September 2, 2005

4:43 PM

Ok, as mentioned here, there's always interest in a killfile script. Well, I just finished the one I've been working on (with help from Plutor) and it's available here. What makes mine worth it when there's already a script out there? Well, [MI]
posted by mystyk to MetaFilter-related at 4:43 PM (36 comments total)

1. The blacklist is stored internally to GM, meaning no separate file to manage.
2. It adds a JS link right next to the "flag" option on all comments, allowing you to enable or disable blacklisting with one click, although you need to reload the page to see any changes.
3. It works on AskMe, and blacklisted members are removed on all three sites from a single listing.

The only downside is that if you set your preferences to open links in new windows, you won't be able to add/remove from the blue.
posted by mystyk at 4:43 PM on September 2, 2005

Why do you hate MetaFilter so much?
posted by y6y6y6 at 4:54 PM on September 2, 2005

Actually, it was an exercise in whether I could, not a matter of necessity. Ironically enough, I don't use a killfile, not even my own. I actually read even the comments I don't like, because it gives better context to the overall conversation.

I like to program, and JavaScript isn't a language I'm good at. To me, it was a challenge, but once it's written, I might as well share it. You never know, somebody might want it.
posted by mystyk at 5:01 PM on September 2, 2005

Why are you talking to yourself? *looks confused*

(sweet script)
posted by loquacious at 5:19 PM on September 2, 2005

I'm sorry, I couldn't see who you were responding to, mystyk. Did you just post twice, or something?
posted by jonson at 5:20 PM on September 2, 2005

crap!!!
posted by jonson at 5:22 PM on September 2, 2005

Eventually Firefox will be awesome enough to outweigh the horrible thing about being unable to middle-click to get new tabs from links, and I'll switch back to it. This is a step in the right direction. Unless, of course, some clever MeFite knows a trick I don't....
posted by odinsdream at 5:23 PM on September 2, 2005

Hrm. I suppose I should note that this script works best when used in place of the other killfile script. There may be an odd conflict otherwise.

Oh, could I get some opinions on how well it works or any changes I should make? My next challenge is to increase the efficiency of the script.
posted by mystyk at 5:25 PM on September 2, 2005

Very nice, thank you.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 5:27 PM on September 2, 2005

odinsdream: Works fine for me, as far back as v0.86. I didn't even know FF could do that until recently. But now my tunnel carpal is just even more aggravated with trying to click without scrolling.
posted by loquacious at 5:28 PM on September 2, 2005

Firefox. Bah. Trendy.

IE FOREVAR
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:28 PM on September 2, 2005

*breaks the fourth wall*

jonson: Heh. I almost didn't post that, because I'd never actually add y6y6y6 to a killfile even if I used one.
posted by loquacious at 5:32 PM on September 2, 2005

Maybe if I killfiled myself I'd forget all the stupid shit I say.
posted by selfnoise at 5:35 PM on September 2, 2005

I HATE YOU ALL AND NOW I CAN KILL YOU.
posted by eyeballkid at 5:42 PM on September 2, 2005

loquacious, do you mean on OS X? It's never worked for me... I'm pretty sure it's a known bug. I use firefox daily on Windows and Linux, but without the middle-click on OS X, it's pretty useless.
posted by odinsdream at 6:10 PM on September 2, 2005

Alright, I'm not sure what's going on here, but this is what I did. I installed Greasemonkey and your script, then I visited http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/44768 and found the first comment by dios, which is not the first comment in the thread. I added him to the blacklist, then refreshed the page.

Now, though, the resulting page shows the first comment as being from dios. It says "User blacklisted." as expected, but his comment is now the first one in the thread, and the original first comments, from Rothko's to SirOmega's, are not shown.

Not sure what's happening...
posted by odinsdream at 6:29 PM on September 2, 2005

Ok, it's a problem with the blue, and I figured out its cause. I'm on it, and I'll update the original file and post a notice here once I've fixed it.

This gives me a chance to fix some other things too.
posted by mystyk at 8:01 PM on September 2, 2005

Done. It should work in the blue. I uploaded the new version in the same spot, so use the same link.

I also took the time to clean up the code, add documentation (for the curious), and even consolidated two functions (which cuts the file size by ~25%)

Oh, the link should be improved, so that if you add (or remove) someone by accident, just click it again to set it back. You no longer have to reload, click, then reload again. You still need to reload to make the changes take effect.
posted by mystyk at 8:42 PM on September 2, 2005

Since I'm fairly sure I'll be the first entry in a lot of people's killfile, I offer said folks a fond adieu.
posted by jonmc at 9:17 PM on September 2, 2005

jon you can't be serious. Before paris even?

