Please remove my access to the PRSI section permanently

[TiggrToo]

I totally understand what, why (and how) you're saying this.
I have the feeling that most arch-enemies on PRSI are actually people that would be fun to have a beer (or two or three, why not four) with.
[automerge]1590500812[/automerge]


Nice move!
Unfortunately due to my job + Covid-19 I have to be aware of what's happening on social media, Twitter included, at least to a basic extent.
However, I took the policy of checking social media only for 5 to 10 minutes in the AM and in the PM, and every morning I post a simple picture with a simple positive message, often a simple "Have a great Tuesday", or "make the best of this day" etc.



On the topic of social media, my wife remarked something similar this morning about Facebook (She's somewhat of an active user). She said that it's getting worse and worse, and everyone is now posting about this or that conspiracy theory. She's to the point that she will likely stop checking FB, she said that it's reading "old people vocally arguing about irrelevant stuff, and with the wrong information."

I'm in total agreement. I found that after I left I was able to take numerous folks off my Ignore list and was able to converse with them again on a normal level. I'd have missed out on so much valuable wisdom from people who, in PRSI, were my "arch enemies" but turned out to be incredibly decent folk outside of the cesspit.

Politics tends to poison is to eachother. I used to think PRSI was a "place" to be. Now I see it as a place to avoid.

 

[I7guy]

I'm in total agreement. I found that after I left I was able to take numerous folks off my Ignore list and was able to converse with them again on a normal level. I'd have missed out on so much valuable wisdom from people who, in PRSI, were my "arch enemies" but turned out to be incredibly decent folk outside of the cesspit.

Politics tends to poison is to eachother. I used to think PRSI was a "place" to be. Now I see it as a place to avoid.

For me, I can look at PRSI without it getting to me and even respond to some threads in a calm, rational manner. And then leave without giving it a second thought.

I am glad though that MacRumors enforces the "no PRSI" rule outside of PRSI. If MacRumors didn't enforce the "no PRSI" rules outside of PRSI, PRSI is a glimpse into what many threads could be or turn into.

 

[Plutonius]

In theory, and just in theory, a discussion with other people is not only for the purposes of convincing the other party but also to expand own's knowledge and to better understand own's commitment to a line of argument.

I visit PRSI in order to read a differing range of views.

It seems to me that life might be pretty boring if everyone thought alike .

 

[ericgtr12]

I've never been on a forum where the staff hates one of their boards so much, yet refuses to remove it for some reason. That said, if it's not an area of interest for users then why not simply avoid it? I can think of half a dozen boards here I have no interest in but I'm not going to ask for them to hide them from me.

 

[russell_314]

Just for a tip there is a way to hide the PRSI section but I forgot how I did it. That will remove the section but the posts will still show up in the under new posts.

Looking for how I did this I found a "Block Politics Forums" option. If you click your user name on top then "Preferences", scroll a little down and you'll see it. That seems to hide all the political posts. I can't say if this will hide PRSI since it's already hidden for me but I would guess so.

I have hidden the PRSI forum a while back and now checked the block politics box. I go on this site to learn about something I enjoy (Apple devices) and converse with people having this same interest. It's entertaining and enjoyable. I really love a friendly debate but with the current state of politics and how toxic people act, it's not possible. I have enough negative in my life so I don't need to add it to things I enjoy. While I don't think there's a way to delete the PRSI forums, this pretty much does the same thing.

 

[Plutonius]

I have hidden the PRSI forum a while back and now checked the block politics box. I go on this site to learn about something I enjoy (Apple devices) and converse with people having this same interest. It's entertaining and enjoyable. I really love a friendly debate but with the current state of politics and how toxic people act, it's not possible. I have enough negative in my life so I don't need to add it to things I enjoy. While I don't think there's a way to delete the PRSI forums, this pretty much does the same thing.

I find that in many cases, the MacRumors tech forums can also become very toxic (especially anything to do with the iPhone).

 

[russell_314]

I find that in many cases, the MacRumors tech forums can also become very toxic (especially anything to do with the iPhone).

For some reason when you start talking about Apple products there’s a certain group of people that act a certain way. Your best bet is just to avoid those people once you realize who they are. Whatever you say will end up with a negative response so there’s no point in attempting to explain things to them. Even with this that is nothing compared to politics today. Maybe politics five years ago sure but not today. People get a little emotional over iPhones but go crazy over politics.

 

[yaxomoxay]

For some reason when you start talking about Apple products there’s a certain group of people that act a certain way.

Sadly, almost every fandom (or any topic...) is subject to flame wars. I am on a couple of Dune (as in Frank Herbert's Dune) forums and facebook groups. Since a new movie is coming out it's an all out flamewar, often based on a few snippets of information ("Best movie ever!" "Worst movie ever!" "You suck, FH would've never done that" etc.). To me this is an interesting phenomenon to observe; I always understood that people had some prejudice towards virtually everything (most often than not it's innocent or inconsequential), but we now live in a strange age in which people have to show commitment to their prejudice (or interpretation) at all costs. So called virtue signaling was probably the beginning of it.

In other words, I fear that debate is virtually death.

