Why I Blacklist and You Should Too

Published on January 5, 2008 By JillUser In Blog Communities

I think I wrote a similar blog a long time ago and I'm sure others have written similar ones too, but I feel compelled to go there again. The reason I Blacklist is simple: Life is too damn short to let people irk you.

I blog for entertainment, social interaction and to keep my brain from total atrophy. I have enough stress in my life that I don't need strangers on the internet to supply me with more. I am human so sometimes, depending on my mood, it doesn't take much to irk me. The fact of the matter is, you don't have control over what irks you sometimes but you can have control over whether or not you allow it to continue. That's where Blacklist comes in handy.

I hadn't blacklisted anyone in a long time. I recently did and the person responded with a "poor me" blog that I will respectfully stay clear of. I just want to say that I'm aware other people have problems. I'm just not interested in them demonstrating them on my blog. Life is too short to put up with people who haven't earned the right to irk you (i.e. people who know you and have made themselves known to you over time) giving you any kind of grief.

Comments

SanChonino

on Jan 05, 2008

I haven't had anyone blacklisted for a long time. Recent happenings have tempted me to put a couple back on.

But you make a compelling argument - time to blacklist some fools.

JillUser

on Jan 05, 2008

time to blacklist some fools.

You go man! Life's to short to let fools give you any grief.

adnauseam

on Jan 05, 2008

I agree with you entirely Jill. I have no time for people who argue for arguments sake; who resort to foul mouthed rhetoric if their faults are pointed out (which I avoid),and; those who attack people for boredoms sake.

I usually stay away from the mainstream fires unless I feel strongly about something , and I have not felt the need to blacklist yet. Let's face it , it takes all types to make the World and some feel hard done by. I avoid them.

Ravenblack

on Jan 05, 2008

The hesitation to using the blacklisting function may come from the fact that some people just can't let off that feeling of what others _might_ be saying about them when they aren't looking.

SanChonino

on Jan 05, 2008

Is the blacklist feature fixed? (news to me...

Not really. If your article is in the forums, they can still post. If it's just on your blog, then you're safe.

Draginol

on Jan 05, 2008

I have put in a bug fix to fix it on the forums.

SanChonino

on Jan 05, 2008

Yes! People piss off the right folks . . .

JillUser

on Jan 05, 2008

Posted: Saturday, January 05, 2008
Yes! People piss off the right folks . . .

I told you I have connections

CharlesCS

on Jan 07, 2008

I've never used the blacklist feature. Guess I have never had the need for it. But I'm one of those who believe that one should not be creating blogs in public forums only to spend time blacklisting people who you have problems with during discussions. I mean, if you don't like these kinds of problems why post in public forums? That's kinda like complaining about getting burned when you know better not to put your hand in the fire. I will agree there are situations where blacklisting is a must, spammers, people who post just to create problems and people who really go too far too often. But I have seen instances, often, where people will blacklist just because they can, just because they didn't like the opinion of the other person. Some here already know how I feel about that, it's a cowards way out, afraid to feel a little heat, to be told the truth or simply afraid to fight back.

The Blacklist feature can be handy when, in my opinion, the situation merits it. But there is a good example of a person here who understands the right to voice ones opinion and though he gets bashed left and right for his opinions and thoughts, not once have I seen him ban anyone from his articles. While Col may wanna take your opinions and wipe his behind with them, while he may think your opinion is worthless, that only his is what counts; not once have I witnessed him stop anyone from having an opinion on his blog. Even after being portrayed as the devils son, a Democrat in disguise or simply a nutcase who somehow found his way to this site and, without any scientific explanation, has managed to make his way around the site, post articles and reply as well; all while being considered one of the dumbest people to walk the face of this planet.

But in the end everyone has the right to blacklist who they chose, when they chose to. In a world where we have to deal with a lot of other people on a daily basis (unless you live completely isolated and don't see other people for several days in a row) blacklisting people just because you don't have time to deal with them doesn't really make much of a difference, unless you could use that feature out in the real world where it would actually be a very handy tool. But that's just my opinion. Ignoring them is much easier for me and sometimes much more painful to them.

JillUser

on Jan 07, 2008

But that's just my opinion. Ignoring them is much easier for me and sometimes much more painful to them.

Good for you. If you can just ignore someone, I think that's great. But if they irk you like I said, then why put up with it. I have every right to blog and have meaningful discussion and debate without tolerating idiocy. If anyone doesn't like the way I handle things on my blog, they are free to not read my stuff.

CharlesCS

on Jan 07, 2008

Good for you. If you can just ignore someone, I think that's great. But if they irk you like I said, then why put up with it.

Well, after years of being everyones punching bag and pushover, you learn to ignore people and it usually bugs them more to be ignored but they would eventually ignore you all together. Trust me, they irked me, I can't say I was perfect and always ignored them, but you learn to pick your battles after a while.

I have every right to blog and have meaningful discussion and debate without tolerating idiocy.

Of course you do, that's what I said. My point is that these kinds of things will happen and should be expected to happen when posting in a public forum. It's a matter of "not feeding the troll" as some put it here. Blacklisting people usually just makes them either create their own blogs that you have no power over or to encounter them in other blogs where you have no power over and unless you are lucky enough they have been blacklisted there as well, it would still be an irk to you.

If anyone doesn't like the way I handle things on my blog, they are free to not read my stuff.

I agree, but in the end it is you, and everyone else who uses the blacklist feature, who forces people to stay away from your blog as oppose to them staying away by their own will as you put it here.

I've had my fair share of encounters with people here who have made me wanna leave and never come back, I even wrote articles about it. but with time I learned that I was making much ado about nothing. That I was simply letting them string me on, I allowed them to hold the reigns and I was the one being controlled. I simply learned to stand my ground and dish back that which is dished to me and if they don't like it, oh well. I eventually leave them thinking they won the fight but in reality when ones words hold some truth over their lame arguments, none of their victory dances will be worth anything cause I know when I am right or wrong and I will admit it as I have before.

They say it takes one to know one. I am as hardheaded as they come, so I guess I can say I have enough experience to deal with people without the need for the blacklist feature.

Please don't misunderstand me, I don't condemn you for using the feature, it's simply how I feel about not needing to use it.

Dr Guy

on Jan 08, 2008

When I first joined, there was a lot of discussion on blacklisting, and most of it centered around barring those that did not agree with you. Some liked to do that, others took the high road.

But you are right as for the real reason for doing it. Life is too short. Ignoring them like Charles does sometimes works, and I guess for now (until your connection comes through) it is our only real option.

I keep my list lean, but not empty. LIfe is just too short to suffer the clowns.

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