Ignoring the Trolls
Recently I discovered the Greasemonkey JavaScript add-on for Mozilla Firefox.
For a long time I’ve wished I could ignore certain habitual posters on this blog; the trolls that add no value to the discussion. After seeing some scripts others had written, it occurred to me Greasemonkey might do the job, and it did.
In order to use this script, you must be running Firefox. If you are not, download Firefox here.
Next, install Greasemonkey, just click on the Add to Firefox link from that page.
Finally, obtain the IgnoreDino script from userscripts.org by clicking on the Install button on the script’s page.
Ensure you read the script description for the history and limitations.
To add or remove users.
1. Right click Greasemonkey icon in lower right corner of browser window.
2. Choose Manage User Scripts.
3. Select the IgnoreDino script and click the Edit button. (You may be asked what program you want to use to edit, I use Notepad. Any plain text editor will work.)
4. Edit the blocked_ids and blocked_names array assignments to add (or remove) users from the ignore list. Follow the same format as those already present. (comma delimited quoted entries)
5. You may also change whether or not ignored posts are reported within the stream of comments. (Reported by Default) Instructions on how to disable reporting are listed within the script. (Change 1 to 0)
6. Save your changes and close the text editor.
7. Ensure the Enabled button for that script is checked at the bottom.
8. Close the Manage User Scripts window.
I’m sure some, especially those routinely ignored, may find this highly controversial. Keep in mind, this is a reader configurable option - it does not effect whether other readers see the posts or not.
Rob may give you the right to Say Anything here. But you do not have the right to force us to read it. Now we no longer have to if we so desire.
For those that are curious, the script is named for the person whom I most wanted to ignore.
For a long time I’ve wished I could ignore certain habitual posters on this blog; the trolls that add no value to the discussion. After seeing some scripts others had written, it occurred to me Greasemonkey might do the job, and it did.
Installation Instructions
In order to use this script, you must be running Firefox. If you are not, download Firefox here.
Next, install Greasemonkey, just click on the Add to Firefox link from that page.
Finally, obtain the IgnoreDino script from userscripts.org by clicking on the Install button on the script’s page.
Ensure you read the script description for the history and limitations.
Usage Instructions
To add or remove users.
1. Right click Greasemonkey icon in lower right corner of browser window.
2. Choose Manage User Scripts.
3. Select the IgnoreDino script and click the Edit button. (You may be asked what program you want to use to edit, I use Notepad. Any plain text editor will work.)
4. Edit the blocked_ids and blocked_names array assignments to add (or remove) users from the ignore list. Follow the same format as those already present. (comma delimited quoted entries)
5. You may also change whether or not ignored posts are reported within the stream of comments. (Reported by Default) Instructions on how to disable reporting are listed within the script. (Change 1 to 0)
6. Save your changes and close the text editor.
7. Ensure the Enabled button for that script is checked at the bottom.
8. Close the Manage User Scripts window.
Closing Remarks
I’m sure some, especially those routinely ignored, may find this highly controversial. Keep in mind, this is a reader configurable option - it does not effect whether other readers see the posts or not.
Rob may give you the right to Say Anything here. But you do not have the right to force us to read it. Now we no longer have to if we so desire.
For those that are curious, the script is named for the person whom I most wanted to ignore.