 

[I7guy]

Sadly, almost every fandom (or any topic...) is subject to flame wars. I am on a couple of Dune (as in Frank Herbert's Dune) forums and facebook groups. Since a new movie is coming out it's an all out flamewar, often based on a few snippets of information ("Best movie ever!" "Worst movie ever!" "You suck, FH would've never done that" etc.). To me this is an interesting phenomenon to observe; I always understood that people had some prejudice towards virtually everything (most often than not it's innocent or inconsequential), but we now live in a strange age in which people have to show commitment to their prejudice (or interpretation) at all costs. So called virtue signaling was probably the beginning of it.

In other words, I fear that debate is virtually death.

It's the personal sniping that gets me annoyed. The "FH would've never done that" is not the issue. It's the you suck", and if this was a (hypothetical) post on MR, a report on this post hopefully would be considered trolling and moderated accordingly.

 

[yaxomoxay]

It's the personal sniping that gets me annoyed. The "FH would've never done that" is not the issue. It's the you suck", and if this was a (hypothetical) post on MR, a report on this post hopefully would be considered trolling and moderated accordingly.

For me the whole approach to debate is the issue, and we observe it on MR, FB, IG etc. People have to understand that different people will have different opinions, life experiences, needs, and knowledge. We also have to understand that we don't know everything. I don't know what Steve Jobs (or Frank Herbert etc.) would do in 2020, and I can't extrapolate it based on what happened 10, 20, or 50+ years ago because the "input" and what happened in between is so different that it's impossible to know what a person (esp. complex ones like FH or SJ would do). People tend to bring arguments and evidence that doesn't make any sense, and since in 2020 it's not fashionable to say "oh, I am wrong then" people will defend ridiculous positions to no end because they have to. We have to re-learn the art of debate.

 

[S.B.G]

For me the whole approach to debate is the issue, and we observe it on MR, FB, IG etc. People have to understand that different people will have different opinions, life experiences, needs, and knowledge. We also have to understand that we don't know everything. I don't know what Steve Jobs (or Frank Herbert etc.) would do in 2020, and I can't extrapolate it based on what happened 10, 20, or 50+ years ago because the "input" and what happened in between is so different that it's impossible to know what a person (esp. complex ones like FH or SJ would do). People tend to bring arguments and evidence that doesn't make any sense, and since in 2020 it's not fashionable to say "oh, I am wrong then" people will defend ridiculous positions to no end because they have to. We have to re-learn the art of debate.

I agree 100%.

Though, would you conclude that your assessment goes largely for virtual "debates" as opposed to in-person ones?

I find that I can have a conversation, a debate, with some (not all) people in person where we can exchange opposing views without debasing ourselves to one another. I can at least take the time and effort to hear the other person out (not just waiting for my turn to speak) and consider their opinion, or presentation of facts regardless of the topic, whether it be technology, politics or social issues.

When it comes to online conversations and debates, I tend to avoid some people or certain topics most of the time because my experience tells me that the effort is futile and not worth my time.

At least in person, we have the advantage of tone and pitch of voice, body language and eye contact that play a huge factor in those conversations and allow us the ability to see and convey our ideas better than without them.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Though, would you conclude that your assessment goes largely for virtual "debates" as opposed to in-person ones?

In general yes, but I have the feeling that the online debate methodology is also moving towards real life conversations. Without entering the merits (and JUST AS AN EXAMPLE of what I want to convey), the incident between that lady at the park and that young gentleman that ignited many online conversations last week felt to me like an online debate would (I am not talking about the merits of the contents themselves, just the... "style" of interaction if you wish).

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

As someone who is banned from PRSI, I’ve removed my access to seeing the threads and coming to terms with the fact it’s probably a much better site without that section anyway. It’s also encouraged me to visit a couple of other forums I’d stopped posting on and now spend a bit less of my spare time browsing Mac Rumours which has to be a positive step.

I’ve realised probably 80% of my posts here were in PRSI and now that that access has gone, I’m less interested in other parts of the forum, although I try. Lost a bit of respect for the admins too but this isn’t the place to discuss that. I probably won’t apply to have my access back after 12 months if it improves the experience in the interim

 

[D.T.]

When it comes to online conversations and debates, I tend to avoid some people or certain topics most of the time because my experience tells me that the effort is futile and not worth my time.

At least in person, we have the advantage of tone and pitch of voice, body language and eye contact that play a huge factor in those conversations and allow us the ability to see and convey our ideas better than without them.

A funny / silly exercise, is to look at posts, and think about how those would go in person. Clearly, people aren't communicating the same way they would in person - and I'm not saying that in a "tough guy" posturing sort of way, I'm saying if some people spoke what they wrote in person, you'd pass out from laughing - especially if you extrapolated things like 'LOL' ...

"I'm really unhappy with some of the decisions being made in Washington at the moment"

"TDS! TDS! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA"

" ... ??? ..."

 

[annk]

A funny / silly exercise, is to look at posts, and think about how those would go in person. Clearly, people aren't communicating the same way they would in person - and I'm not saying that in a "tough guy" posturing sort of way, I'm saying if some people spoke what they wrote in person, you'd pass out from laughing - especially if you extrapolated things like 'LOL' ...

