The rules are changing, we are going to start showing the assholes the door

I hadn't thought of that, but it's possible.

I don't think it would last very long since there won't be direct confrontations to fuel it, but to the extent it does I think we will have to rely on other members to put a stop to such nonsense.

I'm sure that if I saw this happening I would respond to it and not simply in the case of someone who I generally liked.

There is a person in this forum with whom I've had a long history of conflict. His behavior led a newcomer to start a thread titled something to the effect of "Why is XYZ Such an Asshole?" While I agreed XYZ is an asshole, I think such threads are very bad for the community and so I told the originating poster the same. I certainly wasn't alone, and while there were a number of people who chose to pile on XYZ the thread lost steam pretty quickly. Since then I don't think I've seen similar threads, but they could have been started. Maybe Robert took action to put a stop to them. In any case it was an example where the community, both friends and non-friends of XYZ effectively curtailed an obnoxious behavior.

I don't think many people here would block somebody and then attack them. Most of the blocking, it seems to me, would be the blocker seeking to improve their enjoyment of the site. There are a lot of people on here. No way they all are going to be compatible. What's wrong with not talking to somebody if you find it consistently unpleasant?

Nothing at all, Ed. In fact, that's to be preferred. But blocking doesn't add or subtract anything to/from that.

Lordy, I'm sort of clamflougolled that you are bored, but not, actually since you have been off living life, which, by the way, I hope you tell us about, especially me.

Some parts of this matter, though.

So you allowed it to go on for years now you decide to ban one person? And you think others are going to take your word for it that things are going to get better around here? I recall reading in another thread pretty much the same thing and that was a couple years ago. Nothing changed then. IMO too little too late, there are only a few million other boards out there for people to post on.

I'll stick around a2k; my fav social network.

Pro boards alone host well over a million boards.

My time and interests are limited - to a2k.

EFST, I get your anger, but it is misplaced, which you haven't reason to understand. I presume you know nothing about Robert, which is reasonable since he doesn't explain himself often.

Give the site a chance.

I don't either, but it's a possibility.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the blocking feature. You've obviously mistaken me for someone else.

No anger Osso, I just recalled the other thread about the new weapon that never happened.

http://able2know.org/topic/200418-1

We have not gotten along, for the most part. But I was not mistaken.

And there is the typical A2k voting process, speak the truth and they vote it down , and they wonder why the site is dead.

Did you read this post, Finn?

http://able2know.org/topic/305632-33#post-6093879

Can't you see the potential for the blocking feature to render whole threads incoherent? Think about it. Suppose there are 15 people in a thread, and 9 of those are each "blocking" 3 others who are in the thread.

No one in the thread is talking about the "same thing." Points that aren't responded to are often seen as having been conceded by the opposing side. Even if you're not one being blocked, or blocking, the potential quality of the thread has been greatly limited by blocking. The whole thread could become utterly incoherent, with many trying to "guess" at what was being said, based upon comments of others. No one would know who else had seen what, and hence would have no way of judging "non-responses," etc.

What I'm talking about has NOTHING to do with trading insults.

What a pack of emotional ratbags. If you have no interest in someone's opinion then dont read their post. Is all this because some dont have the control to skip over a post when they see someone's name at the top? They had better watch out for cracks in the sidewalk.

I tried to reply to you via pm but messed up.

Give Robert a chance. He hasn't been on board for some years but has good ears once activated.

Voting down is a big problem.

I think it's all fine to vote up for contribution and down with massive insults displayed, but not for disagreeing with a point of view if sanely posted. Not that that is a sin, but not what I, me, myself, thinking voting is about.
Point of view - tell me if I'm wrong - is not the point. It has to do with courtesy, perhaps followed by argument, not some kind of thumb slam.

This is tricky for a lot of people.
I've also not thumbed down people who thumb others down whom I take is giantly wrong.
Simply contributing can be a time deal for some or many.

Messy thing, thumbing.

If so then on what basis will you have us make a choice?

If Robert wants to try blocking, there will be blocking. That's not up to us.

What each of us values is different. Some will block, some will ignore, some won't use either function. We won't all choose to be in the same communities - which have the possibility of different rules re blocking.

I'll pick my baby, you'll pick yours.

Maybe we'll run across each other in A2k v nextgen.

I'm gonna be mighty lonesome, kicked out of all the groups.