To use the "IGNORE" feature so that you don't have to read posts from attention-seeking bashers, click on the identity's name. This takes you to their personal page. Underneath the avatar is a link to "Ignore Poster." Click on that, and their posts simply will not appear in the list of messages that you see.

It's another great feature that the Hangout is giving us for free. I let the ads come up instead of using an ad blocker, because the ads are what support this site.