Need button to hide threads in zero replies

More and more folks are posting their opinions on political topics on an almost daily basis. These go on in General usually.

They're free to have their opinions but really this kind of thing is NOT why most of us are at Linux Questions I think.

I'm not suggesting they not be allowed to post. I am suggesting there should be a way for those of us who don't want to see them, to hide unwanted threads when viewing zero replies or recent replies.

Maybe something similar to the unsubscribe we have when viewing subscriptions could be set on the zero replies view so we could select threads to hide?

The only way I see to do it now is to post some quick reply to make it disappear at least from the zero replies display.

Thanks for the feedback. Keep in mind that you can exclude individual fora from your searches in your UserCP.

--jeremy

Thanks but I'm not opposed to all "General" - just some threads that are purely political in nature. My idea also isn't just for hiding those but allowing users to hide any individual posts for whatever reason.

Originally Posted by MensaWater More and more folks are posting their opinions on political topics on an almost daily basis. These go on in General usually. They're free to have their opinions but really this kind of thing is NOT why most of us are at Linux Questions I think. I'm not suggesting they not be allowed to post. I am suggesting there should be a way for those of us who don't want to see them, to hide unwanted threads when viewing zero replies or recent replies. Maybe something similar to the unsubscribe we have when viewing subscriptions could be set on the zero replies view so we could select threads to hide? The only way I see to do it now is to post some quick reply to make it disappear at least from the zero replies display.

You're bring up two things:

1. Some way to mark a thread to hide it from your view
2. Give something one reply to remove it from the zero reply list

That second option is really something to avoid because removing something from zero replies just for the sake of adjusting a view is a poor choice. I do realize you are being theoretical here and not looking to promote exactly that.

I feel this still boils down to each member adjusting their own filter accordingly. I used to look at the zero reply list everyday. Now, I never look at it. Once I learned about the new replies search option I tried that a bit too, but I similarly never look at that. I've instead chosen to go to the forums I like to read and sometimes there is enough activity in the primary forums that I never get to the second or third options. I ignore certain forums entirely, as I'm sure many also do. As far as a thread which I'd find not worth my attention, but you can't tell unless you click, I open it into a tab, sequence through my open tabs and occasionally see one where it's clear I'm not interested and I close it. I don't personally feel that the effort of filtering really taxes my time all that horribly.

Yes but you're suggesting essentially what Jeremy did. i.e. Simply exclude General and/or other fora. The issues I see with that approach:

1) I am in fact somewhat interested in some things that end up in General. On the flip side others may in fact want what I call "political" posts but not be interested in those other things.

2) Some newbies don't know which forum to post to initially so filtering out fora might miss their questions/

i agree with the sentiment 100%.

i'd like to add that some users (it's really just a handful, and if there's any doubt as to who i'm talking about, pm me) keep pushing these political subjects; not only in "their own" threads, but also in other existing threads, until those threads get effectively hijacked.
and regardless of the topic the thread started with, it ends up in some sort of world/US politics alround discussion between those "political power posters".

but i don't think this can be solved programmatically...

I would say this is something like "subscribe thread" in thread tools.
I wish I could hide/unhide any thread and probably user too.

Originally Posted by MensaWater Yes but you're suggesting essentially what Jeremy did. i.e. Simply exclude General and/or other fora. The issues I see with that approach: 1) I am in fact somewhat interested in some things that end up in General. On the flip side others may in fact want what I call "political" posts but not be interested in those other things. 2) Some newbies don't know which forum to post to initially so filtering out fora might miss their questions/

No at all. I feel I'm saying the same thing as you, but in a different manner.

You seem to be saying, "Consider a customization using technical means"

To be clear, I'm saying, "Perform this filtering with your eyes, brain, and index finger by way of mouse click or screen tap"

For the precise reasons you just cited:

1. There are forums you wish to view but there may be threads in there you do no wish to view
2. New, as well as experienced, posters may post in any forum and it might be helpful to guide their threads to other locations which might be more correct places for their questions

Because I fully agree with you, and my extended point would be similar to the spam folder example.

How many times these days does a business, or other person suggest you check your spam folder for an email they felt they already sent to you where you're complaining you haven't yet received a response? It is now normal for people to legitimately look at their spam folder for real email correspondence which they wanted to see.

Therefore (my opinion only) I feel that any technical solution would be a waste of your time. You do seem to be saying that you wish to see the larger portion of the good, bad, and ugly threads, but then you're similarly saying you still wish to filter "some" of them.

At a technical level, how would "you" design that filter? User-Y, on a Weekend, used the phrase 'check this out' --- Delete?

It's gotten the stage in the general section where US politics is dominating and there's nothing new or interesting to read there. I also agree that specific agendas are being pushed very strongly and some of those pushing these agendas simply ignore anyone who challenges their viewpoint. However, I have to say that nothing is particularly "offensive" as such.

And perhaps that's an indication of the whole problem - in that without there being any kind of debate, political threads can only become a platform for propaganda. With any kind of debate, you will invariably get flame wars, if not a lot of bad feeling which will overspill into the rest of the forum. But aside from that, heated exchanges are probably not what this site wants in it's offtopic section.

My feeling is that the general should just be split and an offtopic subsection for non tech/computing offtopic created. This could be excluded from the forum search by default. Should please (almost) everyone...

Originally Posted by rtmistler You do seem to be saying that you wish to see the larger portion of the good, bad, and ugly threads, but then you're similarly saying you still wish to filter "some" of them.

No. I'm NOT asking for an AUTOMATED filter. I'm asking to be able to select a thread and choose hide on that thread so I don't have to see it again in zero replies, recent posts or other views.

Originally Posted by pan64 I would say this is something like "subscribe thread" in thread tools. I wish I could hide/unhide any thread and probably user too.

LQ has an ignore list for users (and has since almost the beginning).

--jeremy

Originally Posted by jeremy LQ has an ignore list for users (and has since almost the beginning). --jeremy

I'm really sorry, but still don't know how to find it and how to use it.

@MensaWater,

I've recently noticed that you seem to be promoting your own policy here already within at least the Non-Nix General forum by way of replying to threads where you have your distaste with a single post, single word, "Facebook" which is entirely non-relevant to the original poster's intent.

Therefore this policy you're talking about by way of removing items from the zero reply list to suit your needs is something you are already doing.

I feel that this can only cause tension with other members. It would seem clear at least by the three examples I noticed that you might be directly battling with a specific member about this issue. Once again, this is the type of behavior where I feel it may reach the level of direct confrontation between one or more members, insults get thrown around a lot, and then ultimately Jeremy may have to step in to moderate.

Once again, my suggestion is to filter by way of ignoring in some manner, even if it means using mindful restraint, over a more direct tactic which it clearly appears you are using. http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...4/#post5706076 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...1/#post5707848 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...3/#post5707846

Originally Posted by pan64 I'm really sorry, but still don't know how to find it and how to use it.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...?do=ignorelist

(It's the last item under "Settings & Options" on the left hand side menu in the UserCP)

" you seem to be promoting your own policy" Kind of harsh wording maybe. Not sure I'd consider the OP's question to be that way. I assume he simply wishes to have a simple way to avoid any reading of General forum threads. (other than not opening them)

I generally assume that when MensaWater posts an answer to a technical question there won't be any reason to add to it. The post would be answered correctly by him.

It may be that jeremy could make General hidden to MensaWater like reported posts are to general users.