Thanks for pointing out that it is not appropriate.
No problem.
Not sure if you are trying to save time, or are set on social control? I can see not wanting to read certain posters. I feel the same way. But I don't buy into it being too much to simply skip individual posts.
Your idea of being able to "defriend" someone like on facebook, could be used in many ways. That was the reasoning of my comments in my first post. Think about it....Don't like blacks...filtered! Don't like Gays....filtered! Don't like folks from another country....filtered! Don't like some who thinks differently than you....filtered! Are you a MB groupie? Did someone say something contrary to MB....filtered! Folks could be filtering others just based on circle of friends, and based on many things.
A forum is unique. It is a place to pick others peoples brains and expertise. You also get the good and the bad. Both the relevant info you want, and the stories you don't.
Look at it this way. Some new guy calls me up and says he wants to come over and learn. And that happens all the time. Then after he spends all day learning bees, he tells me that perhaps next time, I should not mention the story of the kids, details about my past, and other jokes, conversations and such as we work the bees. He states he only wants my knowledge. Not my personality.
Do you think he is coming back to my place a second time? What he wants, is too pick other peoples brain, have them give him an education for free, and yet not pay the price for it. He wants to dictate how I pass along my knowledge, and this is disrespectful to say the least. When I visit an old-timer, I know he will tell me some stories. I know he might get off subject. I know, some things will not help me. But I don't say "Look old-timer, I'm here to learn bees, not listen to your boring stories! I don't have time to hear you yap"
I really think some should just buy books. Forums are not books. You get information, but you also get personalities, stories, and conversations. Some helpful, some not. But to sit back and complain that it's too much to skip over a particular poster? Come on.
I remember a time when calling attention to a video dropping the f-bomb, was considered (baby-sh!t). Now we have grown men being (or claiming) emotional scarring and hurt feelings over a southern comment meant to be a joke.
Come on folks. You want to come here and learn? Then also know you may need to listen to a few stories, a few debates, and a few off-topic discussions. You get both the good and bad. Or the relevant and not so relevant conversations. That is the price of getting knowledge for free.
Is this long enough for some to consider skipping? ;)