"Ignored Thread"

[BruceK]

Checking TF, I usually find one thread described as "Ignored Thread", It never opens
Today it`s an Albin thread.
My Profile shows I have "ignored" no threads.
So, why?

 

[SteveK]

I have seen that and also have not ignored, so I thought it is a deleted thread by mods showing as ignored.

 

[BruceK]

I have seen that and also have not ignored, so I thought it is a deleted thread by mods showing as ignored.

I doubt the Mods delete this many threads. It`s usually one a day.
A theory was it`s a thread with the OP on Ignore, I`ve several of those. But as I can`t open the thread,it`s not verifiable.
More likely a glitch. As it happens to at least one other member, keen to hear Admin response.

 

[SteveK]

Next time post a link if you can and if I can open it, I will let you know

 

[Frosty]

I doubt the Mods delete this many threads. It`s usually one a day.
A theory was it`s a thread with the OP on Ignore, I`ve several of those. But as I can`t open the thread,it`s not verifiable.
More likely a glitch. As it happens to at least one other member, keen to hear Admin respons

So I guess you can't even get to the point where there is a message on the lower right that says something like "show ignored content"? I mean, check for that but maybe that's not even there if you can't even get into the thread (?)

 

[SteveK]

If a new thread is started by a poster on your ignored list then the thread would be blocked.

 

[BruceK]

So I guess you can't even get to the point where there is a message on the lower right that says something like "show ignored content"? I mean, check for that but maybe that's not even there if you can't even get into the thread (?)

Correct.
There are theories, but I`m waiting for Admin to say why it happens, why it`s that way, and whether it will be fixed.

 

[Shrew]

........ and whether it will be fixed.

You're assuming that it's broken.

I'm looking at this now. I don't know of a feature that allows you to see that a post is blocked, yet can be viewed if you like. The idea is that you blocked a poster to be able to NOT see that persons post. There isn't a "Block, but lurk a little" feature LOL.

I suspect that when you block a user, you have no idea that post even exists. When a blocked user starts a thread, that entire thread becomes blocked. I've never seen where a post indicates it's blocked.

I'll run through a few scenarios and validate.

 

[Shrew]

I stand corrected. There is an "Ignore But Lurk" feature LOL!!!

Ignore Member:

-Threads started by the ignored member:
-> The entire thread is hidden.

-Posts by the ignored member disappear made in threads started by other members:
-> The thread is marked "Ignored Member" in the list below the date/time stamp of the last post.
-> In the lower right-hand corner between posts will be a link "Show ignored content"
-> If you click "Show ignored content" the post from the ignored member is opened and marked:
"You are ignoring content by this member."

Ignore Thread:
-> Thread Disappears

I don't see an option to ignore an individual post.

To Manage Ignore settings

1) Click on your user name in the top right.

2) On the 'Your Account' tab, select "Ignoring"

3) Within the "Ignoring" menu you will see the following tabs

Users(0)
Forums(0)
Threads(0)
Conversation Starters(0)

The number in the parenthesis indicates the number of things being ignored in that object class (e.g. Users, Forums, Threads, etc).

4) Click a tab listing things being ignored.

5) 'Click' the Unignore button on the right to unignore.

 

[BruceK]

Thank you for responding. Good to shine light on this dark corner.
I have no current intention of "unignoring" those I currently "Ignore". It makes using TF so much better.
However, I wish to be able to see Threads they create. Other TF members will have contributed posts worth reading.
I happily accept posts by the "ignored" will not be published to me unless I choose to open them.
Could you, or Admin, please facilitate. Surely this is an issue for Admin to resolve.

 

[Shrew]

What you describe is the "Manual Ignore" option.

1) Remove "Ignore Member" from all users
2) Threads started by that user can be read. Individual posts will need to be manually ignored
3) Posts in other people's threads will also need to be manually ignored.

This is the only option which will allow you to both see and ignore someone's Threads simultaneously.

 

[BruceK]

Unarguable Facts:
I have "ignored" no threads.
TF incorrectly asserts I have "ignored" threads.
TF is wrong.

The system need fixing by TF. Not by me "unignoring" members placed on "Ignore"

 

[BruceK]

So, silence from TF on fixing the obvious.
Is depriving access to threads initiated by members placed on "Ignore" retribution for placing people on "Ignore"?
You could remove the "Ignore" facility altogether. That could reduce logins and/or raise friction levels.
All software programming is adjustable. Just needs commonsense and goodwill.

