EN World Two potential site upgrades

[Umbran]

I also want Blocking that cannot be pre-emptively used by poster A to keep poster B out of threads created by poster C, D, E, ...

I don't believe that was ever an issue. Post numbering got messed up, so some links broke, but A could not keep you out of a thread created by C.

 

[JustinCase]

I dislike the idea of threading. It can make for a very confusing read, and when I do use Tapatalk, I wouldn't be able to see all of the comments.

Having no experience with blocking fortunately, I have no strong preference either for or against that idea.

 

[Nagol]

On the vBulletin boards, we had a module for blocking. If a thread started, and the OP blocked you, you could then not see the thread at all, even if you had already posted in it several times, effectively throwign you out of the thread. This was seen as a hefty negative of the blocking feature.

I am not so sure it was that negative. If you want to keep active in a thread, then maybe you should more studiously avoid cheesing folks off.

The module also allowed one to designate threads as friends-only. There was at least one instance where the OP created/was given control of a resource thread, got pissed at the site, and designated it friends-only a year later. Everyone was thrown out.

 

[Rabulias]

I vote no on threading.
I have no opinion on the blocking.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

I like the idea of threading, but I'm not sure how it would be executed. If it were like Reddit's, that makes it harder to follow the discussion as a whole, but easier to read individual responses to posts.
Maybe have threading be toggle-able by the person who makes the thread? Or, have it so if you quote a person's post, it shows any quotes they used in their post? Would either of these be a good idea?
I think blocking could be a good idea. I vote yes.

 

[Li Shenron]

I am not a fan of threading. In fact it's the main reason why I have always found reddit unreadable.

 

[Tonguez]

So is Blocking a Mod only feature? I cant see the point otherwise

and also not a fan of threading - it makes things to jumbled to follow, so I stop

 

[Morrus]

I like the idea of threading, but I'm not sure how it would be executed. If it were like Reddit's, that makes it harder to follow the discussion as a whole, but easier to read individual responses to posts.
Maybe have threading be toggle-able by the person who makes the thread? Or, have it so if you quote a person's post, it shows any quotes they used in their post? Would either of these be a good idea?
I think blocking could be a good idea. I vote yes.

To clarify, I’m not writing the software. I can’t change the functionality of the upgrade or take requests.

 

[Fanaelialae]

As long as users can turn off threading I don't see why not. Otherwise, I prefer the current layout to that of Reddit.

As for blocking, as long as it is simply a shield then I see no issue with it.

IMO, the issue with the old blocking was that some people would wield it as a bludgeon, using it to punish those who disagreed with them (and often as a means to get in the final word). I realize that this sort of behavior was moderated, but IMO it's better to not hand out bludgeons to begin with, than to reprimand someone who misuses one (at which point the harm has been done and, at best, you're merely discouraging repetitions of the behavior).

That doesn't sound like it would be the case from your description though, so as long as it works as advertised I don't see much harm. To be perfectly blunt, I didn't use the block feature before and I doubt I would use it in the future, as I think there's the potential to learn from everyone. I could see it's value though in cases where someone is being legitimately harassed though.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I didn't use the block feature before and I doubt I would use it in the future, as I think there's the potential to learn from everyone. I could see it's value though in cases where someone is being legitimately harassed though.

I'm with you. People are generally terrible at expressing themselves in the written form. I choose to believe that most people mean well, even if their post 'sounds' unreasonable. I wouldn't come here to 'talk' about stuff if I wanted to only 'hear' things that I already think or already know. If someone is problematic enough that I'd want to block them, I think they'd have long since been kicked by a mod. (They'd have to be a terrible troll; like really really bad).

As for the threading - I have no idea. I don't think I frequent any sites that use that sort of thing. I could see it being confusing if it showed up in my play-by-post games, but I dunno - maybe I'd like it? I'd have to see.