I've recently turned into a blocker.

Submitted ⁨⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com⁩ to ⁨fediverse@lemmy.world⁩

I always felt like it was wrong to block an account unless it was smth absolutely insane. Nazis etc.

But now I’m blocking people who’s tone I dont like, or who are baiting or actingnin bad faith.

I know I can’t do it as a mod. But i can certainly do it as an individual now. Judgy comment? Blocked. Unnecessarily confrontational? Blocked.

This is new to me, literally 3 days. Wonder how this affects my feed. Only disappointing thing is they can still see and respond to my posts, just that I can’t see it. I wish they couldn’t see anything I posted either.

What are your blocking habits? If you do block a lot of people, has that affected your experience?

source

Comments

Sort:hotnew top

korthrun@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I am fast and loose with blocking on all platforms. No regrets.

It’s often not even personal. Sometimes someone expresses a mild dislike of cats and I’m like “don’t need your noise”.

Repost a hilarious meme that I whole heatedly agree with, but with the word “fuck” is poorly crossed out? “Algo-speak promoting motherfuckers”, roll of the dice on my mood, probably blocked.

My Guild Wars 2 ignore list is full of people labeled “says boiz too much”, “annoying fashion”, “made bad joke about bees”.

There are so many people on the Internet, it’s fine.

source
- SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  How long before you are left with no posts on Lemmy?? 😭
  
  source
  - korthrun@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Right?! I’m surprised that I haven’t just run out of internet yet, but here we are :D I’ll be sure to post about it when it happens ;p
    
    source
    -> View More Comments
EponymousBosh@awful.systems ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I block pretty freely, on all social media. Being both trans and religious means that people on any part of the political spectrum might think I’m subhuman, and I don’t see the point of engaging when that’s the case.

source
athairmor@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
You’ve no obligation to socialize with everyone in real life, why should online be any different?

If someone is consistently annoying, rude or spouting noxious stuff, you’re perfectly reasonable in blocking them.

Interaction in written text online is still a fairly unnatural way for humans to communicate. It’s missing the depth that physical and aural clues provide.

Add to that the evidence that humans can’t really manage more than about 50 relationships makes these global forums too much for a person to really handle.

Block away. Trim your interactions to a manageable level.

source
- Bazoogle@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  
  why should online be any different?
  
  I know I am taking the wrong message from this, but online is different in basically every way. You cannot block someone in real life. You can try to avoid them, but they can still talk to you. You can put in ear buds, but that doesn’t make them not there.
  
  Really, the solution is to spend less time on technology and more time communicating IRL. Even if it is uncomfy
  
  source
Wrufieotnak@feddit.org ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I only block communities for now. And my instance blocks a lot of … debate heavy instances.

Regarding blocking of individuals: feel free to do that, if it helps you having a better time, that is perfectly fine.

But I started tagging strange people if I think that something they said is not correct. Then later I randomly see them somewhere else behaving normally. So my current plan is tag them first to see if I find this one person repulsive again and if so then block them. This way it is less carpet bombing and I accept that everybody can have a bad day where they lash out.

source
- LikeableLime@piefed.social ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  This is what I do. I tag users and see if their behavior is a pattern or just a one off
  
  source
- Samskara@sh.itjust.works ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I mainly block communities that only repost subreddits automatically. I don’t get the point of these.
  
  source
- bizarroland@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I block communities and bots and obvious trolls.
  
  My feed is perfectly fine without them. And the communities I block are the ones that I don’t want to see or know anything about like fucking politics and news.
  
  source
railcar@midwest.social ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Keep it up. Don’t let FOMO loosen your standards. If people acted like this to you in person, you would avoid them. Do it online as well.

Sadly we interact so much online that the bad behavior of social media is now informing people how to behave IRL.

source
masterspace@lemmy.ca ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
People over use blocking like crazy.

I constantly see people blocking others just for making a point they disagree with. Rather than actually think through the logic and reasoning of what the other person is saying they go ‘oh I have no counter point to that, that must mean that you’re arguing in bad faith, blocked’.

