The problem to blocking and ignoring someone - anyone really - is that onlookers who don't understand the situation will be misinformed or otherwise get the wrong impression if I, the NTSE mod, do not address their 'concerns'. Yes, I could do that, but in the long run, it's not good for the site either, as those with 'concerns' can then easily make accusations of 'bias'. Furthering the problem would be the misinformed, who would start believing such claims if the mod/reviewer does not reply.
Having to constantly deal with the hecklers in the audience is a pain, and ignoring them is not a good option either.
Those quotes aren't a healthy way to approach it. It's akin to going 'their fake concerns lol' and 'their stupid cries of bias lol'. And as assuming as it is, that is how it comes off when you quote it. Just say the words instead of make it come off that way.
As for the actual statement: I disagree that it makes things worse. What makes it worse is when someone decides to enter a thread and go "lol just hit ignore like I did" instead of just be adults and let people ignore and block at their own pace. It doesn't hinder the site at all, primarily because people know who blocks who with a simple "I have them blocked" or a PM to explain why the statements are being adhered to. This is why I've pointed to the fact you should focus on submissions, as
the NTSE tag means more than no tag to new members. People get misinformed because of things like warning players or slandering someone in discussions, not because of someone being ignored not being acknowledged in a submission.
The solution isn't to "deal with the hecklers". This is why I can't see Arieg's suggestions being logical. You, as you even stated, are more worried about doing the job of someone like
@Fred and moderating a player instead of just focusing on the submissions. And then there's the issues Arieg likely intended to apply to someone like, say, Ame. Who, as we know, is the one who tends to pick his things up when you don't and actually tries to discuss things that he takes
as attacks. It's an assumption, but one that isn't wrong or off. People are trying to dictate with their opinions versus the facts of the already made-clear issues of:
- People taking criticism/discussion as personal attacks (as Cora just did moments ago because I simply recited your own statement).
- A lack of clear-cut rules and enforcement of them equally.
- A deliberate attempt to ignore certain submissions.
The three of these things are not resolved by any of his proposed ideas, nor the idea that we need to silence people. The solutions are, again:
- People growing up, separating personal identification from professional/submissions and quitting the snippy attack posts (even assuming I intended to insult Cadet, what was the purpose of calling me an ass-clown? What did you even contribute to the thread?)
- A new look and layout of rules and allowing Staff like @Fred to do his job. Not carrying out personal/mob justice.
- Ensuring the NTSE stop deliberately hindering articles by ignoring them, as has happened to Frost seemingly multiple times as-of-late. As much as Arieg has complained, I again will point out that he has got well near 30+ articles approved in the past few months. This promotes more talk of bias because he got streamlined while some articles have sat in the NTSE for a month or more in that same timespan.
I want to stay on topic, it's why I keep highlighting things said by the NTSE (including acknowledging the same issues in someone like
@Ametheliana who potentially contributed by not picking articles from someone like Arieg. This isn't saying she did it intentionally, but clearly issues like this happened by accounts of Arieg) and why I keep pointing to the solutions we've already got that are
extremely simple and require almost no change beyond expecting more from us as a site and community.
Edit: And I'd like to point out that I've had
@Ira blocked on the forums PRECISELY because we argued the most here. This is precisely why he and I haven't fought nearly as much on here. I don't see his comments (I suppose he doesn't see mine until he clicks "show ignored") and it overall helps us get along. When we aren't typing on the forum, I've been able to have discussions and generally better interaction with him in things like the VC. The function works and immensely helped improve
just one instance. Is it fixed entirely? No. But that's because of the fact I can't fully ignore him text-wise (VC wise, there hasn't been a miscommunication between us). If I could, then I'd wager the pair of us wouldn't ever really fight beyond the things like when the pair of us defend someone on opposing sides of this large argument.
Ignoring works. You just have to actually resist the temptation to undo it and start fights.