Topic

Major failure in using the block player system to manage street access

I am a yellow farmer, I farm yellow herbs most of my time on glitch. Everytime I plant a herb, I clean up, replant and water behind me. Once in a while, a street will ban me. I usually assume that they saw me on their list and banned me for another user not cleaning up properly.

I'd love to explain this to the person who blocked me, but I am never given the chance because I can not communicate with that user ever again. Why is the player block system combined with the street block system? There needs to be completely separate managed block lists for these. Blocking someone from your street doesn't necessarily mean you never want to hear them chat again

Not really happy with this seemingly lazy design decision. At the very least, please make it more clear when a player blocks you. New players are constantly asking in live help why they can not click a sign, or TP through a third party link. Some kind of clear popup should announce you are blocked anytime you enter a blocked street.

Just some thoughts...

Posted 4 months ago by Ramus Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • @Ramus: I know, my friend. I do understand. But sometimes we find ourselves in situations that spin beyond our control. Pretty much what it comes down to; we feel we have no control over the situation and want to affect the outcome. When we feel slighted and can't achieve vindication our sense of justice (right/wrong) is compromised. Questions arise. Good behaviour and best intentions count for nothing. Honour impugned and all that.

    You have been a model of good Glitchery. You know in your heart you do all the right things. Still, you find yourself (and your work) reduced to nothing by the actions of another. In my case, I conduct myself like you. I clean up any mess someone leaves behind. I restore what others deplete. All of that. But I have no expectations going in. I don't expect to be thanked or have a reciprocal visit. I'll leave anything I've harvested in the post along with a gift and don't expect to gain anything from my actions. If you have expectations, and they are unmet, frustration sets in. I don't even want to go down that road. If you feel that you are doing something because you have to rather than out of the joy of giving, then it is for nothing.

    We look at it from two different perspectives for sure. You want the chance for redemption while I don't need the same. I realize we're not all wired alike. If someone thinks ill of me I forgive them and move on. I don't need to talk about it or state my case. A person who has a negative image of me doesn't change who I am one bit. Or you, for that matter. Why give someone that power? If you know in your heart that you have done nothing wrong then that is sufficient.

    I totally get it. We like to see wrongs righted and justice prevail. I know I do. Unfortunately we are imperfect and live in an imperfect society. That is why I can see your view as valid as my own. We work to change that which we find lacking. Outer as well as inner. Good luck to you in the quest to bring about improvement.
    Posted 4 months ago by malo Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Mithax, the problem is that the block system was created for blocking players for harassment and chat. It was created before player streets existed (afaik). It is definitely a great feature, I was also here before it changed and at that time I was advocating it to be changed. I was glad to see that it was when I came back.

    Again though, the problem is that the player street system is sharing that system which was absolutely not intended for it. A new system should have been created for the access, white listing, black listing, full privacy, delisting from API, etc for all streets. If glitch wants streets to be personal and private, then give the options for players to do so. If glitch wants streets to be public and a way to expand their world infinitely, then make it so public streets are just that, public. I would be fine with both options being available to users, but all I am asking for is the option or a complete stance on player streets. Either public, private, or allow both with options.

    @Malo: I appreciate the friendly discussion here. I really love everyones ideas and input and the way this thread evolved since last night. :) Yea, its absolutely a matter of personal perception and goals I guess. To some it may not mean as much. I am one to answer in live help, give people free things, give out money to get other people help (like finding last egg trees!), etc. I never expect anything in return, but I DO feel slighted at times when something like that happens. I probably shouldn't. But ya know, its how it is. I'm human. :) I don't even care about the losses, I have plenty of currants. I've made more off yellow than I should, and part of that is why I try to give and help, etc. I have more than I need. I just see a fundamental flaw in this system, as a game design choice and a social aspect.
    Posted 4 months ago by Ramus Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Blocking is an important feature, as harassment does happen in online games and can lead to significant psychological distress. If the blocking system is going to function effectively as a tool for avoiding harassment, I would argue that it needs to extend to the home street. In addition, if the blocking system is going to function effectively as a tool for avoiding harassment, I would argue that there should be no expectation created that a person will communicate to others their reasons for blocking. This last point is why, with regret, I believe that the options the OP has asked for would have undesirable consequences.

