Topic

Temporary blocks, permanent blocks.

In the heat of the moment, we may block. In the long run, we may have forgotten that one person has been blocked. We may also have forgotten that people change, mature, grow. 

I propose an improved blocking setup that may help us block without the feeling of being completely cut off from the other player for all eternity until the block curse is broken.

Blocks in game should last a set amount of time, let's use 48 hours for example. The block will expire after 48 hours, pretty simple. How long can you be mad at one glitchen for? 

If the glitchen is being so bad that you have to block them for all eternity, then you should have to send a "permanent block feedback report" to TS on why you are permanently blocking this other player. The report can be optional so you can leave it blank to just have no reason whatsoever. This would be different from a player report, and would not be breaking the TOS, if one had "too many" permanent blocks on them. One question I wonder, would this be important information to TS?

Posted 4 months ago by LųĉĩđεşşΨ Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • -1 to involving game staff in inter-player disagreements
    Posted 4 months ago by Janitch Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The current blocking system has the virtue of being simple, unilateral, and unambiguous. Communication and explanation are optional.

    I've only availed myself of a block once, and that was in tandem with serious abuse. I'm in favor of trying to talk things out first. But I don't believe it should be mandatory that anyone do so. Should I ever find myself in the position of wanting to block someone again, I certainly will not wish to be required to communicate with that person in order to do so, nor do I care to go into the matter with TS if it doesn't have to do with reportable abuse.

    If you want a temporary block, that's easy enough for you to do on your own. Set a timer or something.

    If it frustrates you to be blocked without explanation, try to tell yourself "It's not me, it's them." The blocking is as much about the blocker as it is about the blocked. If you're getting blocked a lot and that bothers you, then perhaps you might inquire of friends and associates to let you know what they think is causing it and decide whether you want to do some things differently.
    Posted 4 months ago by Pascale Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I agree with both Pascale and Janitch, I don't think the blocking system needs to change. The current system allows everyone to choose for themselves if they want to block someone or if they don't. Permanently. When someone uses the block feature of the game, they know it is forever, and yet they still choose to do it. I feel like this says enough in itself.
    Posted 4 months ago by Capt. S.T. Weasley Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I like the way the system is set up now. I periodically go check my block list and remove people, sort of like taking them off of "time out", hoping that said player has improved:)
    Posted 4 months ago by Saraphim Subscriber! | Permalink
  • No change necessary. 

    If a player wants to block me for all eternity that should remain their choice to do so, whatever reason wether sane or stupid.

    It could be because they don't like names with R in them, or they don't approve of Glitch who choose to wear blue shoes. 

    I saw your post in general  http://www.glitch.com/forum/general/25859/ 
    You are upset because  someone blocked you because they don't  want people in the public street in the front of their house. They are the loser not you. Really. As you were  blocked  for that, they are  missing out on a lot of the fun of Glitch. You don't want to be their friend anyway.
    Posted 4 months ago by IrenicRhonda Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I am fine with adding the option of a temporary block, if I get to fill in the number of days it lasts.

    -1000 for the idea of having everyone waste the time of the TS staff for every player that they want to block.  The staff already have to deal with all reported incidents that violate the ToS.  I've only used a few blocks, and they have mostly been for occasions when someone is not violating the ToS, but is on Global being annoying, spamming, rude, offensive, or otherwise someone I have realized my life will be better off without.  The permanent block works for me, because if things have reached that level, neither of us is likely to grow in a direction that will make me want to have to listen to them again.  Since they are still visible to me in forums, this has in fact been confirmed several times.

    I like the currant system, where I can choose to report someone I've blocked if their behavior violates the ToS, but can also simply block them if we can't get along for a reason that is personal.
    Posted 4 months ago by KhaKhonsu Subscriber! | Permalink
  • -1

    I have only ever blocked 4 or 5 people, all within the past week (after more than a year of playing).  They've been blocked for incredibly infantile, annoying, begging, disruptive spamming posts in chat and quite frankly, I don't want to have to go in and re-block them every two days.

    I see other players in global politely asking these same people to cease and desist with their disruptive behavior so am confident that i did the right thing in blocking them in the first place.

    No thank you very much...
    Posted 4 months ago by Arietty Subscriber! | Permalink
  • -1

    I think the phrasing in the OP that blocking is used when one is "mad at" another shows that something is being forgotten: the most important function of blocking is to allow players to limit harassment.

    I'm absolutely against the idea that a block would expire.  I've blocked exactly two folks in this game, each for saying offensive things to me.  Although I had a pretty big problem with what was happening in each case, I might have been unsure if it was against the ToS or not and I don't think I reported in either case.  But that doesn't mean I ever want to remove that block, or that I was simply "mad at" someone.  In each case, I found another player's comments to me to be unkind or harassing and knew I never wanted to interact with them again.  The ability to stop them from talking to me is what allows me to continue playing Glitch happily and interact positively with so many other players.  My choice to end contact with someone permanently shouldn't require mediation or approval from staff.
    Posted 4 months ago by Persephone Pear Subscriber! | Permalink