I have cloned a repository that a particular .metadata file was pushed too.  This .metadata file seems to be causing me many git conflicts and other issues with Eclipse.

So lets say I had a folder named rev.  I navigated into the folder rev which there was nothing in there to start with.  I ran the command:
git clone https://github.com/BenArayathel/0427Java.git

So now 0427Java lives inside of rev

Then inside of 0427Java there is folder called usf-batch-workspace

Inside of usf-batch-workspace are java projects that I and my fellow batch-mates work on.  I have a .gitignore in all three of: 
java-project, usr-batch-workspace, and 0427Java and all three .gitignore’s are the same.

I suppose hierarchically it might look like:

rev   <---------( regular folder not tracked )
	0427Java
		usr-batch-workspace
			java-project

Inside my .gitignore I have used these:

/.metadata/
/usf-batch-workspace/.metadata/*
**/.metadata/*

# Created by https://www.gitignore.io/api/eclipse
# Edit at https://www.gitignore.io/?templates=eclipse

### Eclipse ###
.metadata

# as well as the rest of the provided template