    Like any other game mechanic, blocking may be used to accomplish a variety of player goals, including "land management." Thus players may use blocking in a way that upsets other players. However, while being blocked without knowing the reason why may be upsetting, it is not harassment unless it is practiced in an organized way by a group of players. So let's not lose sight of the fact that blocking, as currently designed, does help to prevent harassment. I would not want to see blocking changed in ways that make it less effective for this purpose.
    Posted 4 months ago by Splendora Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I would rather see the devs efforts spent on other changes than this. Blocking is a rare option rarely invoked, affecting very few players.

    Also, I can't imagine wanting to block somebody from my street but still leave an avenue open for that person to harangue me in game demanding to debate my reasons.
    Posted 4 months ago by Vocable Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Harassment is not unique to the chat, see the forum thread about herb gardens and the post where on player was offended by the supposed actions of another player (who denied it and if I remember right had even previously posted about being wrongly accused) so the first player openly retaliated (and publicly stated so) by first blocking and then visiting the other players street and stealing all the pigs and butterflies.

    As far as not being able to communicate if you want to block someone, that's also false, just take 2 seconds to pop over to their street and leave a message with their butler. Right now blocks only go in one direction and the other person would have to block back to get the same protection.

    Your original post was about trying to clear up a misunderstanding which lead to a block. I think the issue is now confused with the rehashing of whether the front street should be public. That's not about blocking that's about permissions and should be handled with a different system entirely if it's even needed. Personally I'm slightly confused how the topic about confusion being denied access to a street under a mostly open system, switch over to advocating adding more restrictions to peoples access to public streets.
    Posted 4 months ago by Mithax Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Vocable: The problem with your argument, is that it works both ways. If its something that happens so rarely, then why would adding the option to block from chat, street, or both, be that big of a deal to you? As the game grows and as the devs spend more time on the API tools, more players are using third party search apps for Towers and Resources. This means players are running into these problems more and more often. You don't want the dev's effort spent on this? Then the dev's effort shouldn't be spent on these tools that RELY on this system. It's too late for directing efforts when a faulty system has already been implemented. I am not asking for a new feature, I am asking for this feature to be fixed.

    @Mithax: I think the reason it has changed since my OP was because I realized that wasn't the best way to fix this problem, and so did others. What it really does come down to is the lack of street management tools and ban options.
    Posted 4 months ago by Ramus Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I hardly if ever block people, but when I do, it's either because I don't like what they're doing either directly or indirectly to me. My choices to block are my own. I've been blocked by someone who never specifically told me that they blocked me for being in a particular group, but I read it on a forum post, so, to each their own.

    I personally like the fact that you can block someone and they can't visit your street. As it is, if you block someone, you don't see a message like "So and So is here!". You can't see their texts, but you CAN go to their profile page and read all of their updates if you desired, which in itself is good because you could see if someone is harassing you behind your back in updates (which I'm sure a few people have).

    Blocking exists because it has to, to prevent all kinds of possibilities. If you're blocked from someone, that's just it, you're blocked. There's nothing you can really do about it ecept move on and go about your day. Everyone has their own choices to make and so do you. 
    Posted 4 months ago by Ayasta Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The thing is, Ramus, I have the right to block another player for any reason, including frivolous reasons. The whole point of blocking a player is to not have to interact with them, and I'm afraid that with all the good will in the world, if a player blocks another player, it is very unlikely that they are going to change their mind about it because the blockee has a chance to present their case to the blocker.

    Now, I can see the possibility of having a "land block" and a "player block" and an "everything block".  But while that might make you feel better, human nature dictates that most players who choose to block are going to choose "everything". It's just simpler.

