Re: killfiling trolls and spammers within Firefox

Mitsos** wrote:
Found this today:
http://groups.google.fi/group/alt.suicide.holiday/msg/0811ffb36eb3f2d7?hl=fi&dmode=source


-- This is a really good idea for those who can't or won't use a newsreader
to access this newsgroup.

In fact, it's such a good idea, it borders on the sane in an insane world.

Since I use a newsreader, I really didn't think to comment, but I got
bored today, so I tested it.

I used Firefox version 2.0.0.12 to test with.

Specifically, for the technically oriented: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux
i686; en-US; rv:1.8.1.12) Gecko/20080129 Iceweasel/2.0.0.12
(Debian-2.0.0.12-1)

I found that the instructions and the script "just worked," no serious
hassles. There is a feature that allows you to un-kill a previously
killed poster.

The kill-file-like function of the Firefox script is no where near as
powerful as that found in the newsreaders I've used, but I don't think
that really matters: It works. That's good enough to recommend it.

Here's a reprint of the original instructions by Straha, with edits,
modifications and explanations by me:

For those who use Google Groups to browse ASH/ASM/ASF there's a way to
remove the flame/troll/spam infestation from view. This solution is a
Greasemonkey script for Firefox that enables a kill-file-like function.

Follow these steps to install:

1) Install the Firefox web browser. Use this web browser for Google
Groups.

Firefox is FOSS (Free and Open Source Software), and so has been and is
constantly peer-reviewed for high security and stability, unlike
proprietary closed source software.

Firefox allows you to install Add-ons (search engines, dictionaries,
themes, extensions, and plug-ins) of which Greasemonkey is one. Firefox
works in Linux, Mac OS X, and Ubersoft Nifty Doorways. Any other
Operating System is merely the figment of a deranged imagination.

http://www.ubersoft.net/comic/hd/introduction

Ahem, pardon the digression. Get Firefox:

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all.html

2) Install the Greasemonkey extension (and restart Firefox after install):

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/748

3) Get the Google Groups kill-file script. For details see:

http://www.penney.org/

4) Load the script using Greasemonkey from within Firefox (just go to
this link with Firefox after Greasemonkey is installed):

http://www.penney.org/googleGroups.user.js

5) Restart Firefox again.

That's it. Instructions for use:

When you browse ASH/ASM/ASF in Google Groups and see an offensive post
click the new 'ignore user' link in the thread and all posts from that
user will no longer be visible.

There will be a new link in the upper right of the Google Groups web page
for the group you are browsing called 'KillFile' that allows you to
control un-killing of previously killed posters.

Note that the script does not create an actual file, but instead saves
the data about the killed users to your Firefox configuration
(about:config AKA prefs.js file).

Known Bug: User names with apostrophes don't work. Workaround:
Manually add names of posters who have apostrophes in their names into
the "kill-file." This can be done by typing 'about:config' into the
address bar and then typing 'penney' in the Filter: bar.

Enjoy flame/troll/spam-free browsing in Google Groups.


==============================================================================
More:
Praise Rev. ChuckKey for bringing this to our attention.

If you are using Google Groups through IE or Firefox to look at
alt.slack (as opposed to a newsreader and Usenet service, which
already come with these anti-spam features), this simple installation
will allow you to "killfile" chronic assholes whose posts you do not
want to see. Imagine never again wading through another all-night 11D
Meow flood!

This works on Mac OS or Windows.

Go to this site:

http://www.penney.org/ggkiller.html

There are three links there -- one to download Firefox browser, one
for GreaseMonkey (a Firefox extention), and one for the latest Google
Groups Killfile Script.

#1. If you aren't already using Firefox, you might want to try it.
It's more secure than Internet Explorer. There are ways to copy over
your bookmarks.

#2. You go to the GreaseMonkey site
http://greasemonkey.mozdev.org/
and click on DOWNLOAD GREASEMONKEY and then "ADD TO FIREFOX" on the
resulting page. It will automatically download the extension and put
it where it needs to go in Firefox. (Ignore the warnings re: malicious
software! Show no fear!)

#3. Then you must RESTART FIREFOX. You will probably be prompted to do
this, although in my case the prompt window was hidden at first.

#4. Now you reopen a Firefox window, return to
http://www.penney.org/ggkiller.html
and go to the next link, "Latest Google Groups Killfile Script:"
http://www.penney.org/googleGroups.user.js

If you've done everything right so far, just clicking on that link
(which ends in "user.js," telling Firefox it's a script) makes the
newly installed GreaseMonkey present a dialog box with the option for
installing that Google Groups Killfile Script. Ignore the warnings and
let it install the script.

The next time you go to Google Groups, EVERY POST now has the option
of "IGNORE USER" between the name of the poster, and the PROFILE link.
(On Windows this may appear as an X in a box as well.) You can also
IGNORE THREAD. (This is good for killing crossposted flame wars from
other newsgroups.)

Once you have clicked the IGNORE USER link for a given ***, the
next time you return to alt.slack, all posts initiated by that ***
will have VANISHED, and you won't see any future posts by that ***
either.

If you have trouble, here are the instructions that helped me:

http://wiki.greasespot.net/Greasemonkey_Manual:Installing_Scripts

Under TOOLS menu (on Mac Firefox anyway) there's now a GreaseMonkey
option where you can uninstall the script or reinstall it.

Finally, even Googleposting Jackadandies, to borrow a Nensletic term,
can truly and effectively "plonk."
--
,
.