Top 5 Best Ways To Ignore Posts
1) Don’t click on them.
Sorry, that’s all I’ve got. I had “2) don’t push the mouse button when the arrow is hovering above the link that would lead to a post you don’t want to read,” but figured that’s kind of the same thing. I also considered “3) If there is a title of a post that looks like its contents will not be something you are interested in, don’t read it,” which, again, is a little redundant.
Considering the above, I guess my title is a bit deceiving. Sorry. But that leads me to mention the entirely plausible scenario in which you find yourself erroneously reading a post you were fooled into clicking, something like, let’s say a post about Banner of Heaven. What should you do then? Stop reading. Seriously, reading histories of controversies is just too controversial. Besides, you didn’t mean to click on it anyway.
I spent last night reading your post and Nate Oman’s post from October 2005 on the subject matter. Very interesting, to say the least.
Comment by Dan — June 1, 2010 @ 8:51 am
Does this technique also work when you see the name of a commenter in a recent comments box, and you know that if he says anything worthwhile it will only be by accident? If you have conducted sufficient experimentation to recommend this practice to me, I may try it.
Comment by Ardis E. Parshall — June 1, 2010 @ 9:00 am
Yes, but how do you overcome an addiction to clicking on posts that you know full well you should ignore? :)
Comment by Joseph Smidt — June 1, 2010 @ 9:11 am
Not clicking on a Banner of Heaven post is like not looking at a car wreck. It can’t be done.
Comment by meems — June 1, 2010 @ 11:10 am
Ardis,
If you’ll give me a detailed list of those commenters/bloggers, I’d be happy to experiment for you. Unless the list includes myself, in which case my fragile ego would prefer not knowing.
Comment by Scott B. — June 1, 2010 @ 12:19 pm
Ardis,
Ah yes, but what beautiful accidents they can be. Like Coke or Post-its.
Comment by David T. — June 1, 2010 @ 3:17 pm
Since you mention BoH, Rusty, you should tell us how 9M came to be the Washington Post of Bannergate.
Comment by MCQ — June 1, 2010 @ 4:14 pm
MCQ,
It’s all in the podcast…
Comment by Rusty — June 1, 2010 @ 6:00 pm
I knew you were going to say that.
Comment by MCQ — June 1, 2010 @ 6:12 pm
This post deserves a follow up post titled, “Top 5 Best Ways to ignore comments.” I can think of one way.
Comment by Eric Russell — June 1, 2010 @ 9:35 pm
That reminds me of a Blog That Is No More.
Comment by Peter LLC — June 1, 2010 @ 9:52 pm
The real question is, once you’ve clicked them, how do you un-click them?
Comment by Syphax — June 2, 2010 @ 10:33 am
I didn’t read that post, or at least the comments. I can’t remember if I read the post. I’m kinda down on blogging lately.
Comment by Susan M — June 2, 2010 @ 2:08 pm
Repent, Susan!
Comment by MCQ — June 2, 2010 @ 3:03 pm