Topic

Staff Topic

A Better 'Block'

"When I block them, I just don't want to hear from them any more."

This is what we've heard over and over again from players in the Forums, in help cases, and in one-on-one conversations whenever blocking another player was discussed. Because it's not the case that every person who offends or annoys you is actually someone you'd want to report for abuse. Sometimes you just want the ability to tune them out.

So, yesterday we added something to the way blocking works. Now when you 'Block' someone, you won't see anything they type into any chat, whether it be Local, Global, Group or Party chats (unless you happen to unblock them later). 

It's taken some time to get here because we wanted to make sure it wouldn't introduce complications that a less involved block could avoid. For one, we talked about whether the potential for causing confusion by muting certain players in all your chats outweighed the benefits of not being exposed to them. In the end, we thought it did. This is the first of a few changes we'll make to blocking, and I'll make sure to give you updates on the rest of them here when they're all set to go. 

Update! (11/14/2011): Players you've blocked will no longer see growls about your arrivals, departures, and achievements in Local Chat, so you have a little more privacy as you move around the world.

Posted 13 months ago by Blanky Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

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  • Seriously, thank you. My game experience has vastly improved since this update. Cheers!
    Posted 13 months ago by Quinton Falkner Subscriber! | Permalink
  • <3
    Posted 13 months ago by Kaessa Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Blanky - Thanks for the update.  I very much appreciate the way TS listens and responds.
    Posted 13 months ago by Splendora Subscriber! | Permalink
  • thank you blanky and the amazing, dedicated, focused, expectation-exceeding team.
    Posted 13 months ago by Lara Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Great new feature. TY =).
    Posted 13 months ago by Eye Wonder Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thank you!  The two players I've had to block (and report) were typing really crude things and I'm greatly relieved that they will no longer be visible in chat channels.
    Posted 13 months ago by Lucille Ball Subscriber! | Permalink
  • TY, Blanky...One question, tho.
    If someone has friended us and we then block them...can they still "keep track" of us? Or does the block prevent that as well (fingers crossed for the latter as it's not cool to be "watched from the shadows")
    Posted 13 months ago by Bluebells Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I haven't found a need for blocking anyone yet but I'm glad this level of blocking is available in case I do. When you block someone are they notified?
    Posted 13 months ago by BarryW Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thanks Blanky but are you going to add too if you block someone they can't splank, kiss, hug, or anything else? That they cannot affect you whatsoever?
    Posted 13 months ago by Casombra Amberrose Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I wish that there was a way to block someone in which they were unable to interact with you in ANY way, not just chat.  I'll keep my fingers crossed.  There are quite a number of really abusive players out there that I would be quite happy never to have any kind of contact with for as long as my glitch shall live. :p
    Posted 13 months ago by ♪♥~ Auren ~♥♪ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Excellent, thank you!  Is there a way to see a list of people I've blocked?  I don't see an option on the Friends page, and I'd hate for someone to be blocked forever if I made a mistake.  (Not that I ever do that.)

    I'm also curious about the answers to Bluebells' and Casombra's questions.
    Posted 13 months ago by Pale Queen Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Nice work. :)
    Posted 13 months ago by Tibbi Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Oh nice...THANK YOU!!!
    Posted 13 months ago by Innie✿, Obviously Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Well, since no one else is going to say it:  Nice Work and thank you !

    Frankly, I'm really surprised that no has said anything yet. I block people constantly and have really been waiting for a feature like this.
    Posted 13 months ago by Mister Master Mixer Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Bluebells, right now if you block someone, you are ejected from their friend list, so they can't see your location from the chat UI in the game. But, since profile pages have your location, they would still be able to tell from that. 

    Casombra, to my knowledge all Emo Bear actions are already unavailable on your player menu for anyone you've blocked. 

    Pale Queen, good question! That's something we will probably do some time in the future.
    Posted 13 months ago by Blanky Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Wow, Blanky, is there a reason you're not showing up all blue and staffy in the comments?
    Posted 13 months ago by Liza Throttlebottom Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Ahh...ty, Blanky - then that means that, even if you've blocked them, they can still call up your profile page?
    Hoping that will be changed as well but loving what y'all have done so far!! 
    Posted 13 months ago by Bluebells Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I agree with Bluebells and Miso here. If I block someone that means I want to have NOTHING to do with that player EVER. Anything from them checking out my profile to them harassing me with splanking or emotes. Period... do not want to see anything that comes from them or have them affect my character in any way. There are some very abusive, rude, harassing...  and yes sometimes verbally rude players out there I want nothing to do with.
    Posted 13 months ago by Casombra Amberrose Subscriber! | Permalink
  • thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
    Posted 13 months ago by Pixieyelsraek Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Liza's right... Blanky, your speech bubble isn't blue anymore.

    As an aside to the original point of the thread, how do you know if you've been blocked by someone?

    — Mal'akhPrimate of LemPrimus Inter Pares of the Orthodox Church of the Giants of UrHubby of ArannaShriner of Mullangi Meda
    Posted 13 months ago by Mal'akh Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Looks blue to me. Must have been fixed.

