Subeta -

October 31, 2008 2:45 pm

Greetings, Subetans! 
A while back, we told you that we wanted to involve all of you more in the decision-making process when it comes to the way the site is run, so we are presenting you with just such an opportunity today! 
As you may well know, we recently instituted double-blocking, a feature that automatically blocks anyone who has blocked you. We have received a lot of feedback on it; some has been positive, some has been negative, and all of it has been carefully considered. We have arrived at the conclusion that you, the users, should be the ones who ultimately decide whether or not we ought to keep this feature. However, before you head off to the <a href="/explore/polls.php">Polls</a>, you should carefully consider the pros and cons of the double-block system. 
Pros include a potentially marked decrease in the amount of drama onsite; if two people who normally fight and argue at every turn no longer exist for one another, the opportunity for the altercation to continue onsite is dramatically reduced. You don't have to manually track who has blocked you so that you can avoid posting on their threads, making responses to them that they'll never see, or bidding on their forum auctions with no chance of winning. It can greatly simplify what can sometimes become a complicated situation, particularly for those who find themselves frequently blocked by their peers. 
On the other hand, some people find that the Cons outweigh the benefits of the system. You cannot, for example, keep an eye out for users breaking rules to report to the moderation staff. Users may find their forum browsing experience significantly reduced if they are frequently blocked because they are unable to see posts from people by whom they might not personally be bothered or otherwise have no interest in blocking in return. Stickies, particularly those written by non-staff, may not be visible if the author has blocked you. Some unscrupulous users may even attempt to "cheat" out forum auctions by blocking all other bidders, effectively making their bids invisible to all but the auction-holder. 
As you can see, there is a lot to consider, and we hope that you will give this matter some serious thought before arriving at your final conclusion. After all, the future of Subeta is in your hands! 
Now <a href="/explore/polls.php">GO VOTE!</a>

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

If I was able to turn it off for myself, but let other people who need it have it turned on, then I'd vote yes, but as it stands, I'm voting no. As an on/off feature, it would be absolutely great.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

-I- want to choose who to block/don't want to see... and not get choosen by someone else. Esp since i do tend to Block users for just a short time when i need to calm down... that doesn't mean i want to block/be blocked for eternity. X3
Besides... if ide-block someone, will i get de-blocked on thier list too? I don't think so, since it would make the whole sythem worthless.

Also: Peeps always will find ways to cause drama if the WANT to... like attacking that -prev. person they where mad at- friends and such. Just get new users into the circle and Drama goes on. ^^

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

This site is for fun. If certain people make it less fun for you then it's great that there's a way to totally remove them from your site experience. That is the only reason you should block people. Because you want them gone--for good--from your subeta life.

So to those saying people abuse the block feature, block friends over petty things, etc... Blocking has a lot more weight to it if one of the repercussions is that all ties are cut when you do it.

Without double blocking I can see how people would block each other just to show they are mad over some dumb thing or another. More drama, in other words.

I voted yes because, as I said, when I block people I don't care if they posted on the forums or what they said, etc. I'd rather have nothing to do with them at all--ever--and I think that's the only time blocking should be used. For any other reason it's abusing the feature, IMO.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I'm for the idea, I don't like drama. But I can see how there may be cases where it'd be a pain, not a help. If someone blocks you in a simple fight between friends, for example, you might still want to keep track of them, or leave them with the option to message you again later.

Some people may just want to handle things their own way, too. So i think, maybe, it'd be smarter to have it notify you when someone blocks you, and ask if you'd also like to block them. Or maybe have double blocking a feature users can activate or disable in their own site preferences.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I'm against double blocking, for me the cons outweigh the pro's in a big way. Also if you don't get along with someone why do we even need all this drama, why not just let it go and ignore that person. I can see blocking being needed only if your being continualy harassed. I think blocking should be used with caution and with good reason, I think some people block others on the spare of the moment and sometimes it's over petty things and they don't even think it through.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

*blocking after the double. xP

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I on a board dissicusing -I can't spell xP- double I gave a suggestion involving seesing posts by those who you have blocked or been blocked by.

The idea being that all posts on forums posted by said blocked user are hidden, similar to how you hide posts on deviantart, and if you wish to view the post you click unhide, and if you don't then you can just ignore it.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

how about a list of the people who have blocked you? So you can choose to block them or not....