    Some people are going to block you, and sometimes for unjust reasons. It is their loss, not yours. Let it be.
    Posted 4 months ago by chilirlw Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Ouch. You guys just made my headache worse.
    Posted 4 months ago by Zooo Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Currently, I have all the street management tools you're asking for:

    I can choose whether or not to put public resources on my street.
    I can choose which public resources to put on my street.
    I can choose how many of each resource I put on my street.
    I can see exactly who has visited my street.  

    I can IM players to find out why they are behaving in ways I don't like on my street.
    I can send players mail to find out why they are behaving ways I don't like on my street.
    I can leave notes with their butler to find out why they are behaving ways I don't like on my street.
    I can chat with them in game when they are on my street.  
    I can use any and all social engineering tools I know about to change their behavior on my street.  
    I can give them as many chances as I want to to change their behavior on my street.

    And when I've put all the energy I care to into changing their behavior, I can block them completely from my street.  

    The tool you're asking for is not for the blocker. It's to assuage the feelings of the person being blocked after the blocker has put all the energy they care to into dealing with them, by forcing the blocker to interact, again, with the person they don't want to interact with any more.
    Posted 4 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm one of those people who cleans...waters ..replants...even when I enter a street that is a mess..even if I don't get one herb..and see the mess I sort it..I also go back and restore anything that is broke even if I didn't break it..but usually it is me that breaks things cos I'm the depletion Queen..but I always restore....and yet I also know that people have blocked me..I have never had a cross word with anyone, nor have I blocked anyone...I can only assume that it is because...my name has shown up as a visitor in a street that has been left a mess..when I was probably the one who cleaned, planted or restored it previously.. :-/
     Ah well such is life.. :) 
    Posted 4 months ago by Cryztal Subscriber! | Permalink
  • In all my (probably thousands) of hours of Glitching I have never been actively harassed by anyone so it has never occurred to me that I might want to block someone. But, hey, sometimes I leave stuff out on my street for anyone to pick up, and, double hey, occasionally I'm pretty sure that someone has come by and grabbed it all. So maybe I should focus my energy on analysing my butler reports, gathering data over time to figure out who has committed this heinous act, so I can block him (or her), so that stuff that most people have no use for will sit there until some other needy or greedy glitch comes along and takes it all, so I can go through the whole process again and block him (or her), too? Nah, I don't think so. Frankly guys, I just don't get it. 
    Posted 4 months ago by Hawkwell Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I try to stay away from the blocking issue. I unblocked everyone and I removed everything from my street that it would bother me if someone messed with.

    However, I really wish I could filter Global Chat! I find some of the conversation there to be extremely rude, lewd, infantile and unpleasant. However, a lot of it is super helpful, informative, insightful, timely and hilarious. When I keep it open it pisses me off but when I keep it closed I miss it. I don't want to block people for what they say but I wish I could filter out the most objectionable things that are being said.

    Wouldn't it be nice to have a "filter list" of words that we could create so that any comments in Global that contained those words just wouldn't show up? I think that for me, a filter list would take care of the problem.
    Posted 4 months ago by Miss Bobbit Subscriber! | Permalink
  • "the problem is that the block system was created for blocking players for harassment and chat. It was created before player streets existed"

    There are a lot of different thoughts and opinions in this thread on both sides, and I'm not sure where I stand on the whole thing exactly, but this is a very good point that deserves to be repeated, and I think deserves some consideration.
    Posted 4 months ago by katlazam Subscriber! | Permalink
  • "The thing is, Ramus, I have the right to block another player for any reason, including frivolous reasons. The whole point of blocking a player is to not have to interact with them, and I'm afraid that with all the good will in the world, if a player blocks another player, it is very unlikely that they are going to change their mind about it because the blockee has a chance to present their case to the blocker."

    No one, no one is trying to take away that right from you. You can block anyone for whatever reason you want and the changes that I am proposing would not affect that in anyway. It would just give us more options to deal with these issues, both as visitors of streets and as people who own streets.