Dios ain't so bad, but it's like paris isn't even trying.

I'll have to try this script out tommorow at work. I'm still using an old version of Moz on this box :P
posted by delmoi at 9:33 PM on September 2, 2005

I wonder how many times I can post ::plonk:: to threads before I get a timeout.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 9:51 PM on September 2, 2005

*fwoomp*
posted by loquacious at 1:05 AM on September 3, 2005

odinsdream: Ah, no. I meant windoze, sorry.
posted by loquacious at 1:05 AM on September 3, 2005

Implementing features Usenet clients have had for twenty years? A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY AND ANYONE WHO USES IT IS A BIG STUPID STUPIDHEAD.
posted by darukaru at 7:03 AM on September 3, 2005

(OT) odinsdream, didn't you post an AskMe about that OSX Firefox middle-click a while back??

Just get one of the nightly builds from here and the middle-click should work just fine.
posted by cyrusdogstar at 7:32 AM on September 3, 2005

Congrats, mystyk. Glad I could help shove you in the right direction. JavaScript isn't the most elegant language to work in, but it is remarkably powerful.
posted by Plutor at 8:21 AM on September 3, 2005

The blacklist is stored internally to GM, meaning no separate file to manage.

This is actually less than ideal for those who have to switch between various computers during the course of the day. Having a remote killfile stored on a web server allows one to configure all one's browser instances to use the same one, so you only have to maintain it in one place. It would also allow groups of people to share a killfile by common agreement.

I speak in terms of general design principle, I've no use for the killfile myself.
posted by George_Spiggott at 10:22 AM on September 3, 2005

George_Spiggott:

I aimed for ease of customizability. If your killfile is remote, it's not always that easy to add or remove names. If you're using a community file, who decides who gets listed in the file and who doesn't? Maybe you agree on 95% of the killfile names, but disagree on the last few.

Plus, what if you want to go back and read a comment, one that you'd normally ignore, because others are referencing it for some reason? You would either have to edit the file or disable the script, then reload. With this you click one link, then reload. If you are done and want to mute them again, click it again. I wanted it to be one-click simple to add and remove.

Remember, this is something I did as a challenge. I don't even use it. I see little value in challenging myself with a project if it doesn't have a real-life practical purpose.
posted by mystyk at 11:54 AM on September 3, 2005

Technical question: would it be possible to create something like this for threads instead of users? Based on tags or something like that?
posted by selfnoise at 11:55 AM on September 3, 2005

Technical answer: it depends on which way you meant it. One could easily create a script that redirects you back to the main page if you clicked on a link that had tags you disagree with, or in some other way blotted out its content. Creating one that culls them out of the front page is trickier, since the tags aren't listed there. Any script that did that would have to fetch all the FPP links from the server to check their tags, and #1 wouldn't be happy if GM hosed his server.
posted by mystyk at 12:30 PM on September 3, 2005

Ah. I meant the latter. Oh well, thanks for answering.
posted by selfnoise at 12:52 PM on September 3, 2005

Anyone want to tweak this script to highlight comments by members I happen to like?
posted by hartsell at 1:28 PM on September 3, 2005

Killfiles are bad for MeFi. Killfiles are for weak weenies who can't stomach even the low level trollishness around these well moderated parts. Shame. Of course, losing those weak weenies may not be that bad.
posted by caddis at 3:39 PM on September 3, 2005

Anyone want to tweak this script to highlight comments by members I happen to like?

That's kind of interesting. How about an rss feed of comments from people you find interesting, sort of a distilled mefi blog of an individual?
posted by mecran01 at 6:10 PM on September 3, 2005

Anyone want to tweak this script to highlight comments by members I happen to like?

As I mentioned in one of the other killfile threads (why do we have three?), there is a script to do this. I am hoping, though, that Matt ads more rss feeds as part of the redesign.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 6:56 PM on September 3, 2005

I'm with Caddis. Just a personal thing, I guess. I like to read almost all posts and comments, trollish, stupid, funny, good, the whole ball of wax. I'm sure thousands before me have mentioned it so I'll shut my yap now.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 7:01 PM on September 3, 2005