# Blocking users? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 7, 2023, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195 "2023-08-07T16:01:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2023, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/21 "2023-08-09T06:24:20Z")
Or maybe the moderators could inform users privately when they’ve been blocked by 10 other users, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2023, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/22 "2023-08-09T06:39:01Z")
That kind of defeats the purpose of an ignore list, which is to pretend as if they didn’t exist. If you’re going to start a conversation with a person, why are you ignoring them? I mean, when they reply to your message, you won’t see it. > [@alovem](#): > > Or maybe the moderators could inform users privately when they’ve been blocked by 10 other users, for example. …Why? ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2023, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/23 "2023-08-09T06:40:29Z")
To rub it in? That is why I wonder whether it would be considered an insult. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2023, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/24 "2023-08-09T06:42:43Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > …Why? As noted upthread: > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Don’t want to know who, but if a significant number are blocking me that tells me I should reexamine my approach. We’re not supposed to say anything, and, once users are blocked, we can’t see their messages, anyway. In that case, maybe the blocked users remain on a list of all users that would allow us to contact them, but the point is that it might be a useful way for moderators to deal with users who are “becoming more trouble than they’re worth” (quoted from the rules posted here somewhere). ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2023, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/25 "2023-08-09T19:45:13Z")
> [@alovem](#): > > We’re not supposed to say anything Not outside of the Pit, anyway. 🙂 > [@alovem](#): > > “becoming more trouble than they’re worth” Which is pretty close to my personal threshold for adding to my ignore list: “no longer worth paying attention to.” ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2023, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/26 "2023-08-09T21:37:58Z")
I’m good at scrolling past, but I did put one now-banned poster on ignore. His posts would start interesting, then devolve into misremembered misinformation. After I got hooked into his drivel too many times, I plonked him. FWIW, this behavior was pointed out to the guy in the Pit. He showed some interest in feedback, then proceeded to conduct a slow-burn freak-out, ending in his banning. Individuals are individuals, but I’d be circumspect about informing a poster that he’s been ignored. Too many interpret that as a badge of honor: most people get perturbed when ignored on the internet or in RL, and too few have constructive temperament. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/27 "2023-08-10T10:48:22Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > is it possible to find out how many posters are blocking you? No, this is an undesired feature. Genuine trolls will treat that number like a score in a video game. DNFTT. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/28 "2023-08-10T12:06:07Z")
There isn’t an easy way for a Mod to tell, impossible for a general user. We do get notifications if someone has been blocked by 5 or more users in a short amount of time. I’ve never really looked into that except once to let a solid poster know a small change might help. I don’t think it was well received and haven’t repeated it. Besides most of the ignores are problematic posters or at least very confrontational posters. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/29 "2023-08-10T12:24:20Z")
\<_sniff_\> I tole ya I was sensitive… 😢 Seriously, I’ve blocked lots of people over the years. Eventually most of them have been banned anyway or just left. I guess my hexes are working. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/30 "2023-08-10T12:59:14Z")
I was blocked once. I had to take some big pills and drink lots of water. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/31 "2023-08-10T13:32:10Z")
Fiber, man! ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/32 "2023-08-10T13:38:45Z")
Holy cow! 😆 ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/33 "2023-08-10T16:27:59Z")
Blocking works fine while I’m logged in, otherwise the blocked user’s messages are still visible. I usually log in only to post, so I’m still seeing the blocked user’s posts. It’s not a complaint. I thought I’d mention it here for the benefit of anyone else who didn’t know that. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/34 "2023-08-10T16:35:00Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > We do get notifications if someone has been blocked by 5 or more users in a short amount of time. I would only add that it’s rarely a surprise. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/35 "2023-08-10T16:40:36Z")
> [@alovem](#): > > usually log in only to post, so I’m still seeing the blocked user’s posts. That seems odd, why do you not log in? I can’t see an advantage to visiting the site without logging in, and lots of disadvantages to doing that. I’ve just never heard of anyone using this site that way, and wondering what it is I’m missing here. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/36 "2023-08-10T16:49:05Z")
It’s okay; I don’t mind explaining. For short responses like this or if I think someone’s going to engage with me in an exchange, I’ll log in first. Otherwise, especially if I’m writing a longer post like a lengthy review of a film, I prefer to do it in a Word document. Gives me time to edit out the superfluous bits, double-check my assumptions and spelling, etc. Much of that habit probably came from the days when you’d often lose an entire post due to disconnection and other delightful surprises. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/37 "2023-08-10T16:51:11Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > IMHO one of the nice features in Discourse is the avatars. To be fair, the late **TubaDiva** gave us all the ability to have avatars back in the later days of vBulletin. Which of course caused whining from the usual suspects, even though it was strictly optional. The new thing on Discourse was the ability to also post pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/38 "2023-08-10T16:52:02Z")
> [@alovem](#): > > I usually log in only to post How do you keep track of where you left off reading hundreds or maybe thousands of different threads without logging in? ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/39 "2023-08-10T16:55:27Z")
Mmmm, I dunno, memory? I don’t have a prodigious memory. There’s usually some detail that I’ll remember. Certainly not thousands, probably not hundreds, more like dozens each day. I skip a lot of threads entirely and generally try not to spend too much time browsing the Dope or anything else online. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195/40 "2023-08-10T17:03:13Z")
For me, keeping track of where I left off reading a thread (which may be getting a lot of posts) is one of the really nice features of Discourse. The “latest posts” list is another. I don’t even remember how I navigated in vBulletin but Discourse is much more intuitive and organized. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocking-users/988195.md?page=3)