def mousePressEvent(self, event):
        """
        Overloads the mouse press event to handle special cases and \
        bypass when the scene is in view mode.
        
        :param      event   <QMousePressEvent>
        """
        # ignore events when the scene is in view mode
        scene = self.scene()
        if scene and scene.inViewMode():
            event.ignore()
            return

        # block the selection signals
        if scene:
            scene.blockSelectionSignals(True)

            # clear the selection
            if ( not (self.isSelected() or
                              event.modifiers() == Qt.ControlModifier) ):
                for item in scene.selectedItems():
                    if item != self:
                        item.setSelected(False)

        # try to start the connection
        super(XNodeConnection, self).mousePressEvent(event)
Overloads the mouse press event to handle special cases and \
        bypass when the scene is in view mode.
        
        :param      event   <QMousePressEvent>