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I think its a brilliant idea but instead of automatically blocking them why not ask if you would like to block them because they blocked you.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I voted no I am too mild mannered to ever want to block someone when I could just ignore them(like i would do in real life)and I am too polite for anyone to really want to block me. I can't even send a short message without reading it over first LoL!

they ARE just words

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Hmm... I'm glad they gave us the option of voting. But personally, I have no idea what to vote because I've never been faced with blockage problems. I'm trying to listen to both sides and it's a very interesting argument. I'll keep reading for opinions and then try and make an educated vote.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Quote:

; border: 1px solid ; font-family: georgia; font-size: 10;">You don't have to manually track who has blocked you so that you can avoid posting on their threads, making responses to them that they'll never see, or bidding on their forum auctions with no chance of winning.

Regarding that, if it hasn't already been mentioned, perhaps the programmers can add a warning to posts from people blocking you. Maybe put a big red stop sign in their post somewhere?

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Who is voting for it? You enjoy having your freedoms taken away? You might think no one will want to block you because you don't cause trouble, but there are some crazies out there who block for minuscule reasons like disagreeing with them on whether or not cats make good pets.

I say just let people decide who they want to see posting. They shouldn't control other people's forum viewing.

But thank you Keith for letting us decide, that's why I keep coming back to the site.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I voted against double-blocking, for reasons I've previously discussed in the forums:

Double-blocking would be fine if blocking was rare and always done for a good reason, but way too many people here are trigger-happy and will block for the tiniest reasons. I've seen several friends blocked just for disagreeing -- politely, I might add -- with someone in the debate forum. Maybe they find this person's posts interesting and agree most of the time, so why should their ability to read all of this person's posts be taken away forever just because they disagreed once? And as others have mentioned, some users block for even less than that -- not following their "trade rules," not haggling how they like, having a HA they find ugly... there's just too much potential for abuse. I also don't think it's such a good thing for two users to have all of their communication hidden from each other. What if one of the two blocks the other just so they can post personally identifying info about that person, make false claims about their trustworthiness, or do other things that could put the blockee in danger or tarnish their reputation on the site beyond repair? The blockee would have to wait for a friend to warn them, or be lucky enough to catch someone else quoting the blocker. A blockee should be able to keep an eye on anyone who could potentially have a vendetta against them.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I'm not going to get into a debate on News Comments. I've seen no Ads for sheep...No.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Actually Crashy - there are lots of sheep on Subeta - haven't you been reading the ads?

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Woops...Add saying after you're.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Crashy - I was saying that double blocking was Subeta's way of having a restraining order --- of course blocking him here won't hide you from him in the real world --- but if your RL ExBFplays here and is annoying you --- then you would probably be glad he can't see you if you have blocked him because he was annoying you,

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

So basically what you're is we can't think for ourselves and only do what the quote-cool-unquote people do.

I don't think so.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Marreshaann - it is unfortunate that there is a pack mentality among some people/groups of people.

Lets not also forget the wannabee factor. Wannabees will do what percieved popular people do because they want to be popular.

This is how we end up with fads and trends. (whistles the noncorformist anthem - wink wink - along with the other nonconformists in the room)

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I never said restraining orders didn't exist, I simply said they can't stop a person from seeing ones actions.

Say I put out a restraining order on a ex-boyfriend, and also block him here. He can see what I do in real life, but can't see what I do here. Do you understand what I'm saying. Comparing the two makes no sense.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Yeah. Leaving double-blocking up to staff won't work either. Sad to say, some people on this site get their panties in a twist over nothing and are so quick to scream OMG FAVORITISM when they don't get their way.

And for those who don't know, you already do get an event letting you know soandso has blocked you. You also have a list in your mailbox of who you have blocked and who has blocked you. (Believe me, it's easy to forget sometimes!)

I'm glad to see that people who have never experienced being blocked understand how unfair it is to have someone else control your experience of the site. I'm sorta kinda not against double-blocking as far as a persons profile, shop, trades, gifts, site events etc., but for the forums, it's just a HUGE mess. Forums, kind of a necessity of the site. Someone elses profile, not so much.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Thanks for giving us the option to express ourselves.

I voted No.

I was blocked unfairly for 3 random people around the site, and even if I know that those users will not make a thread against me, I don't want to be unable to see what I want around the forums.

I don't think the drama will stop putting a wall between two users, it's not the best way to deal with fights, Berlin confirmed that.

If I can't see what someone says about me, how I would be able to know if that user is harrasing me or targetting me? The only way would be asking to a friend that quote me what the user say, and asking to my friend again to quote my answer to that user, and in that way I will be breaking the rule of interact with blocked users.

A rule that involve the breaking of another rule it can't be good at all.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Childstar I agree with part of what you said( I think some of the random blocking is friends of a blocked person.. that's just crazy.. that people can control what others see like that..)

