Blocking?

1. 61

   TechnoSchnauzerposted 2 years ago

   I'm not sure how this would be taken as I am new to the site and unsure about the community's feelings, so I'll go into a bit of an explanation.
   
   I'm queer and have some mental disorders, so generally, whenever I see people spreading things against queer people, I block them just for the sake of my own well-being. I've not been able to find a way to block writers from appearing when browsing - if I missed it, I apologize! - but I have seen content that made me very anxious.
   
   I want to practice and improve my writing and know that interacting with the community would be important to achieve this. Doing some more in-depth "tailoring" of the content I see would be very useful, so I could avoid situations that could result in panic attacks.
   
   
   Of course, I understand the likelihood of me being the only person who'd benefit from or support such a function isn't that small. Still, I'm hoping that this will be considered for implementation.

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      TessSchlesingerposted 2 years agoin reply to this

      I've asked for a block feature to be added to Hubpages for at least 5 years. It is completely and utterly ignored. I have absolutely no idea why the power-that-be don't want to put it in, but obviously there's something in it for them.
      
      There isn't a site on the web that doesn't have a blocking feature. This is the only one I have ever been on that doesn't have one.

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      Arthur Targeposted 2 years agoin reply to this

      Hi!  I am new on here and can't help too much with HP, but Vocal might be good for you to have a look at there is no function for direct comments/messaging.
      
      Take care, Art.

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2. 96

   Rupert Taylorposted 2 years ago

   Blatant hate speech is banned from HubPages, as it should be.
   
   However, I sense you are referring to subtler put downs and hurtful comments. I don't know of any way in which these can be filtered out. It calls for an algorithm that can make subjective judgements and I don't think the technology available today can do that.
   
   Sorry, I can't be more helpful.

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      Miebakagh57posted 2 years agoin reply to this

      If it seems reasonable to agree with Rupert Taylor, then one should be careful to watch his or her guide. A slip is enough to be banned in the forum.

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3. 90

   Kenna McHughposted 2 years ago

   I don't see any articles from you and you haven't been with HP for more than 24 hours. I assume this is non-sequitur.

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   1. 61

      TechnoSchnauzerposted 2 years agoin reply to this

      I have articles I'm currently writing, but if I can start to feel like I'm going to have a panic attack within the first 24 hours and I'm not able to find a good way to prevent that, then it's best I find another place that will be a healthier place for me.
      Just following therapists' suggestions.

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   2. 60

      TessSchlesingerposted 2 years agoin reply to this

      I'm on a lot of sites. One thing I do when I see people who are at odds with my atheist, progressive views is block them immediately. I just don't even want them to read what I have to say. It's just too much stress. So I can understand where she is coming from.

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4. 96

   PaulGoodman67posted 2 years ago

   Comments on articles are disabled at the moment, but they are supposedly coming back. When you publish on here, you are putting your work into the public domain. While it's right to be concerned about hate speech, which is banned by HP, you may also encounter forthright views that oppose your own that have the potential to be upsetting, even if they don't constitute hate speech. I've learned to develop a thick skin, I've been called stupid, dumb, idiot, etc. in the comments over the years. You may be better off posting in a place where you have more control who is reading and commenting. There really is no guarantee of a friendly public audience here, sometimes it's the opposite.

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      TechnoSchnauzerposted 2 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, I can handle most things but I've had to learn to accept the fact that I can't thick skin away my disorder.
      I love the fact everything goes into the public domain and generally enjoy debate and such, but as certain topics can trigger my anxiety and result in detriment to my physical health I am going to try and find another place.
      
      If I can't do that I'll probably just go about posting and not following/browsing anything, maybe with an exception to the animal topics.

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         PaulGoodman67posted 2 years agoin reply to this

         Also, I don't know what you are planning to write, but this site is mainly about magazine-style articles. Some people do write things that are more blog style, or they do short stories, poetry etc. but I would say that there are other sites that are better suited for that.

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5. 72

   Miebakagh57posted 2 years ago

   Negatively critizing a persons work if it can bring out the best in them is an excellent thing.                                     Likewise, not every positive comments will make your article feature. For instance, few months ago in 2020, many sub-standard articles full of grammatical errors and English structures flood hubpages. Of those I deal with, one or two pass the boot stage and had their articles featured. The others? Gone with the wind! I think these don't like my critisism.

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   1. 61

      TechnoSchnauzerposted 2 years agoin reply to this

      I'm an artist so I defiantly understand the importance of criticism! One of the reasons I'm interested in this is so I can get criticism on my writing. Hoping I can avoid getting 'criticized' on my mere existence, happens more than I'd like to admit.

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         Miebakagh57posted 2 years agoin reply to this

         You're welcome.

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      TessSchlesingerposted 2 years agoin reply to this

      I don't believe in criticism at all. I have generally found it is imposed by people who want to feel superior to others, or who have a vested interest in belittling and destroying the other person.