The internet is already an inherent filter bubble, you don’t need to accelerate that.

source
GladiusB@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
blocked

Kidding. I block BS and mean ness. If someone can express their point and let me express mine, I’m good. It’s when people start insulting others to get their point out I just don’t resonate with them and don’t see a point of ever talking to them again.

source
Nima@leminal.space ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I recommend a client that allows tags instead. I only block really toxic accounts.

trolls just get a label and they’re usually at the bottom of most threads anyway.

source
x00z@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
It’s great for your mental state.

Just be aware of any filter bubble you might create. If you block every person that has an opposite perspective, you’ll fall into your own echo chamber.

source
- pinball_wizard@lemmy.zip ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  
  Just be aware of any filter bubble you might create.
  
  That’s a great point. I block pretty easily, but for rudeness, not for disagreement.
  
  I’ve blocked some assholes that I wholeheartedly agree with, but I just don’t want to read them abrasively support things I believe in.
  
  source
- Signtist@bookwyr.me ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  This is the biggest reason why I only block sparingly. If you aren’t regularly challenged in a way that forces you to assess and explain your world view and why it makes sense to you, then you risk becoming detached from reality in the same way that so many people have these days. It’s easy to fall into the idea that your way of thinking is inherently correct, especially when you only interact with people who agree with you.
  
  It’s tough to interact with someone who disagrees with you, especially on the internet where people can be unnecessarily harsh, but it’s also good to do for your own understanding of the world. I think of it like a workout for my moral compass - if I can’t fully explain why my viewpoint is more accurate than someone else’s, then there’s something I’m missing, and I know where I need to spend more time reassessing my beliefs.
  
  source
- Bazoogle@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  
  :(
  
  They would be annoyed at this comment if they could see it ^/s^
  
  source
foggy@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Been doing this with a warning system. I tag shitty people and block them if I see a person who is tagged acting shitty.

2 years in, no regrets.

source
- Bazoogle@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  How should Lemmy handle it if they quote a portion or even the entire message in a child comment? If someone’s goal is to not have to worry about shit someone says, and then they are still shown what that person says, does that not defeat the purpose of blocking?
  
  source
  - foggy@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Show it.
    
    Take for example the case where person A has blocked person B.
    
    Person C comments. Person B responds.
    
    New thread, same post, person C comments about how some people think like person B, and quote them.
    
    As is the current case, person A can see this quoted material. It’s just text. It’s not in any programmatic way tied to the person B account.
    
    We don’t need to change this just because it’s a child comment of person B.
    
    source
SuperNerd@programming.dev ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I block reposters. I don’t understand people that post the same link to 3+ communities.

source
- Azzu@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  That’s… How it’s supposed to be? Not everyone is subscribed to all communities you know.
  
  source
  - SuperNerd@programming.dev ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    I guess I just read /all, or whatever it’s called here, and find it super annoying when the feed is filled with 2-3-4-5 copies of the same post from one person, with separate conversations going on.
    
    How do you read here, do you just subscribe to a few communities that don’t overlap with frequent reposters?
    
    source
    -> View More Comments
Sibbo@sopuli.xyz ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
On Lemmy I usually block communities, if they are a drag in any way, like too negative, too weird, too much discussion of violence, etc. Didn’t have to block individuals that much, but in smaller communities it’s sometimes just an individual that makes it a drag, while most users post more pleasant things.

source
TheFermentalist@reddthat.com ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
You just had a birthday didn’t you? Turned 40? Grumpy old man…

source
LemUrun@pawb.social ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
You should become adblocker…

source
Klear@quokk.au ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I just tag the worst assholes and then simply not engage next time.

source
Infernal_pizza@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I’ve never really felt the need to block anyone (except the odd spam not but I don’t think that counts). I think that might be because I pretty much exclusively browse my subscribed feed which means I basically only see posts that interest me, and I find any bad comments are usually heavily downvoted anyway. And its rare enough that I just ignore it.