"I'm really unhappy with some of the decisions being made in Washington at the moment"

"TDS! TDS! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA"

" ... ??? ..."

This is a really good point. If everyone who posted stopped to think about whether or not they would be willing to say the message out loud to another human being, before hitting the reply button, we would no doubt see a more polite level of discussion (and probably the discussions would be more interesting to participate in).

 

[maflynn]

think about how those would go in person.

Indeed,

I know someone, she's been a friend for well over 15 years, the sweetest, most compassionate lady there is. Yet she posts some of the most vilest things on facebook, is incredibly insulting and close-minded. She refuses to accept anyone who has a different opinion (on politics). While I do not discuss politics on facebook (or anywhere else), her posts and insults directed towards me and other were too much. I had to unfriend her and block her.

I'm wondering how things will go if our paths will cross, given how she went out of her way to insult me. She would never call a friend some of the things she said behind a keyboard. Its not just me, mind you, she's insult and lost other close friends because of FB.

 

[Plutonius]

I know someone, she's been a friend for well over 15 years, the sweetest, most compassionate lady there is. Yet she posts some of the most vilest things on facebook, is incredibly insulting and close-minded.

I would not blame facebook for her actions.

When people's online and face to face personalities differ, I would be more inclined to believe the online personality is the real one.

 

[D.T.]

Indeed,

I know someone, she's been a friend for well over 15 years, the sweetest, most compassionate lady there is. Yet she posts some of the most vilest things on facebook, is incredibly insulting and close-minded. She refuses to accept anyone who has a different opinion (on politics). While I do not discuss politics on facebook (or anywhere else), her posts and insults directed towards me and other were too much. I had to unfriend her and block her.

I'm wondering how things will go if our paths will cross, given how she went out of her way to insult me. She would never call a friend some of the things she said behind a keyboard. Its not just me, mind you, she's insult and lost other close friends because of FB.

Oh yeah, I've seen a few people who had the same sort of 180 of personality too - you really have to wonder (per the post above mine) - how much of this personality was actually present, but repressed, and by removing the face-to-face filter, it was just uncorked.

 

[kazmac]

Try this

https://forums.macrumors.com/account/preferences

View attachment 865939

Check off block politics. Within 20 minutes, you will be unable to access politics and it should work on Tapatalk too. If you change your mind, you can uncheck it, and wait up to 20 minutes.

arn

Thank you, arn.

 

[maflynn]

I would not blame facebook for her actions.

I'm not just stating her actions on facebook are the polar opposite of how she presents herself in RL

 

[Plutonius]

I'm not just stating her actions on facebook are the polar opposite of how she presents herself in RL

Yep, everyone wears mask and some people wear more than others.

I believe that post in PRSI (or Facebook) shows the real person and that we shouldn't blame PRSI (or Facebook).

I myself would rather see the real person.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I want to publicly apologize to the moderators. After posting how better off I was not being involved in PRSI I go and get involved in a political news section and inconvenienced a moderator or two.

Sigh.

Sorry.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

I've never been on a forum where the staff hates one of their boards so much, yet refuses to remove it for some reason. That said, if it's not an area of interest for users then why not simply avoid it? I can think of half a dozen boards here I have no interest in but I'm not going to ask for them to hide them from me.

PRSI is pretty tame compared to what you can find on Reddit and other general discussion forums, and my time spent on such forums where flamewars are allowed and there are numerous threads with words like "*******s" in the title (see, this word isn't even allowed on this site, which is a testament to its tameness) has caused me to view PRSI in a much more positive light. I often come to PRSI to discuss things that I can't discuss on other sites because of all the flaming and BS. As others have pointed out, Apple and Tim Cook get involved in politics and Apple-related news can often be political, so avoiding politics on this site entirely would be difficult: any Apple-related news perceived as slightly political would have to disallow commenting altogether.

That said, I often find the first couple pages of an Apple-related news thread to be more toxic than anything I come across in PRSI. I've been denigrated and insulted for my opinions on bezels far more than I have for political opinions. (I post on a classical music forum and have seen people get death threats for their opinions on Mozart. It need not be politics that inflames the passions so). And I've learned that when there's some LGBT-related Apple news, I won't comment until the 7th or 8th page, when the like-seekers and trolls are done ranting and venting and the real discussion can begin.

I'm always going to defend PRSI because I post in it regularly and have been a regular member of this forum for four years now. I joined this forum initially for Mac-related help and stuck around. Many forums have off-topic zones where users can discuss additional topics that aren't related to the forum's specialty. After years of posting on a forum, the regular users get to know each other and want to talk about things other than what the forum specializes in. Now, many of these forums disallow politics. I also post on another tech forum, a language forum, and an audiophile forum, all three of which completely ban political and religious discussion. I understand perfectly well why they do so. But I'm glad to have PRSI because there's nowhere else I can discuss politics and know that the moderation is done well. It's the only place I have found in between complete free-for-alls where insults and flaming are allowed and sites that ban politics altogether. If you don't want to post in it, fine, but I'm never going to support eliminating the PRSI just because some people might be "tempted" to post there.