So, I've followed a handful of people in the few days that I've been on steemit. It didn't take long for me figure out quickly who I want to unfollow right away. Several different profiles have obliterated my feed with resteems that quite honestly I'm not at all interested in.
So, I have two options - Unfollow them completely, or stay following them and just Mute. But really, what's the point of muting somebody?
Muting and unfollowing has the exact same effect, removing ones posts, or influence, from my feed. Muting however keeps the relationship 'alive' through maintaining the follow.
Tell me, when was the last time you muted someone in the real world? You probably haven't, ever. Because that would be rude, insensitive and really there is no construct to mute somebody that is in your physical space. In my opinion, muting someone is really quite a selfish action. You're signaling to someone (with a follow) that they matter, but really you've made a decision internally that their voice doesn't matter at all. I don't see any other reason to maintain the follow relationship if you silence their voice.
It's through features like this that social networks create a false sense of friendship, camaraderie and importance on both sides of the 'relationship'. Until there is a better reason to stay following someone that you've muted, do them a favor and just unfollow.