source
emmanuel_car@fedia.io ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I have been working in IT for too long. First thought upon reading the title was you were obstructing someone’s work.

source
reactionality@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Yeah no wonder your name can be rearranged into KKKaren

source
- SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  image_proxy(4)
  
  source
Fizz@lemmy.nz ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Blocking is great. I truly wish more people would block. We would be able to all have a more enjoyable experience.

source
- sibannac@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  A shared suggested blocklist would be helpful for new users. Growing it organically is the way to go imo but I know some in my life who rawdog the internet w/o ad block without knowing they can do something about it.
  
  source
  - Fizz@lemmy.nz ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    If someone needs to be on a shared block list they should be banned.
    
    source
    -> View More Comments
docus@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I have blocked hundreds of communities to sanitise my ‘all’ feed, and a few foreign language instances. But only a handful of obnoxious users. The users I’m inclined to block often end up banned anyway

source
it_depends_man@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I’m more on mastodon and their filter system is so nice

I made a filter for “idiot did a thing” and every time the news has another article about how some idiot whose name is on my list did something again, as they do, because that’s all they’ve been doing for 20 years, I no longer have to read it.

But I still get the little “something was blocked, click here to read it” thing, so it’s very satisfying.

I don’t block often, but I would expect it’s a similar upgrade.

source
N0Decaf4M3@lemmy.coffee ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

Only disappointing thing is they can still see and respond to my posts, just that I can’t see it. I wish they couldn’t see anything I posted either.

I understand. Lemmy users are divided on that because not only can these people see, comment and downvote your post, they can manipulate the situation to their advantage (feel free to use your imagination or search posts about blocking).

FWIW, I hear you loud and clear. Please understand that there are plenty of people in this world who are angry, unfulfilled and can’t/won’t touch grass whose only gratification is to try to make other people miserable. This mental instability coupled with current events is unfortunately unleashed here in Lemmy and you.

Block away and save your sanity. I’m here for the jokes and your memes. If I want to argue, I’ll go to work and get paid. Sadly, you are a volunteer and many people don’t realize that — they seem to think that it’s your job to take their crap. For that, I am truly sorry.

Two of my friends recently blocked .world and had good experiences with users from other instances. Recently, there was negativity in Uplifting News and a .world mod left because they were burned out so please take good care of yourself and don’t take &#!+ from any of us!

source
- FishFace@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Since I’m on .world… Can you explain why they blocked the instance? I haven’t really paid much attention to the different instances.
  
  source
  - N0Decaf4M3@lemmy.coffee ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Drama, angry people and excessive crossposting and reposting.
    
    It’s a big instance which means a lot more people, so you will always run into a .world user and/or .world community — some are awesome and others are not so great. It was easier for them to block an instance after blocking 50+ communities and people. There’s also this:
    
    Uplifting News lemmy.coffee/post/429320
    
    Cooking lemmy.coffee/post/478931
    
    There’s also drama at other communities like YPTB but it was really hard for me to follow; I saw it because my feed was set to ALL. Some of us come here for the news, memes and the occasional recipe but not to be verbally abused or bear witness to one.
    
    In addition to the controversies, the amount of news articles being crossposted to four other news communities by the same user (user # 1) was just overwhelming. Then, another user (user # 2) will do the same exact thing, unbeknownst to them that the same articles were already posted since the time gap was usually about 5 minutes or less.
    
    What do you do? Start blocking.
    Just when you think you have it all figured out, user # 1 creates an alt account and wipes the smile off your face. As you start blocking, user # 1 creates another alt account… and another. Holy cow!
    
    Lucky for us, the weather is nice so to the great outdoors we go. TBH, I’ll probably be very annoyed if this is happening in the middle of a blizzard, lol.
    
    Nice to meet you, FishFace. I like your name!
    
    source
- SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  First of all, thank you. Secondly, when did you change instances?
  
  Also. Modding is easy in my comms. The biggest is !aneurysmposting@sopuli.xyz at 3k subscribers.
  
  source
  - N0Decaf4M3@lemmy.coffee ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Lol, I’ve been lurking since June but couldn’t decide which instance to sign up with; my friends are scattered all over the fediverse.
    