    "The tool you're asking for is not for the blocker. It's to assuage the feelings of the person being blocked after the blocker has put all the energy they care to into dealing with them, by forcing the blocker to interact, again, with the person they don't want to interact with any more."

    I seriously don't understand, did I mistakenly say somewhere that I want the option to block someone removed? I want to give the blocker more options to allow and disallow access to their streets. I would really like for people to stop putting words into my mouth and twisting my suggestions. I never, ever have suggested that we should stop allowing people to block others from chat AS WELL as their street. If you block me from both chat and street access, then so be it. Just because you feel that way about using the system, doesn't mean that others wouldn't like the additional options.

    I feel like the major argument being used in this thread is, "Don't take away my rights to block users from chatting and accessing my street for any reason what-so-ever." But no single person has suggested doing that, from what I can see.
    Posted 4 months ago by Ramus Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The tools you're asking for already exist.  See the list above.

    People don't use the tools they already have available to achieve the ends you are asking for.  My guess is that they don't want to spend time in-game interacting that way.  Because if they wanted to, they already can.  

    People aren't using the available tools to communicate with you when they block you.  Adding more communication tools for people who don't want to communicate is highly unlikely to make them want to communicate more.  
    Posted 4 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Ok.  

    I do have a useful suggestion for those of you who replant and restore home streets.  When you're done, write a note and leave it with the butler.  Say "I found your street an unharvested mess and fixed it up.  I also harvested a rock"  - or whatever.  That way you are not an anonymous visitor.
    Posted 4 months ago by WalruZ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm confused on the not restoring.  Is it to be considered like hot potato?  The thing broke while you are using it.  Do people really think you are responsible for fixing it?  Not taking account all the other uses the resource received.
      Normally I'll throw whatever I'm carrying at the issue, but I don't feel responsible to go gather the requisite materials to make it as good as new.
    Posted 4 months ago by Malus Agricola Subscriber! | Permalink
  • WalruZ has made an excellent suggestion. New players won't have the ability to write a note, but I believe they can leave a message with the butler to the same effect.  This also might be a good thing to do if you break a resource and aren't able to restore it (as may very well be the case, especially for new players).

    I believe what's being questioned about the OP's proposal is whether it would would (a) increase complexity more than add benefit, (b) create expectations that make blocking a less effective tool for dealing with harassment, and (c) produce unintended negative consequences.

    To expand on (c) above:  As currently designed, the blocking option prevents most forms of communication between the two players involved. While this may have disadvantages, it also has the advantage of preventing players from becoming embroiled in a downward spiral of negative communication. This makes it less likely that other players will be drawn into a controversy. While communication is generally a good thing, some forms of communication are not helpful.

    If you have never observed harassment in action, or seen how bad vigilante actions can turn out, or witnessed the scorched earth that can result from the unending cycle of retaliation. If you view such things as rare and unlikely, perhaps you are more fortunate than you know.
    Posted 4 months ago by Splendora Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Malus, there are a wide range of expectations about what to do when a resource is used up while you are interacting with it.

    a) Some people want to remove it, because they want to put something else there, or just want to remove that resource.  Usually there's a note around somewhere if this is what they want.

    b) Some people want to restore it.  They can either restore it completely themselves, start the restoration and let other people finish, or do nothing and hope that other people will restore it.

    I don't think you need to get into mind-reading mode when a resource is depleted while you're using it.  Do what you're comfortable doing.  
    Posted 4 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I agree with WindBorn on that one. I put towards resources or digging cycles, etc. when I have it on me. But I don't typically go out of my way to repair a resource node unless I have been using the map quite often and am able to get the herbs from their without other players taking them.

    @Splendora: I have already admitted that my OP was flawed and modified my approach towards this, but there are tons of great suggestions here on what to change.. I refuse to believe there is no compromise here that would make everyone happy.
    Posted 4 months ago by Ramus Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Splendora is exactly right.  Dragging the blocker into a drawn-out argument with the blockee is never, ever helpful;  the blocker does not have to justify herself or come up with "good" "enough" "reasons" to want to stop communicating with someone.

