Brad Wardell's views about technology, politics, religion, world affairs, and all sorts of politically incorrect topics.
Use the "Registered users only" option
Published on October 28, 2004 By Draginol In Blogging

We ban griefers. We can even IP ban someone. But if someone really wants to get at a given blogger, they can via anonymous accounts.

For those of you who have blogs who feel like they're getting stalked by trolls and other jerks, you can stop them.

When you create an article, only allow registerd users to respond to your article. That way, you have some say over who can interact on your site.

It's important to keep perspective on your blog site - IT'S YOUR OWN BLOG. You don't have to put up with jerks coming on and trolling you. If you find yourself getting angry or upset about people's responses, don't despair. Just don't let anonymous users respond and if registered users are upsetting you, just add them to your black list archive.  Your blog is like having a room in a huge house. You have the right to decide who can come into your room. 

It's all about having fun. If you're a liberal and you feel like a bunch of "right wing kooks" are spoiling your writing with their responses, you can stop them. Same if you're a conservative and those "liberal nut cases" are bothering you. It's not about freedom of speech. THEY still have freedom of speech - on their own free blog where they can write.  On your blog, YOUR rights take precedence over the "rights" of people who would respond.

I black list people all the time from my blogs. Not because they disagree with me but usually because they just add angst and nastiness to the responses (or they spam for things). If you want your articles to be a debate about politics or computer hardware or whatever that's fine. But on the other hand, if you're writing about your job or your kids or a movie you saw, there's absolutely no reason you should feel like you have to allow some sad griefer to spoil your enjoyment.


Comments (Page 1)
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on Oct 28, 2004
Thank you for your advices Draginol. After what's been happening around here lately i kinda feel safer now.
on Oct 28, 2004
Thanks Draginol.

JU is a great site to be a part of. You have created a great place for people to come and hang and be themselves without having to be harrassed by jerks. Thanks for that!

Really good advice here. Ive started to post articles and letting only registered users reply. It was an underused service which will be getting more attention from me.

Thanks again.
on Oct 28, 2004
Although I use the blacklisting feature, I like to know it's there if I need it. It's a feature I'm glad you added to the site. It adds some security, knowing you can prevent a flame war (gosh, I sound like Smoky the Bear if he discovered the Internet ) and stop harassament on the blog.

Good article.
on Oct 29, 2004
Yes, thanks from me, too, not only for the tips, but thanks for providing such a space. It's turning out to be a much friendlier place than I initially thought. Another week and I'll officially be addicted.
on Oct 29, 2004
Very nice advice, Brad. Thanks.
on Oct 29, 2004
Drag, I hope I'm not one of blacklisted users, I disagreed with you few times.

We just need a global options, since some users already has over 100 articles, and spammer is hitting them, including yourself.
on Oct 29, 2004
Thanks Drag...I've used that option since the spam started...
As for the blacklist...only one ever got that...and hes gone!
on Oct 29, 2004
Actually I've decided to take to 'pre-emptive' blacklisting of people I think may be potential spammers. It's the RIGHT thing to do. Or maybe I won't... sorry to flip flop, but this is a topic with a liberal amount of choices... (ok, Ill stop now!)
on Oct 29, 2004
Yup, I've restricted comments to registered users only as a precautionary measure. Haven't blacklisted anyone yet, no flame wars on my blog yet. Then again, I'm about as controversial as a warm glass of milk

Mack.
on Oct 29, 2004
thanks for ur advice drag...i have never used any of the features that u have mentioned but i guess i am slowly beginning to realise the importance of these features...
on Oct 29, 2004

I've blacklisted, I've deleted, I've decided to make ALL articles off-limits to anon users.  It's sad that I have to do that, that any of us has to do that, but if that's what has to be done in order to be and remain troll-free (oooohh, I just had an idea - I'll blog about it later) then I'm all for it.

on Oct 29, 2004

Really good advice here. Ive started to post articles and letting only registered users reply. It was an underused service which will be getting more attention from me.

you took the words right out of my mouth, phoenix. thanks brad from me also.

mig XX

on Oct 29, 2004
Good ideas. Ones I will definately use if the need arrives, though fortunately it hasn't as of yet.
on Oct 29, 2004

mano,

Just a short note and a thread hijack to welcome you back. I'm doing part time duty but am glad to see you back around.

on Oct 29, 2004
How do you know if you've been blacklisted by someone?
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