    Yes, I’m one of the idiots who picked an instance because I like the name. That’s my major decision for the year.
    
    I just subscribed. That community looks good, thanks!
    
    source
    -> View More Comments
MHLoppy@fedia.io ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

What are your blocking habits?

I made it through nearly two years and eventually caved after I made the mistake of arguing in favor of the truth, supported by video evidence and a fact check from an internationally recognized fact-checking organization only to be told to "fuck off", a second user said that they enjoyed pissing on my shoe(s) in their personal fight against truth, and some other catastrophically braindead takes. I generally don't like the blocking approach for opinions I don't agree with because everyone has differing views and also people have bad days and that's just life. However, being actively hostile to the truth and being extremely confrontational about it was a bridge too far for me and it was either blocking a few mouldy potatoes in an attempt to keep things tolerable or getting off the threadi/fediverse so I decided to give the former a whirl.

If you do block a lot of people, has that affected your experience?

Thankfully haven't felt the need to block many, so the only thing I've really noticed is that occasionally one of the blocked users comments in the thread for something I've submitted (which I don't get a notification for and can't see) - but then someone unrelated replies to them and then I get a notification for a comment chain which I can't actually load. It took me a while to even figure out why I was getting these "ghost" notifications.

source
- Tollana1234567@lemmy.today ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  condescending, passive aggressive, or trying to egg you on, is an instant block, or if im nearing an argument, i just block anyways.
  
  source
wuffah@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
The electronic machine you’re operating, and the electrons flowing through it that illuminate the screen constitute a highly ordered abstraction that your human brain interprets to have meaning. The software implementing that abstraction has been structured with paradigms developed over decades with functionality specifically created for you to manage the information displayed to you. These technologies are widely regarded to have culminated in a digital information age of revolution. One of the defining moments of that age is the point at which the software, which previously was designed to implement the will and preferences of the user, began changing to instead serve the developer. It could be said that the fundamental philosophy of social media software has become to optimize it such that the user continues to use it while still freely feeding it information and being subject to manipulation.

The abstraction has become hostile, and the tools to manage the data displayed are quickly disappearing as the implementation is abstracted away. The ability to block mimetically harmful information is being designed out of software - advertising, propaganda, violent or disturbing content, and even the very algorithms and paradigms themselves used to interact with abstraction are requirements for its use. The filtering and management of information through the hardware and software that you OWN is not just a feature, it is a RIGHT that must be intrinsic to its design.

In my view, the use of blocking technology should not be considered a human social action with emotional weight, but rather a mechanical one like switching off a light or moving an object from my path of travel. They are information management tools built to serve YOU, the user. If the technology you are using does not serve you, then who are you serving?

source
LodeMike@lemmy.today ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I block any hexbear and .ml

source
- SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Hexbear is fine? I don’t get why everyone dislikes hexbear. Most smart conversations I’ve had involve a hex user.
  
  I’d rather block more .world users
  
  source
  - LodeMike@lemmy.today ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    See lemmy.today/post/32420634
    
    source
  - Skavau@piefed.social ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    They can be very trolly, but also people very much dislike the pervasive ideology on there.
    
    source
  - Tollana1234567@lemmy.today ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    .ml and lemmy grad are more aggressive version of Hexbear, calling everything “lib” is a common conservative buzzword, for things i dont like. one in the same, so i block that instance too.
    
    source
Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I hardly ever block individual posters, but communities, I’ve blocked 936 of them at the time of making this post. Sports, porn, anime, or furry shit are all block on sight. Plus a handful of randoms that I’m just not interested in.

I’ve finally got All where it’s pleasant to browse. Takes some doing, but worth the effort if you want to customize your feed reductively vs actively seeking out and subscribing to communities.

source
- GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.ca ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I may have to start doing this. I’ve subscribed to enough that I see enough to keep me occupied, and if I don’t I go to All and add anything that I find particularly interesting. This mean I miss new things I might really enjoy unless I’m not as occupied with my current subscription list. This could be better.
  
  source
- FishFace@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I never even considered using All…
  
  source
- SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  How about language issues? I dont browse all bc half the time I dont get the languages. Changing the language is apparently buggy on Lemmy.
  