    I can understand how being blocked can hurt someone's feelings, but that doesn't mean you get to chase after that person for the rest of your natural life whining "but whyyyyyyyyyyyy?" and challenging every answer you get.  (In fact, that sort of behaviour is exactly what makes people NOT want to communicate further.)  If it's over, it's over, and it's time to move on.
    Posted 4 months ago by Saag Paneer Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This game is about community, about the players and social aspect. It's what makes this game at all

    ah. i had not been aware that i was playing it wrong. it is interesting that there are still people who feel qualified to decide for others what the game is and is not about.

    for YOU it is about community. for ME it is about moving about as i please in a little imaginary world.

    if i block a player because i don't want any contact with them, that does not make me an angry person. it just makes me not want to have contact with that player. if my phone rings, i don't have to pick it up. neither do i have to answer my door just because some other person decides to knock on it.

    "but talking to everyone who calls is the whole POINT of having a phone!!!", some will cry. "if everyone who wants to talk to you does not have free access, you are missing the whole point!"

    just because i have a phone doesn't give you license to ring me up, and having a phone doesn't give you authority to decide what the point of phones is.

    if i have blocked you in this game, it's because i have decided that my life in general will be happier if you don't appear in it. i have no obligation to explain to you why and i don't give two hoots in a handbasket whether you care or not.

    there are three reasons i block people:

    i do not wish to communicate with them
    i do not wish for them to be on my street
    i do not wish for them to be able to see where i am in the world.

    the tools as they exist in this game right now do those things very effectively for me. it's not really important if each person on my block list falls under all three categories.
    Posted 4 months ago by flask Subscriber! | Permalink
  • You can refuse to believe anything you like.  

     If you think your behavior might be offensive, why not get permission from each person whose resources you use?  Or even, as WalruZ suggested, leave a note about what you did on their street so that you aren't misunderstood.  

    Rather than asking for a complete redesign of the blocking system, why not use the tools you already have to achieve your goals?  Because, so far, all I can tell that you think is broken is the ability to contact someone after they have blocked you. 

    I, for one, don't want that to change.
    Posted 4 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I generally agree with WindBorn (and it seems most everyone else); having a conversation about why you are blocked is unlikely to be productive.

    However! Right now we can block AND report and TS gets a note. Why not block, NOT report...but the blockee gets a note.

    It'd be optional and of course the blockee couldn't defend themselves...but at least there might be some feedback, if the blocker chooses.
    Posted 4 months ago by M<3tra, obviously Subscriber! | Permalink
  • If Player A blocks Player B and wants to let them know why, there are ways to do this unless Player B has already blocked Player A:

    1. Player A can go to Player B's street and leave a note or message with the butler.

    2. Player A can "friend" Player B, send a mail message, and then block Player B. This may seem a little weird, but I believe the blocking removes the "friend" notification.

    Both methods require a bit of effort. Making it easier could result in more useful feedback to players about why they were blocked, but also could result in more unproductive venting by the player doing the blocking. The time it takes to visit another player's street or send a mail message gives a little time for emotions to cool.  

    Also, if the block function provided an easy way to leave a note about the reason for blocking, I'm betting this would lead to further discussions of "I was blocked and wasn't told why."
    Posted 4 months ago by Splendora Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Could just implement a radio button list like on the group setup: Block user from a,b,c etc. Still, it could end up to a lot of extra queries rather quickly!
    Posted 4 months ago by Moehr Ossum Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Here's some food for thought too, a player who blocks you can still go to your home street! How does that make any sense? It's basically a screw you but I'll still come and use your resources lol - so if you find yourself blocked for whatever reason, don't be afraid to block in return.

    I'm still of the belief that players that you block and vice versa should also not be able to purchase your/their auction items but that's really for another discussion....
    Posted 4 months ago by ~Arabesque~ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • 5 or so blocks - who cares? But multiple blocks might mean something serious.
    If you have a problem with a lot of people, sometimes the problem is YOU.
    (Is that the sound of block buttons clicking?)
    @WalruZ - a great suggestion - leave a message stating (generally) what you've done on the street.

