it's been less than 24 hours and I've already been blocked twice...

[VelmaD]

that I know of, by people who can't stand to be called on their sexist bullshit. PM me if you want to know who it was. Though I figure no one will be surprised.

I told people this would happen.

on edit: make that 3

[Book Lover]

1. And so the narrowing of dialog begins

Enough of this and I truly hope Skinner, et al, will reconsider this change.

[Warpy]

2. He acknowledged it was open for abuse

and it looks like the abuse may have started.

It might be a good thing to give mods in protected forums. I can't see it doing anything but starting wars when it's a member function.

Ignore keeps us from having to read offensive drivel. It should be adequate.

[wicket]

3. They are so pathetic

:eyes:

I for one appreciate what you are doing :hug:

[VelmaD]

4. the really funny part it...

that one of the people who blocked me repeatedly accused ME of being thin-skinned. Somehow I'm thinking the irony of that went right past him. *snort*

[Triana]

6. He's projecting...

obviously.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ismnotwasm]

7. I just figured out what you were talking about

I've been so incredibly busy this last month or so, I kind of hit and run on DU. I just now saw that new "feature". Man, I don't know. I guess they're preparing for the primaries, but I can see where it could allow certain topics--like sexism-- to go in free fall with no restraints at all. Especially something as ingrained as sexism. It's so hard to get those who benefit from it to accept how damaging, painful and actively destructive it is without confrontation.

Feel free to PM me if you like.

[bliss_eternal]

10. all the -isms...

sexism, racism, homophobia, etc.

To me, it just seems yet another way for admins and mods to blow off those that complain about serial offenders. As opposed to getting to the issue at it's root (i.e. clamping down on certain issues and having a no tolerance policy, getting rid of members that aren't respectful of various groups, ethnicities, etc.), they just create a way to make their lives (mods/admins.) a bit easier. I'm not making light of what they do, I fully understand that being a moderator/admin. is a thankless, difficult on a good day, experience. But is this the answer?

A technological creation to be dismissive of those that are members of the forum.

This should speak volumes to many here about how "concerned" the board is about certain issues.

[ismnotwasm]

16. Agree

And I wanted to say hi Bliss!, Good to see ya:hi:

[omega minimo]

8. If we use it to block the biggest serial disruptors

doesn't it allow us more opportunity for threads to discuss what we want, without the harrassment and hijacking?

On the threads dominated by boneheads, if sexism is running rampant in entire threads on certain topics, that is where the Mods oughtta step in, right? Or that sends the message that misogyny is acceptable on DU?

[VelmaD]

11. To address your second point...

The mods/admins SHOULD step in...but they don't. And this new feature was put in place so they don't even have to. Instead of the moderators and admins doing their jobs...they're foisting it off on everyone else. If I see someone post something sexist over and over and over again...I'm supposed to just block them? Why are these people even still here? We all know who they are...we alert on them all the time. But the admins/mods don't want to suck it up and DO something about them. Because they don't really care about the general culture of sexism that pervades our society and thus DU as well. Misogyny IS acceptable on DU. And this change isn't doing anything to help end it. It just gives the offenders the ability to stop US from calling them on it publicly.

[omega minimo]

12. you and bliss_eternal have put it well

sad, isn't it?


This past year showed that there were certain topics (abortion and rape) where boneheads could dominate with impugnity. I quit even opening most of those.


If we OP and can invite people in who are actually interested in information or discussion, that's something-- a defense against those predictable attacks.

[ThomCat]

13. I agree.

I see the new feature being useful only in the cases of online stalkers. But it's ripe for abuse everywhere else. We're going to see ourselves locked out of threads that are going to be truly offensive. We are going to be dependent on Moderators to actually police those threads, and I am not holding my breath waiting.

If I see a lot of abuse I will start posting less often, and I'll stop donating. I was never a heavy donor, so I don't know that the Admins will care, but those donations are probably the only message they'll listen to.

[Greyhound]

14. After reading DU for almost two years, I'm pretty sure that misogyny is thoroughly

acceptable, even encouraged, on DU. Sorry to say it, but there it is.

[bliss_eternal]

9. How can you tell that you've been blocked...?

Sorry...I just found the answer to this question through the ignore feature area on "my du." Wow.

It's unlikely that this will achieve what they hope it will. I'm not even sure what the goal is. What I read as the stated goal, seemed to be a function for a select group of members more than to serve the entire population and it's greater good. It may 'set them free' from those they see as "serial complainers" but if they no longer have to actually address issues directly, who or what is that actually helping in the grand scheme of things?

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Lars39]

17. I just realized I am blocked

from a thread started by someone wanting 'to clear his name.'
Not just responding to the OP, but to anyone in the thread.
My voice just became silenced. Why should any member of DU be silenced in this way and want to stay?

[lukasahero]

18. Me too

Fuck that.

[Bunny]

19. Yeah. He called Morgana out, then you called him on it.

And we see whose thread got locked,don't we?

[Bunny]

21. Alright I stand corrected.

That thread has been zapped too. Good.

[Lars39]

20. As far as I know, this is the 1st time I have even been put on ignore.

[VelmaD]

22. well. two of the original four who blocked me...

have unblocked me. OPERATIONMINDCRIME and I hashed it out, somewhat publicly but some in pms, but he acknowledged that he had been wrong to block me and we have agreed to keep right on disagreeing, loudly and intensely, but at least the dialogue is back on. That he and I were able to get it worked out actually gives me some hope.

Since I never publicly "outted" the other person who just unblocked me...all I'll say here is that we'll see what happens. I promised not to throw the first punch...but he and I have disagreed in the past on what is and is not civilized conversation and what's fair game and what is actually a personal attack...so who knows. :shrug:

As for the other two...I'm still not considering it a great loss.

[yardwork]

23. Locking

If you have concerns or questions about DU policies, please take them directly to the Administrators. Thanks.