 

[drewread]

So, silence from TF on fixing the obvious.
Is depriving access to threads initiated by members placed on "Ignore" retribution for placing people on "Ignore"?
You could remove the "Ignore" facility altogether. That could reduce logins and/or raise friction levels.
All software programming is adjustable. Just needs commonsense and goodwill.

Bruce, I mod a different XenForo forum. What you are asking for is not possible with the native software (that I know of.)

If you are ignoring a member's posts you will also be ignoring the threads they started. Why? Because the first post of the thread is ignored by ignoring that user so you cannot see it. I'm not sure how you would follow a thread that you couldn't see the original post in anyway - it would hold no meaning for you if you can't read the OP.

 

[Frosty]

Bruce, I mod a different XenForo forum. What you are asking for is not possible with the native software (that I know of.)

If the XenForo software can't do it then yeah, not possible. Good to know.

If you are ignoring a member's posts you will also be ignoring the threads they started. Why? Because the first post of the thread is ignored by ignoring that user so you cannot see it. I'm not sure how you would follow a thread that you couldn't see the original post in anyway - it would hold no meaning for you if you can't read the OP.

The only thing slightly odd about that (and this may point to a XenForo choice, not yours) is that when an ignored member posts in a thread, then it will (usually) show that person's avatar, and the post (without content) and then offer that you can click a certain set of words if you do want to see the post. Sometimes (for the same reasons as @BruceK), I will do that because the thread is of interest to me, and perhaps someone whose replies I am interested in has responded and so I want to see the context.

I just mention that because in that case, XenForo does offer the chance to both
a) see that the "ignored" person has posted (you can still choose not to see the contents of that post)
b) click to get like a one-time reveal of what that person said.

So it almost seems like two different philosophies (which maybe is why @BruceK brought it up).

Maybe it's just an inconsistency on XenForo's part, vs. an actual philosophy. Post in the middle of an existing thread vs. a new thread.

(One more note is that, though I have not figured out the pattern of when/why the difference, but the behavior I described above where you can see that the ignored person made a post in a thread and then choose whether to do a one-time view of it is also not consistent. Sometimes I'll have zero clue that an IP has posted in an ongoing thread unless or until a later poster to that thread quotes the IP. Then I can see the quoted material. I really haven't figured out if there is a pattern to those two different behaviors though. But i have not exactly studied them for clues either.)

 

[SteveK]

@BruceK
So as a test, I put you on ignore. Since you are the OP of Ignored thread the first post and all other posts by @BruceK are invisible. The thread also became invisible as a result.
BUT if you go to search and entry the thread title "Ignored Thread" it starts at post #2.

PS. Ignore Bruce OFF

 

[drewread]

The only thing slightly odd about that (and this may point to a XenForo choice, not yours) is that when an ignored member posts in a thread, then it will (usually) show that person's avatar, and the post (without content) and then offer that you can click a certain set of words if you do want to see the post. Sometimes (for the same reasons as @BruceK), I will do that because the thread is of interest to me, and perhaps someone whose replies I am interested in has responded and so I want to see the context.

Interesting. I <also> just tried it out by ignoring @BruceK because this thread was easy to find.

Not ignored:

Ignored:

Threads by ignored users don't display in the forum list.

Poats by ignored users do show the "Display ignored users content" placeholder.

I agree that it is inconsistent and odd - I'll dig around the settings on my other forum when I get a chance to see if there is something there that can change that behaviour.

However, I assume the engineering thought process was something along the lines of.. A user would never want to see an ignored users discussion thread so we will just hide them all.

Edits: spelling

 

[SteveK]

However, I assume the engineeriny thought process was something along the lines of.. A user would never want to see an ignored users discussion thread so we will just hide them all.

That kinda makes sense, if you don't want to read the ignored then what possible interest would a discussion be on a topic the ignored started.

 

[BruceK]

That kinda makes sense, if you don't want to read the ignored then what possible interest would a discussion be on a topic the ignored started.

I get that too. But there can be information from TF members generally, not the tiny minority of "ignored", which I`d be happy to see.
It`s a recent change, so I`m guessing it`s reversible, if the will to do it exists.

 

[drewread]

It is definitely WAD (working as designed) they way it currently functions.

If the mod team here is on board a tiny snippet of code in the extra.less file should apparently be able to display the ignored threads if desired though.

div .is-ignored.structItem--thread {
    display: table !important;
    background-color: #efefef;
}

Source.