It is like when you were a kid and did not like a person so your friend did not like them either even though they did nothing to that friend. Is it really going to be like this I am blocking this person so you should also block them.(Pack Mentality)

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

The problem I personally see with leaving it up to staff is some people will insist there is favoritism if they don't get the doubleblock they request :/

As it stands, people accuse staff of favoritism just because they think people should be frozen for things and they aren't...

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

That's a good idea, Twi.

Let the staff enforce a double block on a case by case basis. If you leave it up to users, people WILL take advantage of it and misuse it. People already misuse the blocking system without this double blocking put in. Take note how on just this page how many people have been blocked without even talking to a person.

We don't need to be such sissies about everything. Now the judgement/responsibility to simply do something that takes literally 20 seconds has to be regulated by the staff?

Not only that, but it leaves open NEW ways to manipulate and annoy that staff wouldn't be able to CONTROL.

I believe that the people here are smart enough to simply block someone if they want to. We can think for ourselves, folks.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

MissXami - GREAT SUGGESTION -

Vagisil - I too have had the same happen - As was suggested - I returned the block so I would not accidently try to communicate with them and then pretty much forgot they existed, That's what I do when I am blocked! I don't see the point in going around a block to annoy someone.

I was also blocked by a friend - Still have no idea what happened there. Oh Well!

Crashy - evidently you have never seen a Harassment Restraining Order - they most definately do exist

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Thanks giving us the option to vote on it.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I really appreciate Subeta giving us a way to decide this for ourselves. Thanks

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I think some of the random blocking is friends of a blocked person.. that's just crazy.. that people can control what others see like that.. like I said, it should just be more of a one on one thing.. cant message you.. cant bid on junk.. etc.. just simple. I think I need to remove some people I have blocked in the past.. over stupid comments I have seen them make on other pages.. I simply never wanted to communicate ONE on ONE with them..now, it just seems mean...

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

If someone blocks me, and I feel the need to block them back I'd like to have that choice thank you very much. I was blocked by someone randomly (I don't think I've ever noted their existence until I got the event) the other day, and I have no problem with them bidding on my auctions or seeing my forum posts. Although, if the drama is getting out of hand, I think mods should have the ability to enforce a double blocking. Sort of like when kids can't get along, one stands in this corner, the other stands in the other, and until they come to say they'll behave, they are not to even look at each other. xD

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I was blocked by an Artist who I never even met or talked to. And since they're frequent in the forums I visit, it IS a disadvantage. Many of the recent complaint threads are about this issue. If somebody wants to block me, fine, but I don't want them to control what I can see. So, I voted no.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Its really strange, I never knew that blocking went way beyond just one on one communication.. that's really kinda dorky. I didnt get that on the forum if someone I blocked in general talked I cant see it.. like is someone I have blocked says something on this news comment.. I cant see it??? What would I see nothing?? Blocking in general is kinda strange here, not like other websites..

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

How's about the user is given an option like: Block my posts from being seen by x user Block x user's posts from the forums (aka they cant see the posts) Block both

I'm sure most people just dont want to see another person's post

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

DaBlu, you can't seriously compare a bunch of people on the internet to a network of street gangs that numbers around 35,000 people, a group that deals in drugs and weapons and murder. You just... you know what, I give up. This is pointless.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I come on here to relax to get away from the real world for a little time as do others on here.So why should some other person on the other side of the world say the U.S for example(Nothing against the U.S) decide that I am not allowed to read anything they say.To me that is taking away my rights as an individual

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I voted no. I don't get blocked really, I've been blocked by a total of 5 people, one of which is frozen. And 3 of the 4 others are people I don't recall EVER interacting with.

And treating Double Blocking like a Restraining Order is an incorrect assumption, it doesn't quite work that way. RO's only stop the person from coming within a certain distance from you, whereas DBing stops them from seeing anything and everything that a person does. I don't want someone else controlling my options on the site because they got a little butthurt about something I did or said. How is that fair? If I went up to somebody and kicked them in the face, sure I could understand them wanting to have nothing to do with me, but because I told them or their friend to shut up, REALLY? I think blocking should have limitations, reasons. I'd like to know why someone chose to block me. Restraining Orders give you at least that much information.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

roblerone - IN THE REAL WORLD - gang related activity is investigated - including gang related harassment - The PD does try to limit gang related illegal activities. You mean you never heard of the Crips or Bloods or Pink Ladies or Latin Kings?

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

oh no... more learning... big words... I feel like I have dyslexia or something...

