Forum ban vs Leechblock vs Will power

[ssandra]

After all the people going on bans and coming back, I thought this would be a good time to give my point of view on this issue

Forum ban:

When the moderators ban you for a certain amount of time.

Pro:
You are not in charge of it, you cannot decide on a whim to come back

Con:
You can still read the forums... and still spend as much time as you want on them, just won't be able to post.
If something happens that you feel is important to share, or for which you need support, you cannot easily come back.

Leechblock (or other software)

When the software on your computer simply won't let you go to a certain site. You can set it for a number of hours, certain time frames, or certain time limits.

Pro:
You are in control of when you want to go on the forum or not
You can set it for a limiting time (like 30 minutes a day)
You can delete it on the weekends
You cannot go on the site, so you cannot read any messages either
It alerts you quickly, and interrupts the pattern of going on the forum automatically.

Con:
You set it yourself, so you could simply not set it, or delete it.

Will power

Using your will power to only go on the forum when you really want to and can.

Pro:
No need for complications or setting up systems, or asking others for help

Con:
Most people don't have enough will power to do this


If you would decide that you were too much on this forum, what is the way that you would decide to handle this, and why?

[supertom]

I request a 6 month ban and followed through with it wasnt that hard.

Will power for me.

[Angela]

Shift focus to something that inspires you

Pro:
100% responsibility
Forum moves out of your awareness, easily and effortlessly
Inspiration
Motivation
You can shift back at any point, with full presence to having choice in the matter
Building personal power

Con:
100% responsibility

[st33med]

I'm not sure that is a con for me!

[st33med]

In all seriousness, it doesn't require willpower or bans to get away from the forums. I think that knowing the power and good stuff coming from spending less time here is inspiring. Imagine: having more time for other stuff to do and less on focusing on inane comments posted here!

I've been noticing that focusing on things that are more of an inspiration than the forums tends to lessen the time I spend here. It's not that I want to get away from here. I really want to stay and help out in anyway I can for people in need of a new perspective on life.

Give it a try! Focus on other things that are more inspiring than the forums. And don't force the task on you if you aren't inspired -- you'll end up resisting that task sooner or later.

[ssandra]

FYI (in case I gave the wrong impression):

I'm perfectly happy with the time I spend here and the time I don't spend here now.

I was just considering all the people who ask for bans, get unbanned, or do go through with it... and I considered some other options.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by ssandra

FYI (in case I gave the wrong impression):

I understood you were speaking theoretically, not talking about a problem you're trying to solve for yourself.

[st33med]

Originally Posted by ssandra

FYI (in case I gave the wrong impression):

I'm perfectly happy with the time I spend here and the time I don't spend here now.

I was just considering all the people who ask for bans, get unbanned, or do go through with it... and I considered some other options.

Oh, I misread. My advice still stands for others.

[Brutha]

In all seriousness, it doesn't require willpower or bans to get away from the forums.

Don't delude yourself. It takes will power to break long term habits.

I understood you were speaking theoretically, not talking about a problem you're trying to solve for yourself.

It's not completely theoretical as we as mods make the decision whether we allow people to request bans.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Don't delude yourself. It takes will power to break long term habits.

When did you decide that?

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by ssandra

Using your will power to only go on the forum when you really want to and can.

Con:
Most people don't have enough will power to do this

Oh? Seems to me that most people use their willpower/inner decision making instead of the other two methods you listed.