This document provides tips for blocking and limiting exposure to the Facebook game Mafia Wars. It outlines several steps users can take to clean up their newsfeed and block requests and notifications related to the game, including hiding posts about the game, blocking the application, ignoring mass requests, and adjusting privacy settings to only share game posts with a select list of friends rather than all Facebook contacts. The overall message is that there are options available to users who find Mafia Wars cluttering and annoying on their Facebook feed.
2. What about Mafia Wars?
> Mafia Wars is a game produced by Zynga. Lots of bored office
workers across the world with access to internet without the
restrictions of an IT department play it incessantly.
What does this mean?
> You don’t play it.
> You receive gift requests and invites to play it.
> Your newsfeed is cluttered.
> It annoys the hell out of you.
Can you block it?
> Yes.
Can you be less annoying?
> Yes.
3. 1. Newsfeed Cleaning
In the upper right hand corner of each feed item is an option to “hide” a
user. With application feed items, you also have the option to “hide” the
application. In this case, we “hide” Mafia Wars.
4. 2. Block Application
You’re still going to get invites and requests from people using the
application. Luckily, Facebook allows you to block those, too.
Under the “Accept” and “Ignore” options on your request page, you can
choose to “Block This Application”.
Are you anticipating requests from an application? Visit the
application’s page and you “Block This Application” from there.
5. 3.1 Ignore Mass Requests
Visit your requests’ page. Either type in the URL you see or click the
“See All” in the upper right hand corner. (Many fun functions live in the
corners of Facebook.)
Click “Ignore All” for the best action ever.
6. 3.2 Ignore Mass Requests
“Ignore All” is a misnomer. It gives you the option to ignore just group
invites, events, applications, or even friends.
7. 4.1 Be Considerate
You know, I play Mafia Wars, but I try to be considerate. I’ve blocked all
my normal friends from seeing my stupid Mafia shit before they have to
go through all this.
First thing we have to do is create a friends list. Click “More” in the
lower left-hand sidebar.
Then click “Create New List”.
8. 4.2 Be Considerate
Name your list something like “Mafia Wars” or whatever and select your
friends for this list.
9. 4.3 Be Considerate
Find your “Application Settings” under “Settings” in the dashboard.
Choose the offensive application from the left-hand sidebar. In this case,
we have chosen Mafia Wars.
10. 4.4 Be Considerate
Select “Only Me” and uncheck “Everyone on Facebook”.
“Except These People” is a suppression option. Add your
and they’ll be the exception. They’ll be the only ones who get to see
your Mafia Wars news items.