[26 Oct 11] Ducking

[Patrick McGraw]

"Owling" was cool when angels did it in The Prophecy. It is clearly not cool when regular people do it.

[TCampbell]

Edit: not worth it, just blocking you instead. I love you, new forum. <3

Woo-hoo! Thanks for mentioning this, I didn't know the forum had a block function.

Sure thing! (For anyone curious, you just click on the person's name, which takes you to the person's profile. Click "add foe." Tada.)

Well, you learn something new every day.

I don't really like this feature. The notion of assigning people a mute button doesn't appeal to me. (If you want to ignore someone, you don't have to "ignore" them, you can JUST IGNORE THEM.) However, I also don't like the dilemma I get when longtime posters start flouting the rules and I have to decide who exactly crossed the line from playful teasing (which should often be assumed) into actual insult.

Adrishiana, you've been a reliable source of pithy snark about the characters for years: I see nothing particularly condescending about pointing that out.

Ezra, there is no excuse. All of your last three posts seem to come from someone who's decided the rules don't apply any more. Knock it off. I won't say so again.

[Adrishiana]

Well, you learn something new every day.

I don't really like this feature. The notion of assigning people a mute button doesn't appeal to me. (If you want to ignore someone, you don't have to "ignore" them, you can JUST IGNORE THEM.) However, I also don't like the dilemma I get when longtime posters start flouting the rules and I have to decide who exactly crossed the line from playful teasing (which should often be assumed) into actual insult.

Adrishiana, you've been a reliable source of pithy snark about the characters for years: I see nothing particularly condescending about pointing that out.

Ezra, there is no excuse. All of your last three posts seem to come from someone who's decided the rules don't apply any more. Knock it off. I won't say so again.

Oh, I don't mind people pointing out the snark. It was the headpatting aw-you-so-cute (complete with smirky smiley face) I found rather distasteful, especially from someone who plans to become a mental health care provider.

[Shadrach]

Adrishiana, I'm not angry at you myself. Still, I must ask: Was that really necessary? From the many friendly and fun discussions I've had with you on and off the forum, I know you're capable of more understanding behaviour than that. Ezra may be just short of earning his ban and I don't think anyone here will be particularly sorry, but Tamar has done nothing wrong here, and I'd be genuinely sad to see T ban you. I like your being here. Please try to let it go before you say something you can't take back?

[L'HommeQuiRit]

Yes, Shadrach, I would have to agree. That was not very nice, Adrishiana, and out of your character. When T says to let it drop, it's best I think to do so.

[Shadrach]

I don't really like this feature. The notion of assigning people a mute button doesn't appeal to me. (If you want to ignore someone, you don't have to "ignore" them, you can JUST IGNORE THEM.)

I hear what you're saying, T, but for some people that's difficult, and I say if the feature helps keep the peace around here, then it's worth keeping it enabled. (That said, it somewhat defeats that purpose if people publicly call attention to the fact that they're blocking a specific person. Even one who may deserve being ignored.)

[SomeCanadianWeirdo]

Ah, the Alpha display to establish the room-mate hierarchy complete. Apparently Sara's the boss.

Reading this brought the image into my head of Lisa bound in some sort of leather thing. Of course given the intent of this new series that's not entirely beyond the realm of possibility.

[retrophrenologist]

If the 'leather thing' was some kind of gag, I'd expect that certain elements on this forum would welcome that development with cheers and applause.

[TCampbell]

Others've said what I would say, so I'll just hope not to have to follow up on this one.

[SomeCanadianWeirdo]

If the 'leather thing' was some kind of gag, I'd expect that certain elements on this forum would welcome that development with cheers and applause.

Nah, I was thinking more along the lines of a straitjacket and collar.

[Lia S]

If the 'leather thing' was some kind of gag, I'd expect that certain elements on this forum would welcome that development with cheers and applause.

A gag? Like... a leather duck costume? Why yes, I would welcome that... oh wait, you mean... No. No. Nooooo.

[Mr. Brightside]

Huh... I'd always thought the "foe" feature was more playful, like /.'s. The idea of keeping a list of foes doesn't really fit on a webcomic forum the way it does there, but phpBB does a lot more than webcomics.

I'd kind of been hoping for "dangerous Lisa" to make a semi-return based on her webshow, but this seems like a step very far in the opposite direction. The Internet actually expecting me to talk to people as if they exist is still new and threatening to me, and these stupid memes don't help. Internet memes should be disturbing; it's disturbing that they aren't.

[bunnyThor]

I don't really like this feature. The notion of assigning people a mute button doesn't appeal to me. (If you want to ignore someone, you don't have to "ignore" them, you can JUST IGNORE THEM.)

I hear what you're saying, T, but for some people that's difficult, and I say if the feature helps keep the peace around here, then it's worth keeping it enabled. (That said, it somewhat defeats that purpose if people publicly call attention to the fact that they're blocking a specific person. Even one who may deserve being ignored.)

Blocking features are invaluable. There's always those couple of people who are never breaking the rules, but who always rub you just the wrong way. Always. Being able to block them saves forums from a lot of fights.

Better yet is the Superblock feature (not available in all forums). This allows you to block a user, and all posts where that user is quoted. That way you never see anything they say and are not tempted to unblock them so that you can tell them what you think of the @#$%ing garbage they are posting. It protects the rest of the forum from any one person's pet peeves. (I know that I've flipped out on people who do inane things like posting in their own special color or talking about themselves in the third person before or comparing everything in the comic to their favorite magical girl anime. Not against the rules, but terrifically annoying to the compulsives amongst us.)

[Adrishiana]

I can see both sides of this particular issue. In a perfect world, we wouldn't need a blocking function because either:

1. Nobody would do anything that necessitates blocking, ever
2. We would all be capable of just scroooooolling on by.

I think, in this world, most people are game for at least giving #2 a shot, but it's kind of surprising what you can pick up even when scrolling down at the fastest speed your mouse can handle, and then of course even their avatar is annoying and what is up with that stupid signature anyway, and grr argh HULK SMASH.

(Just fer the sake of sayin' so, I should note that I am not thinking of any given member's avatar or signature here, more saying that, well, it's kind of surprising what you will eventually associate with "irritating." Is it kind of silly to be annoyed by a particular icon just because you associate it with someone obnoxious? Probably, yes, but humans do a lot of silly things.)

Blocking features are invaluable. There's always those couple of people who are never breaking the rules, but who always rub you just the wrong way. Always. Being able to block them saves forums from a lot of fights.

Better yet is the Superblock feature (not available in all forums). This allows you to block a user, and all posts where that user is quoted. That way you never see anything they say and are not tempted to unblock them so that you can tell them what you think of the @#$%ing garbage they are posting. It protects the rest of the forum from any one person's pet peeves. (I know that I've flipped out on people who do inane things like posting in their own special color or talking about themselves in the third person before or comparing everything in the comic to their favorite magical girl anime. Not against the rules, but terrifically annoying to the compulsives amongst us.)

I don't know how I feel about the Superblock feature, but I basically agree with this. Unfortunately, now that you mention it, I have this indelible image of Marshall as Tuxedo Kamen (dry erase board memory optional).

[Ollie]

So is QUILTBAG going back to a more lighthearted style of writing like what P&A was intended to be in its early days?

something about Lisa's behavior today screams, "Social awkwardness and possible mental instability is fun, kids!" to the point where I'm thinking (kinda hoping) it's a mark of intentional change in overall comic attitude.

edit* HMMM does anything think Lisa would qualify as a Manic Pixie Dream Girl? If this were a romantic series focusing on the guy who falls for her.