    I had written (but it didn't post) that I wish we could see HOW MANY times we have been blocked (like we can see how many times we have blocked someone). I don't need to see WHO blocked me.
    I have never felt the need to block anyone yet. I don't think anything I've done or said has warrented getting blocked, either. I'm just curious.
    Posted 4 months ago by Patricia Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I suggested earlier that when one chooses to block  we get three options Street Only/ Chat Only/ and Full Block. If you know a player visiting does things you don' t like on your Home Street, the option Street Only could be chosen if you have chatted with them before and have no qualms with them other wise. If you have conflicts other wise as well as street issues, then Full Block would be a more logical option. If they are harassing you then obviously Full Block. If they offend you when chatting, but you've never seen them on your home street then one could opt to choose Chat Only. All of why you would use what  and when is of course dependent on player styles and the personality of said player. The above are just examples of how one could use each. As it currently stands, i would prefer options. I think fully blocking a player when you haven't had any chat situations that offend you , isn't always the best solution. I can't be a mind reader and know who would use what and why, but i can say giving more options to all i think would help the game as a whole.
    Posted 4 months ago by Lyrical DejaVu Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I honestly don't think anyone is asking for the blocker to have to justify or defend why they blocked. I do 100% believe communication is important though, and I really would like to be told why I'm being blocked. Not because I want that person to defend or justify why they blocked me, but so that I'm aware of that particular behavior and can adjust it in the future. This is the same way I handle conflicts in real life. Not by ignoring the person, but talking to them about why/what they did that I found unacceptable.

    This is especially true with the influx of new players who may not know what is wanted from things like harvesting. If no-one takes the time to tell them not replanting it considered rude behavior they might not ever think about it. Now, if someone took the time to try and IM them before blocking and correcting that behavior, and they did not listen or simply ignored it then a block without providing a reason is completely understandable.

    I think a drop down menu, of sorts, would be a helpful thing to add. That way if the blocker truly wished to not speak to me, then they don't need to, and I could still get the information and correct my behavior.
    Posted 4 months ago by Evelynddra Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I've been trying not to get into this one, but here goes...
    As an admitted block user, I can't think of a single instance where I would use forced programming functionality to send a message to someone I've chosen to block. I mean not a one. I can very easily send the person a message before I block them, or a mail, or leave them a note. Forcing the programming will result in either a blank response, or one reading 'because I felt like it'.

    I understand both the argument 'Glitch is a social world' and 'block existed before home streets', but I'm also struggling to think of a social network or MMORPG without blocking features similar to Glitch. Some go a step further and require you to be friends before you can interact. I personally have not run across a scenario where you must explain yourself when blocking another user. Some people panic when they are defriended on Facebook, which I can understand if you actually know the person. But we're not talking blocking friends in Glitch, we're talking blocking strangers.

    I'm generally a friendly person, chatty and happy to answer questions... but I'm not necessarily a social player. I prefer a more solo style of play. I'm careful about who I block because I know Global Chat can get confusing when the conversations are missing parts of conversation. Decoupling the block feature would have many the same consequences as lockable resources. If the two parts were made independent, I personally would be just fine with blocking most of the world from my Home Street effectively rendering it semi-private to private.

    Personally, I see long term merit in Home Streets accessible only to friends or Group members. It sounds more frightening than it is really, because the large Groups are generally public. It works in the theory of 'joining the HRR Group gives you access to the Home Streets of other HRR members', but falls apart in 'joining the Rook Alert Group gives you access to the Home Streets of other Rook Alert members'. I can't decide if I enjoy the impact to new players of needing to make a few friends before being able to access Home Streets.

    On a final note... I was thinking about this the other night and had a giggle remembering an early beta forum thread 'Is Glitch Anti-Social?'. My, my... we've come a really long way.
    Posted 4 months ago by Wandering Confusion Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I don't understand why there is any debate. i mean really guys...

