How to deal with a user whose posts you can't tolerate

Folks, let me start here by saying that it's truly stunning how many people ask (or demand) that the moderator staff here make someone go away because they don't like what that other user has to say, or how he says it.  This, interestingly, includes some of the very same people who rail against "censorship" when moderation decisions they disagree with are made.

Let me fill everyone in on a little secret.  You, yes magnificent you, the guy (or gal) you see in your mirror each morning, have the ability to do that for yourself.  If you find you simply do not have the willpower or self-discipline to just look away, or to ignore what someone else might say, then mouse over their name in the upper-left corner of the offending forum post.   A popup window will appear, and in the middle of the bottom line there's an option to "ignore user."  Click on that, and you will have "plonked" him...none of his posts will be visible to offend you from that point on.  If someone is truly so obnoxious that large numbers of the participants in a forum plonk him, then he will soon find that he is only talking to himself.

That's how you deal with another user that you cannot find it within yourself to tolerate.  Calls to summon the Truth Police (tm) to arbitrate the accuracy, validity, motive, intent, correctness, tone, timeliness, appropriateness, candor or lack of candor, currency, originality, thoughtfulness, consistency, politeness, logical congruence, grammar, or real/perceived/intrinsic/entertainment value of someone else's contribution to a discussion will fall on deaf ears.  Opinions, no matter how absurd, are allowed, so long as they do not violate our terms of service.

So please, rather than trying to get the staff to banish another user to the digital hinterlands, try using the tools we have made available to you to help make your own experience here a better one.