Londondrz you are right about being disciplined and just ignoring certain threads.

But that wasn't why I was asking how to use the SE23 ignore feature, which seems in practice to be just a stub.
The problem was the unpleasantness was spilling over to the main board.

For example, I've found facebook a much nicer experience since I've blocked content from Britain First and the like. One or 2 'jokes' or opinions are not offensive, but when your feed is liberally sprinkled with 'friendly' digs at Muslims, the unemployed, the disabled, the working class etc etc, then it points to there being an corrosive agenda driving all this.
Friends and friends of friends are unwittingly peddling this material, and it will subconsciously harden attitudes. Advertising works.

It needs to be recognised for what it is and it needs blocking.
In my humble opinion.