 

[Shrew]

So, silence from TF on fixing the obvious.

There is a difference between a Defect (bug) and an Enhancement Request (feature). A Defect is when something should work and doesn't. An Enhancement Request or Feature is something that was not designed in the functional specifications but would be nice to have that feature added.

Please understand that you are asserting that this is a bug when, in fact, you are asking for a Enhancement Request. This is being discussed internally.

 

[BruceK]

There is a difference between a Defect (bug) and an Enhancement Request (feature). A Defect is when something should work and doesn't. An Enhancement Request or Feature is something that was not designed in the functional specifications but would be nice to have that feature added.

Please understand that you are asserting that this is a bug when, in fact, you are asking for a Enhancement Request. This is being discussed internally.

No, not saying the offending mechanism is a "Defect(bug). It`s an intended design that imo should not have been implemented.
As a result TF asserts members are voluntarily "ignoring" threads they are not.
Better to fix the problem than play semantics. Glad there is discussion, hope it is fruitful.

 

[Janet H]

This issue is a tough one because of the way the forum software works -interestingly, the old software also worked this way, so it's not a new problem. Threads are indexed by post #1 in a thread. As an example:

If a moderator were to actually delete post number one of a thread that had several responses, then the entire thread AND the responses would be deleted. The same holds for a thread started by someone on your ignore list. For this reason, it's difficult to handle threads that are started by someone on your ignore list.

 

[BruceK]

Surely it`s a matter of rewriting a program. Seems there is no will to do that.
Those on "Ignore" remain on "Ignore". One is currently "Scraping Paint".

 

[SteveK]

Janet, If the title of the thread that is indexed, or is it now, would the thread then start at post 2

 

[Janet H]

Surely it`s a matter of rewriting a program. Seems there is no will to do that.
Those on "Ignore" remain on "Ignore".

This is no simple task. Fundamentally changing how the software indexes every single thread and how those threads and posts interact with virtually every preference setting as well as cookie handling and SEO is not a reasonable undertaking. Interesting discussion about this over here from the designer of the software we use: As designed - Deleting the first post

 

[Janet H]

Janet, If the title of the thread that is indexed, or is it now, would the thread then start at post 2

No. If the first post is deleted (or ignored), the rest of the thread follows suit. For moderators, there is a labor-intensive workaround for those rare instances where post 1 of a thread legitimately needs to be removed: copy all posts EXCEPT post 1 to a new thread and then delete the old thread. This seldom happens.

 

[drewread]

This is no simple task. Fundamentally changing how the software indexes every single thread and how those threads and posts interact with virtually every preference setting as well as cookie handling and SEO is not a reasonable undertaking. Interesting discussion about this over here from the designer of the software we use: As designed - Deleting the first post

I don't think anyone is asking to see threads with deleted first posts.

As mentioned in my post above when a first post is "ignored" it seems that it is only hidden from the ignoring user by CSS. After all the rest of the non-ignoring users can still see the post.

To have ignored threads show up (with a different background) it is only a matter of a small CSS change in the "extra.less" file in the XenForo backend.

If the mod team here is on board a tiny snippet of code in the extra.less file should apparently be able to display the ignored threads if desired though.

div .is-ignored.structItem--thread {
    display: table !important;
    background-color: #efefef;
}

Source.

I've got no skin in this game, but it is possible to make this happen in a relatively easy fashion.

 

[SteveK]

Thanks Janet.
Not sure how we came to discuss deleting post 1 and the consequences, which does not need to be deleted, but edited by erasing the offensive posted body and replace with "deleted by mod".

This thread is about not seeing post 2+ because post 1 poster is on your ignored list.

My question was (and answered) was if the thread title only is indexed instead of post 1, then post 1 would not be visible but the rest of the thread is visible.

 

[BruceK]

I don't think anyone is asking to see threads with deleted first posts.

As mentioned in my post above when a first post is "ignored" it seems that it is only hidden from the ignoring user by CSS. After all the rest of the non-ignoring users can still see the post.

To have ignored threads show up (with a different background) it is only a matter of a small CSS change in the "extra.less" file in the XenForo backend.

I've got no skin in this game, but it is possible to make this happen in a relatively easy fashion.

Does drewread`s post 28 above provide the solution it appears to contain?
Far too technical for this member, but it is very welcome, and appears to merit exploration.