Is there a way to hide user specified forum categories (in particular the Off-topic Chatter category) from showing up in the recent posts view?
LOL the irony, I wouldn’t have seen this or be replying unless it WAS visible in recent posts view……… 
Sadly I don’t know the answer though, but I don’t think you can
Oops. My bad. I posted in the wrong category and I have moved it to the more appropriate category.
I wasn’t pointing out the category was wrong 
, my point was if I had ‘hidden’ recent posts of certain categories (for example ‘off topic chatter’ which this was in, or for that matter ‘site related’ ) then I wouldn’t have seen the op, therefore less chance of anyone who had also hid it replying and helping with the question/topic. Double edged sword lol 
I also wish I could hide that category.
There is currently no way to do this.
If sb chimes in, he probably has the ability to make it possible in the future.
+1
It should show the category of where the topics are coming from on the front page and recent views. It would then be trivial to hide with css or a userscript.
+1
Surely the titles of each post would be a dead giveaway?
See something of no interest and scroll on.
It’s technically possible for me to create an alternative Recent Posts view similar to the Recent Posts: not commercial one. But it would only make sense if quite a few users would find it useful.
Personally I don’t think it’s a big deal the way it is now. It’s easy enough to skip posts I’m not interested in just by looking at their titles.
Just go to the forum category that you are interested to view and reload the page—the most recent posts will be at the top of the list.
How hard can that be?
Not very, unless you are too lazy to search out the categories that you want to read.
I would really enjoy that Sb.
I check in to learn what's going on in flashlights and think a more focused Recent Posts: not commercial/non chatter view would be like a breath of fresh air.
BLF is a wonderful place but it isn't necessarily a place I visit to swap recipes, talk about movies, music, tv, personal electronics, home decor, and so on.
Looking forward to the period at the end of my working years when I can dedicate some newly found free time to those pursuits but until then it's life in the rat race.
I vote its not necessary
I’d like to have this option, too. I do read most everything but frequently I take advantage of the “Recent Posts: Not Commercial” button and it would really be nice to weed out the off-topic chatter at times, too. Maybe a “On-Topic Only” or “Flashlights Only” button that nips both of those at once?
It’s nice to be able to see a simple list of most recent posts without having to drill down into every subforum.
Hmm… Perhaps a setting many years ago? Pretty much the only way I interact with the site is recent posts non-commercial. When I click home that is what shows. If I am going to start a post then I look at forum categories so I can post to the correct place. Frankly I wasn’t even aware of the recent posts non-commercial. Perhaps I am missing out on some coupon codes because of this? That is OK as I don’t really want to spend more money. OTOH, Have got some great gifts and a few good lights for myself due to the codes and group buys. Not sure how I even saw those given that I am only looking at recent non-commercial?
For me there are a fair number of topics that I am not interested in. Quite a number of them are very much flashlight related just not what I am in to. Same with Off-Topic chatter. Sometimes I like that better than anything and other times I couldn’t care less. Click if interested don’t if not. I see no need to block.