    "harumpf I don't want more control over who I block, I want less control" 

    if you want to block 900 people from your street and chat, do it. but just because you're a grouch doesn't mean I shouldn't be able to block people from my street but not from chat. or visa versa?
    Posted 4 months ago by Tundra Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Agreed, regardless of how some would use it more or less than others, giving the option of Street Only and Chat only , to those that  would / or won't use it isn't going to change the fact that Full Block is available and still a choice as well.  Options would only help not hurt, as the original option would still be there! As it stands though, if the block currently was for a less serious offense, rather than a serious one, some of us would rather be able to (in theory) talk it out while still having the street blocked, if it ended up being a serious issue, then we could add Chat Block or Full Block. In some cases i would rather give the person the benefit of the doubt, before i would chose to enable a Full Block. But this is my view on it. I've always been more of the mindset of, what works for me may not work for you, but we both have rights to our opinions. Giving options when it comes to block when your not disabling Full Block , isn't hurting anyone, the original would still be there, its just allowing for different styles of play to coexist more amicably.
    Posted 4 months ago by Lyrical DejaVu Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I guess I just don't see why its so absurd to type in a message when you ban someone, and that message would be displayed if the user tried to contact you or enter your home. This is how it works on every mmo based game out there whether its the admins banning someone, or a player banning someone from a sandbox environment. There is almost always either a pre-defined reason, or a reason that the person can define so that the other side knows why they have been banned. 

    This game goes so far as to hide the fact that you have been blocked until you try to access someones street and have no idea why the teleport is failing. I helped a new player that re-installed flash before realizing she had been blocked by a random street she shopped on earlier.

    I also have to wonder if this is just a failure on the part of the API developers to look at the widespread affects of their changes. Allowing third party sites like glitchremote is changing the entire face of the game. Good or bad? I can't say. But this is changing what player streets are and people in denial are just going to continue to see these types of threads and questions pop up. 

    Please, anyone that doesn't believe me. Give it a try. Become a route farmer for a week and see how much you enjoy this block "feature". People say not to tell others how to play the game and that options would just inconvenience them or somehow force them to justify themselves, but we are being forced into playing the game differently due to the lack of options and that is perfectly ok? We like to farm, we like to visit player streets, we like to help restore streets and keep the herbs flowing. 

    What we don't like is the lack of options for governing land access and privacy. We don't like that we may visit a street and accidentally take their resources or do something offensive because there is no way for that player to make their street private on the API so we never visit in the first place. We don't like that we may waste 30 minutes replanting and restoring to find out we are blocked a day later without knowing what we did wrong. We don't like that we have no way without resorting to "work arounds" to let owners know we are good glitches. We don't like that those same streets will continue to appear and take up spots on third party sites for shops and resources that we can no longer visit.

    I find the lack of trust and respect in each other here to be severely depressing. Glitch is such a bright, colorful, happy world, I guess the forums are a few shades darker.
    Posted 4 months ago by Ramus Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I guess you'd say they're....50 shades of grey Ramus.
    Posted 4 months ago by Evelynddra Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Just how many hoots can you fit in a handbasket?
    Posted 4 months ago by WalruZ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • LOL Evelynndra, thank you I needed a laugh. :)
    Posted 4 months ago by Ramus Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I don't see this as a "major failure" or a " seemingly lazy design decision" simply because you don't like it.  TS was responding to players who requested the blocking feature for various reasons.  I see TS as being very responsive.  You may block me if you wish.  It really wouldn't bother me.  
    Posted 4 months ago by Cat A. Tonic Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Word.
    Posted 4 months ago by girlthulhu Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Does it tell you when someone has blocked you?..I said in my comment above that I know some people have blocked me...I came to this conclusion because sometimes as enter a street I noticed that some of their neighbours show as black and white avatars and therefore assumed this was because I had been block..Now I'm thinking..maybe that is not what that means at all...So I could be wrong ...maybe people have not blocked me at all and if this is the case what does the black and white avatar mean? :) Just curious.. lol 
    Posted 4 months ago by Cryztal Subscriber! | Permalink
  • ack.  *rubs forehead* headache still there. 

    please don't block Zooo - I am an attention whore.  In return I shall not block you unless you are a complete and utter irritant. Even then, in a few days I will unblock just to see if perhaps that person was feeling especially frisky that day.
    Posted 4 months ago by Zooo Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1 Zooo that's how I feel.
    Posted 4 months ago by XanderB Subscriber! | Permalink
  • There is no place on the Glitch site where you will see the words "this player has blocked you".

