slaps forhead*

I think you must have un-muted me otherwise, how would you have known about this thread? Hmm... unless a thread still shows even if it is started by someone you mute.

*ponders*

Really I think the only time I'd ever mute anyone is if they were flooding the boards with useless spam, as a temporary measure to block the spam until LL came in to boot the person out.

Otherwise, it's just censorship. Everyone should have a say. Yes, even Korg.

I'm sorry.. where exactly was your name in this thread? And of the threats?

Yep, even Korg! I would never put him on mute.

I just ignore the trolls.

It's better to have them think you a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

This is probably very good advice.

I should probably stop talking then, hey?

Nawww...


Actually, I was very interested in finding out people's thoughts on muting infringing on open discourse and it being a form of censorship.

Thanks all for your input.

In the speech with Philip the other day, I muted someone in the crowd only to find out the person said something SOOOOOo negworthy. I was crestfallen. I want to neg so bad and what was said was so deliciously dumb. Gah. So I don't advise muting. You miss out on the stupid but amusing stuff.

My view is that it's only censorship if they somehow stop others from seeing your posts as well. Choosing not to read something isn't the same as banning it.

In this particular case, I wouldn't worry about. You most likely aren't muted at all, and even if you are... lucky you. You might go five minutes without being called a Troll or being reported.

True.


I would like to say that I started this thread to discuss muting in general, and not to call anyone out - as such I never mentioned names.

Of course, since my Private Message was posted on the public forum, everyone knows who muted me and got my brain thinking about the effects of muting.

This topic is very appropriate for the General forum and there is some interesting discussion occuring, but please don't post personal messages into the forums. Also, please do not post personal attacks against each other in the forums.

Sorry Jeska, I tried to keep it as vague as possible.