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

All double blocking is doing is automating something that a user should be completely capable of doing themselves. I just don't feel that enabling a feature that can be abused, and takes away an individual's choice is worth the automation.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I voted no to double-blocking. The word "automatic" scared me away. I want control over who I can and cannot see. I think it would be better with (and thereby agree with anyone else who has suggested) increased awareness of who is blocking you. A notification, as has been asked for, or a list available for those who want to know. It would reduce the drama, without attracting the cons of double-blocking.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Quote:

; border: 1px solid ; font-family: georgia; font-size: 10;">IN THE REAL WORLD - if you are in a situation where you are being harassed - you can file a complaint with your local PD.

But, also IN THE REAL WORLD, if you were to file a complaint against every single person who disagrees with you over something trivial, or anyone who simply looks at you the wrong way, those folks at the PD would get tired of you rather quickly and they'd simply tell you to fuck off after the 86th complaint about someone chucking an egg in your direction.

The current blocking system encourages people to just frivolously block anyone they dislike or disagree with. And that's fine with me, as long as it doesn't affect what I can see on the boards. If the double blocking system required proof of continued harassment towards a person before the block would be enforced, I'd probably be a little more open to the idea.

But as it stands, people block over the most petty shit, and I definitely don't want that sort of people to control what I can or cannot see.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

SweetSerenity - There were a few days where the targeting rule did not exist ans people INCLUDING MYSELF took advantage of it and targeted other users by name - Hey I figured if someone could create a board titled DaBluMeanie then the least I could do was reciprocate in a similar fashion.

The targeting and harassment rules have been tweaked recently and again you can't name names - or say enough for others to recognize.

Believe me - not everyone that blocks people that annoy and harass them are cowards. Sometimes it's the only way to deal with some people that don't know when to stop.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Here's my two cents: I believe the double-blocking to be effective in most harrassment situations, but, from what I read of the news post (I've never blocked anyone) it says it is automatic, meaning you don't get a choice. Now, while I know some people don't want other people to know that they've been blocked by X person, I think a good idea would be, actually, a notification that you were blocked, and the option to choose whether or not you want to block that person. I haven't been able to read through all the comments posted on this news section yet, and I'm sure someone else has mentioned this. If it would work, and not cause too much of a problem with the system, I think that it would help with the auctioning problems, and other forum problems that could come with the double-blocking. :3

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Vote against double blocking!

While you can get a restraining order in real life the police won't gouge the eyes out of your harasser just so they can't see you. I don't think that other users should have a right to dictate what I can or can't see.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

How about we receive an alert- or whatever you might call them- whenever we are blocked? And then if you so wish, you can block that person in return. Or would this just cause more drama? It's a tough issue... but as things are now, I don't support double-blocking.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Ok i have been thinking about this,I do agree with what some people have said about others dictating what they can and cannot read why should one Small Minded Person decide what I Can read and Cannot read. There will still be Drama on here it will make no difference if someone blocks someone else Friends will tell them what is being said about them. So and so said something about So and So friend tells friend that so and so said something about them so the Drama continues.Hope this makes sense.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Quote:

; border: 1px solid ; font-family: georgia; font-size: 10;"> I personally think the double blocking is a good idea in the situation of harassment. Better to have the blinds drawn than to allow the drama to continue ad nauseum. The old addage "Out Of Sight - Out Of Mind" seems an apporpriate notation for this.

Not every case of blocking is because of harassment though and why should all blocks include forced censorship because of it. Before the change to the blocking system that hid posts of people you had blocked, I used the blocking feature to block people would would bid junk and spam my trades with falsely inflated crap. Since the change because I did not want to be unable to read posts of others on a public forum I completely cleared my block list and stopped using trades. Even not blocking anyone the forced no contact rule aka hiding posts and comments drastically changed my forum play as it essentially has forced me to stop using trades. I've noticed since the double block has been added to the site many situations where a person has blocked a user and then because the blocked individual can't see their posts or comments have openly trashed them to others on forums and in other users comments. Some people are blocking users crying harassment when in reality they don't like an outspoken person and don't have the balls to disagree with them or tell them what they think about them so the outspoken person is blocked and the blocker then says all the shit they didn't have the guts to say in the first place. Double blocking is just enabling cowards.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I don't think people should be notified they've been blocked, and when they go to comment on the blocker's profile, the comment box, and 'contact this user' stuff disappears.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I voted no... :c :/

Use @username to mention someone. Supports markdown formatting.

Logged Out

I on a board dissicusing -I can't spell xP- double I gave a suggestion involving seesing posts by those who you have blocked or been blocked by.

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