  Also blocking instances doesn’t cut it.
  
  source
  - Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    That accounts for a good chunk of the blocks as well.
    
    This is one of those one-bite-at-a-time projects - just hit a few on each visit, it adds up.
    
    source
FaceDeer@fedia.io ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

Only disappointing thing is they can still see and respond to my posts, just that I can't see it. I wish they couldn't see anything I posted either.

I've seen this view in discussions of blocking before and it really bugs me. You're desiring to unilaterally control what I can see and do on the Fediverse.

This is how it works on Reddit and it's a terrible mechanism. It means you can preemptively ensure that anyone who might refute misinformation will be excluded from your threads before you post them. It means you can step into a conversation I'm having with someone, derail it, and then prevent me from responding to your derail. Over on Reddit by far the most common use I see of the block tool is to get the "last word" in on whatever argument is going on, posting some sort of seemingly clever comeback and then instantly blocking me before I can point out the flaws.

For anyone wondering how the blocking feature has been weaponized to spread misinformation, in 2022 a redditor did an experiment: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheoryOfReddit/comments/sdcsx3/testing_reddits_new_block_feature_and_its_effects/

source
- Wolf314159@startrek.website ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Sounds like something a sea lion would say.
  
  source
- FistingEnthusiast@lemmynsfw.com ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I have blocked people on reddit who have stalked me.
  
  You’re saying that they should be able to continue to do so?
  
  source
  - Azzu@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Blocking is not an adequate defense to that anyway. If someone wants to stalk you, they can just not log in at all. You’re posting in q public place that everyone can see. Because of that, blocking only makes sense in one direction.
    
    source
  - Skavau@piefed.social ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    No, he’s pointing out the severe issues with the system at scale. If someone is stalking you on Reddit, that sounds more like a “this user should be banned” issue.
    
    source
- Tollana1234567@lemmy.today ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  on reddit people have been scorched for blocking and reporting, you can get banned for reporting too many times, or if the specific mods in a sub deems you “report too much”. i block most of the time, instead of reporting. reddit has way too many bots and trolls, propaganda to block them all.
  
  source
- onlinepersona@programming.dev ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I don’t understand this view either. What’s it to ya? You cant see what the person does anyway. There doesn’t seem to be a point behind it besides control.
  
  Also, it simply is difficult to implement. You have to tell every server “do not show my posts and comments to these accounts”. Other servers can just choose to ignore that. It’s centralized thinking to believe the “feature” will work all the time.
  
  source
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
i do the same you are not alone. besides nazis, PROPaganda, or conservatives. condescending, passive aggressive, or “actually this is or that is wrong, and why you should do this or that to be better” i will block them too. or try to correct you on what they believe his “historically correct of a mythos”.

source
- SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Oh yeah the um actually is annoying
  
  source
  - HarkMahlberg@kbin.earth ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    
    "No. { Several paragraphs of argument that's not mutually exclusive }"
    
    Arghh hate that shit. I don't know why online argumenters love to start with "No and." I don't block because of it but man, nobody learns how to have a constructive debate anymore.
    
    source
Hegar@fedia.io ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I blocked like that on reddit but here I feel there's fewer users and I have to give people credit for being on the fediverse - that earns almost everyone a "well maybe you just had a bad day".

source
- SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Eeeexactly. Only changed my style recently. And even still I check the profile for repeat offenders.
  
  source
- Tollana1234567@lemmy.today ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  same here, but on reddit i heard after 1000 blocks, it only soft-mutes them, or does something wierd and it doesnt silence them anymore. cant really report people all the time, otherwise you can get banned for abusing report button.
  
  source
TheBat@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Am I blocked? 🥺

source
- SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Lol no. I definetely remember good interactions in moth July woth you I think
  
  source

-> View More Comments