Question about how you post

I'm new here, so I'm still figuring out some of the rules. The buddy and ignore list is new to me, as is not being able to express an opinion other than cat related until the group has gotten to *know* me. (Cinder = ) At first, I was wondering what possible purpose that could serve, but then I thought about it and it made sense. After 100 posts you could be on enough ignore lists that it wouldn't really matter what you thought.

Anway, I said I had a question and I have several. Do most of you actively use these features? Ex: if you're against declawing and someone posts that their cats are declawed and are just fine, wham...instant ignore list? If you don't believe in breeding cats for profit...breeders are outta here! If someone spews information like Moses handed the rules to them on a stone tablet...adios, amigo? Or do you read pretty much everything? Or do you use the buddy/ignore list to socialize within your own group?

When you post in a thread and dialogue continues without any mention of you being there, do you presume you're on that person's ignore list, or do you just figure that whatever you said was irrelavent to them? I've not tried either of these features, but I presume ignored posters' post simply don't show up.

Seems to always be new people, so maybe they're wondering too.

I try to stay within a small number of threads, which I try to follow, although sometimes I forget and have to go check my username to see where I've been.

I'll move this to the support forum for you

I personally have never used the ignore lists - I think its more for a time when a person is being deliberately annoying/crude/antagonizing/etc. The requirement for 100 posts before posting in the IMO threads makes sense -they are usually sensitive topics of one sort or another, and you don't want thread trolls (people who come on just to stir up other people) being able to post there. By the time a person has hit 100 posts and 30 days, its pretty likely they're here for more than just a short while, and that they're willing to respect the opinions and thoughts of other people.

**I'll move this to the support forum for you**

Okay...but it wasn't really that sort of question, I don't think.

Hi Cinder. The support forum is the "Forum FAQs and How-tos" if you thought it was like emotional support or something.

I don't use the ignore feature for long, just if one particular person is being really super annoying and I need a break. It shows up in the thread that there is a post there, and says "this post is hidden because ____ is on your ignore list". Sometimes you end up looking like an idiot, because the person you're ignoring says something, and you say the same thing right after them, esp twice in a row.

Real breeders don't breed for profit, so that's likely not to be an issue, and not every declawed cat has problems-- it's just sad when people encourage it and have no idea what they're even talking about.

I don't put someone on my ignore list just for disagreeing with them, and I don't think most other people do either. You're bound to disagree with every single person in life and online at least once, if you're around long enough. It's more of how they do it. Someone has to be, honestly, obnoxious enough to be asked to leave TCS before I would put them permanently on an ignore list.

I'm glad you need 100 posts to be in IMO. That really isn't very many posts at all, if you plan on sticking around, and IMO is meant to be just a little perk where people get to know each other better and who like to yammer on about hot topics (I'm one of them ) It's really got nothing to do with the rest of the board, where you are allowed to post, and once you actually like it here you don't want to just go in and flame people or be rude. I'd say our IMO forum is more civilized than most forums' regular threads .

See you around the boards!

Susan moved your post to this forum because both of your questions deal with TCS rules and/or features

Of course you are always allowed to express your opinion on things, within the rules of course There are plenty of topics in the Cat Lounge that you could express your opinion about. The heavier subjects are reserved for the IMO forum. In there you are allowed to speak your mind a bit more freely than on the rest of the forums, but must stil be respectful of others and follow the rules.

Before I was a Mod, there was a member that used to irritate me with their posts. I put that person on my ignore list. The thing is, it's sort of like going by a car accident, you have to slow down and look. I had to see what they wrote, so I was constantly taking them off the list.

I know some of our members do use the ignore list, but they are in the minority.

I don't expect people to respond to every post I have made. Some threads get so many replies that it is not possible to do so.

I just thought of a thread I started that might be of interest to you after reading Abbysmom's post.

Here it is:
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92484

"Does anyone actually read other people's posts?"

There are very many reasons that a particular person didn't respond directly to your posts, and most of them have nothing to do with you or what you wrote. I know I often read things but don't respond to them particularly even when they are helpful or interesting, usually because I just don't know what exactly to say.

Just assume everyone else is reading your posts, unless you have reason to believe they're not.

I'm new here, so I'm still figuring out some of the rules. The buddy and ignore list is new to me, as is not being able to express an opinion other than cat related until the group has gotten to *know* me. (Cinder = ) At first, I was wondering what possible purpose that could serve, but then I thought about it and it made sense. After 100 posts you could be on enough ignore lists that it wouldn't really matter what you thought.

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There are plenty of things you can express an opinion on outside IMO, it can be tough when you see a thread that you want to post on and have to wait, but after seeing other forums who do not have the restriction, it is obvious why it is there. There are plenty of opinions you can voice on less controversial subjects, and if you searched for a cat forum, you were looking to talk about your kitty and not politics / religion / crime etc in IMO.

Do most of you actively use these features? Ex: if you're against declawing and someone posts that their cats are declawed and are just fine, wham...instant ignore list? ... Or do you read pretty much everything? Or do you use the buddy/ignore list to socialize within your own group?

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The buddy list has little value other than putting a mark against their names so its more obvious to you that they are online, but if I want to chat to them, I do it through IM or PM so to be honest, although I have put people on my buddy list, I don't bother with it. I also don't use the ignore feature, with the exception of perhaps a troll was online at which point I report the posts and put them on ignore so I don't have to see it.

When you post in a thread and dialogue continues without any mention of you being there, do you presume you're on that person's ignore list, or do you just figure that whatever you said was irrelavent to them? I've not tried either of these features, but I presume ignored posters' post simply don't show up.

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From what I have heard, if you put someone on ignore, it shows their posts as minimised, so you can choose to read if you want. I generally do not assume anything, some people only answer the original posters' question and others reply to everything... I wont get upset if something I say is missed. And I doubt the whole forum has me on ignore so eventually someone will reply!

I try to stay within a small number of threads, which I try to follow, although sometimes I forget and have to go check my username to see where I've been.

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If you are staying in a small number of threads (or a small number are extra important to you) you can subcribe to them under thread tools at the top of each page of the thread and it will email you when there are replies.

**I'll move this to the support forum for you**
Okay...but it wasn't really that sort of question, I don't think.

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Maybe not, but it doesn't really belong anywhere else either

Thank you for the well presented and well taken replies.

At first I thought the thread was moved because of the title of the thread. I wasn't really asking how to use a forum feature, although it could have looked that way. One of those things where I know what I'm talking about, but no one else does.

Good link Zissou'sMom. It was similar to some of the questions I did not so eloquently express, and contained good information. I see it was posted in The Cat Lounge, but with a more appropriate thread title ... instead of saying "How do you respond to posts?".

In the couple of occasions where I have considered placing someone on the ignore list, I have also considered that while on that particular subject I do not value their input, they may have offer something very interesting or important elsewhere. So, like you, I doubt I will use it... unless, of course, someone is obviously giving me attitude.

Very true icklemiss21, people do come here looking for a cat board. And personally, not being able to participate in IMO is not a big deal in that I feel the need to share my personal views on politics, etc, here. I've been on boards where certain forums were restricted due to content and required additional sign on procedures, but that was to protect board members from posts they might find offensive. I'd just never come across this manner of restriction before, which obviously works very well for TCS. I did come across a troll's post the other day, which was quickly removed by an Admin. (good job ) It wasn't in the IMO forum though.