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         Miebakagh57posted 2 years agoin reply to this

         There may be certain element of truth in that.                                         In perfecting the electric lamp Mr. Edison was critized over 1,000 times before he arrived. Criticism serves as inspiration to his mind.

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            TessSchlesingerposted 2 years agoin reply to this

            I'd be really curious as to why Edison was counting how many times he was criticized.
            
            You do know that he didn't invent the light bulb - that it was invented a century earlier- 1761 to be precise. What he did was hire engineers and inventors to walk on things that he thought could use improvement.
            
            https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019 … ons-genius

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               Miebakagh57posted 2 years agoin reply to this

               Hello, the link is very interesting read and keep me spell-bound.                                    One thing I can agree to is that the "munchkins" were paid well for all the toll they make. The credit then goes to Edison,as much as the "fused" car cylinder goes to Henry Ford.                                Forget about Randoll Stross's story? Any person who raise funds to invest in an invention should take the credit. Much thanks.

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                  TessSchlesingerposted 2 years agoin reply to this

                  We have very different values, obviously.
                  
                  My point was simply that criticism is not helpful to anyone. The people who tell you that are the ones who like criticizing others.

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                  1. 72

                     Miebakagh57posted 2 years agoin reply to this

                     Tess, I'm not in a position to critized other writers if they cannot derived any merit from the criticism.                                    Seriously, constructively critizing others is a good thing and should be welcome. Hope I'm very clear now. Much thanks again.

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                        TessSchlesingerposted 2 years agoin reply to this

                        I honestly don't believe there is such a thing as constructive criticism. There is something called passing on useful information impartially. I suppose, though, I have completely and utterly ignored any 'criticism' I have ever received from other writers because I've been published (at this point) for 60 years, and throughout that time, have had editors, a world famous writer or two, etc. tell me I'm an incredible writer.
                        
                        I was published from about the age of 10, and probably for 15 years, none of my writing was ever rejected from a print publication. The three times it was rejected, the first one the editor phone me to say that the writing was of such incredible quality that she had to phone me because the only reason she was rejecting it was because there were too many stories like it.
                        The second was was from a leading publishing house in London that said they circulated my story for 6 months to their full stable of magazines, but the topic matter wasn't quite right. They thought it a fantastic story. The third time was a leading sci fi magazine in the UK who invited me to write for them but they couldn't accept story because it was fantasy not sci fi.
                        
                        In the days when I entered competitions, I won often.
                        
                        Let me tell you about constructive criticism from other writers. I told one guy in London that I didn't want to be part of a writing group because they people who belonged to writing groups didn't know how to write.
                        
                        He asked me to send him a piece. I did so againts my better judgement. The piece had been published and won first place in a competition. The guy sent the story back to me completely trashed. He changed everything from the names to the narrative. Why? Spite.
                        
                        I accept advice on SEO, style (every magazine has its own style rules), etc. And, yes, I will generally accept everything an editor tells me (they make the payments), unless they want to rewrite the piece to mean something I didn't intend.
                        
                        Of course, everything can be improved, but I'm not looking for perfection - merely to write to a publishable standard, and that, to me, is acceptable.
                        
                        I can also give you a 100% guarantee that what I have written here will cause offence to some. No idea why except they perceive I think too much of myself.
                        
                        Criticism? No. Constructive criticism? Doesn't exist.

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6. 91

   GwennyOhposted 2 years ago

   You won't see that here, and if it ever would rear its head it would be fleeting. I believe that everyone is queer on some level but in denial. Lol. Yesterday I made a comment that could be misconstrued and I knew that. However, it was as close to the truth as I needed to get to convey a point.
   
   My example: I was responding to a man who called his wife 'he.' I pointed out how odd it was, not that his wife is he, but that he identifies his wife as female, and still he wrote 'he.' Life is like this, full of ambiguousness.
   
   I try to look at things backwards when they start to bother me. For example, some say racist things, which is a big no-no for me. I wonder instead, why they feel so much lesser than those who they put down, to insult as they do. It takes me in a different direction until it no longer matters.

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      Miebakagh57posted 2 years agoin reply to this

      I'm laughing loud.

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      1. 91

         GwennyOhposted 2 years agoin reply to this

         Lol, Miebakagh57! Sometimes the way you laugh at things makes me laugh too. Thank you!

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7. 91

   GwennyOhposted 2 years ago

   More to the point than what I said before though, where people publically comingle there should always be blocking, imho.

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8. 82

   Brenda Arledgeposted 2 years ago

   Isn't there a way of having comments submitted to you for preview before posting them underneath your work?
   This might be a solution.

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   1. 60

      TessSchlesingerposted 2 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, but that's not blocking means. Blocking means that the person one blocks cannot see one's work anywhere. And one cannot see theirs.

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