    If you visit their profile page, the "Add Friend" button will not be visible.
    If you click on their name in a chat, your only options will be:
    Block
    Report Abuse

    If you try to go to their home street, you just won't go there, without any explanatory screen. 

    As far as I know, the black and white avatars have nothing to do with whether or not you've been blocked from that street
    Posted 4 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • ohhh..Thanks WindBorn.. so maybe I was wrong ..and I've not been blocked.. I have never ever seen those words..I just thought that's what the black and white avatars meant..hmm I wonder what it does mean then... :) 
    Posted 4 months ago by Cryztal Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I am afraid I do not know much about blocking.  I have only blocked one or two people because of things that they have said which I did not want to happen to me in the game.

    Is blocking reciprocal?  If Player A blocks Player B then I understand B cannot visit A's street.  Can Player A still visit Player B's street?  

    Sorry to ask such a basic question, I just wondered how it worked.
    Posted 4 months ago by Jolycan Subscriber! | Permalink
  • yes they can, Jolycan.  if you block a person who hasn't blocked you in return you can still go to their street and use their resources.
    Posted 4 months ago by ~Arabesque~ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thanks, Arabesque, just wondered.  That doesnt seem quite fair.  Maybe it should be reciprocal?

    If you block someone, then you are automatically blocked by them?  Not a suggestion, just a thought.
    Posted 4 months ago by Jolycan Subscriber! | Permalink
  • What's unfair about it?  Just because someone doesn't want to see my conversation in a chat channel doesn't mean that I don't want to see theirs.  Just because someone doesn't want me buying from their tower doesn't mean that I want to stop them from buying from mine.   Just because someone doesn't think I play the game the way they want me to, doesn't mean that I don't like their playing style.  

    Are you saying that if someone blocks me, I have no choice about whether or not I block them?  Or are you saying I could check my blocked page every day, and unblock anyone who had blocked me?  Or would the block information remain private, and I would have blocked someone and not even know it (since TS doesn't let us see a list of who has blocked us)

    All of these more elaborate blocking schemes would simply generate more drama in the chat channels and the forums.  I really like the quiet solution that TS gives us that does not create hard feelings (for the most part).  In fact, I would bet that most people never even discover they have been blocked.  

    We're solving  problems that impact a tiny minority of the people who have been blocked, which is an even tinier minority of all the people playing Glitch.  Most people, when they discover they've been blocked shrug their shoulders and move on.  They don't need an explanation or a reason, and they don't see it as a big deal.  Some people feel very bad when they get blocked.  They would like to ask the person who blocked them all kinds of questions and  "because I felt like it" is not going to be satisfactory as a 'message'.  

    I really hope that TS devs spend their time working on better software that enhances the fun parts of the game (new regions?  new quests?  new backstory? group halls?) and make a more elaborate blocking system an extremely low priority on their to-do list.  
    Posted 4 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm on the herb route. I also don't have anyone blocked. You wanna know why? Cause the resources on my street are for the public. Also, I rarely have any problems. I may come home and find my entire street wiped out and half my gardens needing repair. I'll either fix it or leave it almost every time when I come back a few hours later the gardens are all repaired and blooming with herbs. I have regulars who come by and fix things or harvest and plant as I do when I run to their streets or any other route. 

    I'm also a very chill person who doesn't flip out over every little perceived slight. 
    Posted 4 months ago by Papa Legba Subscriber! | Permalink