Thread block

[cbwjm]

Does that count as getting the last word in? If you respond to someone then immediately block them preventing them from seeing it then essentially you've just vented into the ether. I think something like that has happened to me, or it might have just been a notification of a thread update but it's by someone I'm ignoring so when I click on the notification it takes me to a null post.

I've seen some threads where I think a couple of people I've ignored are arguing with each other, back when I could see 20 posts per page I've had a page that only had maybe a half dozen posts I could actually see. It can also sometimes cause some responses that have no context but otherwise I'm generally happy with the feature.

 

[aco175]

I think it would be cool to see the number of people blocking you. Something like seeing you reaction score or your warning score.

 

[Necropolitan]

I do have a problem with two-way blocking, as it's disruptive, feels to me to be contrary to the point of posting on a public forum and doesn't necessarily work (it only prevents someone from seeing your posts if they're logged in).

Plus it gives anyone who starts a thread moderator power over it.

And since there are a few users who start most threads it means they can ensure anyone they don't like can't access a hefty percentage of the forum, it might be unintentional abuse of the feature but it's definitely being abused.

Two-way blocking doesn't solve the problem it was implemented to solve and creates bigger problems than the one it was put in place to solve.

And it's unnecessary, harassment is already against the rules and those rules are enforced, what other reason is there for it?

 

[SableWyvern]

Does that count as getting the last word in? If you respond to someone then immediately block them preventing them from seeing it then essentially you've just vented into the ether. I think something like that has happened to me, or it might have just been a notification of a thread update but it's by someone I'm ignoring so when I click on the notification it takes me to a null post.

My assumption is that the final word isn't for the blockee's benefit, it's for everyone else following along. See this sick burn? And they're too shamed/stupid/whatever to respond. It's probably more egregious on Reddit, where the threading makes it clear there was no response. I've definitely seen people (again, on Reddit, not here) go through methodically replying to posts and then blocking (you can sometimes spot this when the people being blocked work it out and then edit a previous post).

 

[cbwjm]

I guess my assumption in this situation, assuming this is what happened on a reddit post, is that the one who hasn't responded has just decided to disengage rather than continue with a conversation that isn't going anywhere. I probably think that mostly because that's what I do, I'll see the last reply and then decide it isn't worth continuing. It doesn't happen often because I don't often post comments on reddit, but it has happened.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Yes. That is the point.

Not at all, but it does need to be an option.

I'm sorry, I don't think we're on the same page. In regular blocking, you can't see the posts of a person you're blocking. That all makes sense, they no longer exist to you, and there are plenty of reasons why that could be valuable to someone. In two-way blocking, the person you've blocked also can no longer see your posts, including (apparently) the entirety of any thread you started. How does that benefit anyone? I'm really asking here, because it doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Necropolitan]

I'm sorry, I don't think we're on the same page. In regular blocking, you can't see the posts of a person you're blocking. That all makes sense, they no longer exist to you, and there are plenty of reasons why that could be valuable to someone. In two-way blocking, the person you've blocked also can no longer see your posts, including (apparently) the entirety of any thread you started. How does that benefit anyone? I'm really asking here, because it doesn't make sense to me.

Plus moderators already act to deal with users who try to get around blocks so there's no actual purpose to it.

 

[SableWyvern]

I guess my assumption in this situation, assuming this is what happened on a reddit post, is that the one who hasn't responded has just decided to disengage rather than continue with a conversation that isn't going anywhere. I probably think that mostly because that's what I do, I'll see the last reply and then decide it isn't worth continuing. It doesn't happen often because I don't often post comments on reddit, but it has happened.

I'm sure there are plenty of people using it with no malicious intent and, on Reddit, those people aren't even given the option of one-way blocking. However, it can and is specifically used by some people to score internet points, to lock people out of conversations and to generally disrupt those who disagree. There are absolutely people out there intentionally weaponising this feature on Reddit; it allows a user to completely control a conversation and silence dissenting views. That doesn't seem to be happening here (at least not on any significant scale) but it certainly could. And, if it does happen, there's no real way to stop it, other than telling people not to use (or preventing them from using) the block feature in the first place.

 

[Gradine]

I'm sorry, I don't think we're on the same page. In regular blocking, you can't see the posts of a person you're blocking. That all makes sense, they no longer exist to you, and there are plenty of reasons why that could be valuable to someone. In two-way blocking, the person you've blocked also can no longer see your posts, including (apparently) the entirety of any thread you started. How does that benefit anyone? I'm really asking here, because it doesn't make sense to me.

It benefits me because it keeps me safer from people who I don't feel are safe to interact with online, which yes, does even occur here. Making myself invisible to them means they're no longer seeing me as a target. If they could still see all of my posts, that's more fuel for them to continue the harassment. Hence, I don't want that to happen. Hence, two-way block.

The disappearing thread aspect is of course frustrating, but a pretty necessary consequence of having two-way block. It's a small price to pay for such a useful safety tool.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It benefits me because it keeps me safer from people who I don't feel are safe to interact with online, which yes, does even occur here. Making myself invisible to them means they're no longer seeing me as a target. If they could still see all of my posts, that's more fuel for them to continue the harassment. Hence, I don't want that to happen. Hence, two-way block.

The disappearing thread aspect is of course frustrating, but a pretty necessary consequence of having two-way block. It's a small price to pay for such a useful safety tool.

But how can they harass you if you can't see them? I'm not trying to be rude, and I apologize if this is coming off that way, I just don't get it.