Is there a way to avoid reading a specific users messages
I'd like to block messages from just 1 user (at this point) and am feeling that I'd rather avoid the whole forum otherwise (she just makes me feel annoyed) but rather than argue, and in the spirit of free speech I think it would be just best f I didn't have to manually filter her messages.
There is another thread running called 'not always helpful' in the current issues/hot topics category which has a bit of a similar theme to yours, not so much blocking a user but Debbi being upset by one particular user (hope its not me!!).
This forum attracts people from all sorts of backgrounds, intellect, nationalities, age, sex etc., yet we are all in the same boat in that we have been inflicted or know someone who has been inflicted with this dreadful disease otherwise we wouldn't be using it. It is sad that one user upsets you enough to cause you to post in this way but at least you are being very honest and it is better to try and block this user and continue to use the forum rather than to not use the forum at all. Hopefully you will get a quick response from the moderator and I hope to see posts from you in the future.
I am afraid that it is not technically possible to block a specific user's messages. However I can assure you that we work very hard to ensure that the forums are a safe and supportive environment for everyone. If you are feeling upset by some messages on the forums and you want to talk about it then perhaps it would help to phone the Breast Cancer Care helpline, or send me a private message about any particular post which is concerning you and I will try to address your concerns.
Hi Angie, Can't you just fast-forward over comments that you find irritating? It would be such a shame to miss out on the support here because you don't agree with someone's opinions or find her/his personality annoying. And, forgive me for saying, it's probably also unsettling for other posters (as it is for me) to think that, on top of everything else, they must worry about being unintentionally 'annoying' (unlikeable, discardable, worthless) when this should be a safe haven in which to voice fears, hopes, ignorance - the stuff under the shell. I don't suppose I am the only person here to have had occasional qualms that I 'deserve' this visitation because I am in some way a 'bad' person. I suspect that your query is not a comforting element to introduce into a cancer support group. But I do hope you find some way around your 'problem'. Cheers, M-L
I think the positive massively outweighs any negatives on this forum and surely any reader has the choice what they read and what they skip? If you read the name of the poster first, there is no obligation to read what they have actually posted!
Totally agree with you M-L This can and should be a safe haven for all. BC knows no boundaries and no matter who we are or what our backgrounds the 'stuff under the shell' remains the same.
Sorry the moderator can't help but at least they got back to you quickly and maybe you should consider taking up their offer of speaking to them.
Personally, I think we are lucky to have this website and forum, I think this site is a safe haven and such a huge support to me. I find out information from this site that my hospital doesn't provide me with i.e. information on up and coming treatments and trials which for me are important for the future. I may not necessarily agree or like some of the replies I see to posts but I welcome their input and to be honest I like seeing different points of view, things that I maybe hadn't thought of. Please also remember there are people who post on here who are undergoing treatment and this can affect their mood, thinking, emotions and how they post. Sometimes I have tried to send a post and then 'encountered problems' so the post doesn't go through but after a rant at the computer I start the post again and it always comes out differently than what I had tried to write the first time!!
Maybe you could also take a break from the site, just for a short while and then try coming back again. Take care. Love xxx
Actually just for the record I don't have a problem with any specific user at this point in time but did decide that rather than feel dragged down I'd just leave for a while so I pretty much did. But decided that I have as much right to my own POV as anyone else does. I certainly wouldn't dream of trying to silence another user.
I do participate in a lot of communities (I'm a web developer) and it often helps people to be able to filter information based on their needs eg if they don't want to read post from a specific person or about a specific subject. I know that I found the stuff on secondaries scary when I first joined this forum but am OK with it now. But this is an overwhelming place to find yourself in to start with.
It helps if people can have some control over a means of communication. eg filtering spam. Glad we don't have that problem here though.
So I'm not suggesting that we start barring each other or anything like that just that it would be nice to be able to do a lot of the things we do with comms such as email, eg filter our messages etc. I lose track of stuff here and my email is extremely organised :)
So please don't think of it as a personal attack it's not I promise. It's just a lot to take on board and means to filter are a help.