Unsubscribe from threads?

March 15, 2007 11:13 AM

I like going back to check on new conversation in some of the threads I’ve commented on. In others, I’d really prefer not to. Using “My Comments” means there’s no way to not scroll by the recently updated threads. Like today’s “City Songs” thread. I don’t need/want to revisit that but every time I load the “My Comments” page it’s at the top. [more inside]
posted by FlamingBore to Feature Requests at 11:13 AM (30 comments total)

Matt, anyway to code up something that would let a user manage threads they are subscribed to by virtue of their comments? Perhaps the standard could remain to automatically subscribe but on the “My Comments” page you could provide an option at each thread to “unsubscribe”?

Discuss/destroy at your leisure.
posted by FlamingBore at 11:13 AM on March 15, 2007

I have privately emailed mathowie about this in the past, btw, and received no reply (I totally understand that he's a busy dude). I'm wondering if there's some sort of greasemonkey cludgy solution in the meantime.
posted by muddgirl at 11:16 AM on March 15, 2007

I've wanted this sort of thing once or twice myself.

It could be as simple as an "ignore" link for each thread shown in My Comments, which gets reset should you drop another comment in said thread.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:17 AM on March 15, 2007

I just avoid commenting in threads I don't want to see on My Comments page.

Shit! I did it again.
posted by breezeway at 11:28 AM on March 15, 2007

breezeway - I've taken to doing that as well. But I *hate* that I'd rather keep my answer or suggestion to avoid having this clog.
posted by FlamingBore at 11:31 AM on March 15, 2007

Okay, how about nobody else comment in this thread so it stops showing up on My Comments page. Starting... NOW!
posted by breezeway at 11:34 AM on March 15, 2007

Wait, when do we start?
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:40 AM on March 15, 2007

Maybe you could make bookmarks, and bookmarks the one you care about. Or add ones to your favorites.
posted by boo_radley at 11:44 AM on March 15, 2007

Can we restart in 15 minutes, I missed the first start time.
posted by Mitheral at 11:45 AM on March 15, 2007

What thread is it we're not going to comment in?
posted by Kirth Gerson at 11:50 AM on March 15, 2007

boo_radley - sometimes I do, but it's not quite the same. I have to visit each one to check if there are new comments. Part of the beauty of "My Comments" is that it updates shows only things that have new comments - that is, after all, the reason I like it.
posted by FlamingBore at 11:50 AM on March 15, 2007

An "ignore" feature would work best for threads that start out interesting, but then devolve into nonsense.
posted by muddgirl at 11:50 AM on March 15, 2007

It's too much trouble to track everything people want ignored -- it's a lot easier to just keep tracking the stuff you participated in.

There's no equivalent ignore feature on flickr's recent activity page, and since nothing ever "closes" there, people can comment on an old photo from 3 years ago. I find scrolling works, and having the last ten comments only isn't that bad.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:59 AM on March 15, 2007

This is true (re: flickr) though they do allow you to remove your comments - and I have done that at flickr on some of the more annoyingly popular photos. But, I hear you. Thanks for weighing in.
posted by FlamingBore at 12:02 PM on March 15, 2007

MetaFilter Hide Threads in "My Comments" Greasemonkey script. I wrote it more than a year ago, and it still works like a charm.
posted by Plutor at 12:05 PM on March 15, 2007 [1 favorite]

Thanks Plutor.
posted by muddgirl at 12:06 PM on March 15, 2007

You are the entity, Plutor!
posted by Mister_A at 12:13 PM on March 15, 2007

Can you throw up a switch for the instances when a thread is deleted? That's really the only time I've wished for this feature... in the mean time, another Plutor script is added to the arsenal...
posted by prostyle at 12:38 PM on March 15, 2007

Yeah but a greasemonkey script can only remove things from the page, which will just decrease the number shown. You won't get any additional threads, so all it really does is save you from having to scroll past something.

Try co.mments.com for thread tracking.
posted by Rhomboid at 1:03 PM on March 15, 2007

plutor, you're my hero.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 1:25 PM on March 15, 2007

Is there a way to vew your favorites sorted by most recent comment? That would make favorites a good way to do what FlamingBore wants.
posted by nowonmai at 2:14 PM on March 15, 2007

OH SWEET JEBUS PLEASE MAKE IT SO
posted by DU at 5:25 PM on March 15, 2007

it's a lot easier to just keep tracking the stuff you participated in.

I'd also like to track threads I haven't posted in. Surely a watchlist (add a "watch this thread" flag to the comments box to keep the existing functionality) wouldn't be hard to implement?
posted by cillit bang at 5:40 PM on March 15, 2007

Personally, and this is rather personal, as of now no one has faved mathowie's comment! Either of them. What the fuck is up with that?
posted by econous at 6:27 PM on March 15, 2007

Yuppers!
posted by taosbat at 8:41 PM on March 15, 2007

My Comments really should be improved.
posted by Chuckles at 9:04 PM on March 15, 2007

cortex : I've wanted this sort of thing once or twice myself.

I'm betting you were talking about me. Yeah. I was there a month later, just to top a thread and irritate you.

It's what I do.
posted by quin at 11:46 PM on March 15, 2007

Still awake.. 6:20am. I still have a wine glass in front of me. Can't make a post because although I've been a lurker here for some time I just joined this week and thus cannot post. Is anyone else awake at this hour?
posted by LavishingUndertone at 3:22 AM on March 16, 2007

Chuckles: "My Comments really should be improved."

Yeah, either your comments or your name. You really don't really make me chuckle ever.
posted by Plutor at 4:41 AM on March 16, 2007

Heh. No, quin, by that time I had made my peace with the thread, and I was pretty damned entertained by the outcome. It's more the boiling political wankfests I occasionally make the mistake of commenting in that cause the problem.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:40 AM on March 16, 2007