    Now I just need to wait for a block achievement. Once we have that, I'll start blocking everyone. MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

    I'll be very lonely....
    Posted 13 months ago by Quirk Subscriber! | Permalink
  • THANK YOU!
    Posted 13 months ago by Geeki Yogini Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Just to confirm... they can't start a conversation with you (or trade items with you, or follow you) if you've blocked them?
    Posted 13 months ago by Bashere Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It would be nice if blocked players had no ability to see if you were online. Sometimes I don't want to block a player because they are a malicious nuisance, but they bother me for whatever reason, and I'd rather just have them think I am offline, rather than hurt them by letting them know they are blocked (if they can see me but not interact with me, they know they've been blocked).
    Posted 13 months ago by Eureka Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Our profiles are publicly available (to other glitchers and the general public), this information would need to only be visible to contacts in order for that to work
    Posted 13 months ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thank you so much!  
    Posted 13 months ago by Wintera Woodswitch Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thank you x100!
    Posted 13 months ago by Fussycat Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Why is everyone so in need of blocking people? I've never had a reason to block anyone (yet).
    Posted 13 months ago by Niks Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thanks :)
    Posted 13 months ago by Lazy Cubimal Subscriber! | Permalink
  • ♥ THANK YOU!!! (((HUGS))) ♥ [and yes, I mean to shout ;) ]

    +1 on the idea of getting a list of the profiles that we've blocked.  In some cases I might eventually want to 'unblock' them, and it would be nice to have a list that would provide me an easy way to identify who all I've blocked.
    Posted 13 months ago by b3achy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @ Niks. Your then very lucky so far to not meet and unsavory :)
    Posted 13 months ago by Casombra Amberrose Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This is best.
    Posted 13 months ago by Ernest Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I really, REALLY like this.  HOWEVER: I found today that people think that my aversion to rape jokes on global should only be solved via blocking people making the jokes.  So while I like being able to not hear from creeps? I dislike that it's somehow become my responsibility to block people behaving disgustingly rather than their responsibility to not behave disgustingly.
    Posted 13 months ago by MG Botia Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Definitely agree with Botia. Love the new block, but definitely hope people don't end up suggesting that blocking should be the only solution for others' asshattery.
    Posted 13 months ago by Voluptua Sneezelips Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I also agree with Botia.  The new block feature should not be seen as giving permission to ignore Glitch community guidelines.
    Posted 13 months ago by Splendora Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I am sure that TinySpeck staff would like for you to report as well as, or instead of, blocking those who are behaving disgustingly.  (Some people suggested blocking as a response to chat asshattery before this change, too; it's a common approach in MMOs, but TS has different standards for social behavior than most MMOs.)
    Posted 13 months ago by Granny Weatherwax Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Oh heck yeah I definitely agree with Botia as well.
    Posted 13 months ago by ♪♥~ Auren ~♥♪ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I was thinking about this last night and wondered about putting a message in the status area at the top of the screen that says "You are being ignored by x people" where "x" is the number of people ignoring you. Then I realized it might be a bad idea as those same people would likely try and drive that number up hoping to get  badge for it.

    You can't directly change other people's behavior unless they are violating the Terms of Service or Community Guidelines. Then TS can take action. However, like any troll, shunning is the most effective means of getting them to stop.
    Posted 13 months ago by BarryW Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Finally... /block 
    Posted 13 months ago by Yeoman Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm going to disagree. If someone's behavior is in violation of the guidelines, sure..report them. If it isn't, then yes it *is* your responsibility to block them if you don't want to see it. It's not their responsibility not to offend you.
    Posted 13 months ago by TrentSkunk Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Trent, I think that several players at this recent incident pointed out that the behavior was in violation of the guidelines. The response from several other players was essentially, if you don't like it, block them. 
    Posted 13 months ago by MG Botia Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Oh Botia I am so glad I was not on to see that sort of thing occurring. Being a victim of rape, I find it is not a matter that is considered funny or cute in anyway shape or form! Abuse in any form is not "funny".
    Posted 13 months ago by Casombra Amberrose Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
    Posted 13 months ago by Crispa Subscriber! | Permalink
  • ** This is the first of a few changes we'll make to blocking, and I'll make sure to give you updates on the rest of them here when they're all set to go. **

    I love this first step and cannot wait to see what else will be changing in this area.

    Yay, TS!!! Thanks - u guys r the best!! :D
    Posted 13 months ago by CoffeeSnob Subscriber! | Permalink
  • three cheers for TS!

    Thank you so much for this update!
    Posted 13 months ago by Avery♥ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • awesome! Now i can finally enjoy a party with out mrs sour face turning up and managing to send a hate message through another chat that i didnt blacklist them on!
    Posted 13 months ago by theawesomedude27 Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Just wanted to add my voice to Botia's - I was in that discussion and it was pretty vile.   

    Thanks again for making block even better. 
    Posted 13 months ago by Wintera Woodswitch Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1 to Botia and 1000 {{{hugs}}} (but only if they are wanted and welcomed) to Casombra Amberrose.

    And a huge thank you to the devs. I've been wanting this change to blocking almost ever since I started playing.

    I've stopped tuning in to Global Chat, even though it can be useful, because Every Freaking Day someone would drop some sort of vile abusive bomb in there. Sometimes it wasn't as bad as a rape joke. Sometimes it was "just" people making cracks about developmentally disabled people or people with mental illnesses. "Just." And yes, I could report every incident I see to Report Abuse... but having to experience this crap every day, unexpectedly yet not unexpectedly... it's emotionally draining. It hurts. So I just stopped joining Global Chat at all.

    Nik: Your experience is not prescriptive of everyone's experience. If you've never come across anyone you want to block, ever, consider yourself lucky -- and have some compassion for the rest of us who have had days wholly or partially ruined by encounters with hateful people.
    Posted 13 months ago by Vortexae Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Awesome! I've been wanting this for ages. Now, a big question, that may or may not have been answered: 

    Will you be checking in on the top 10% of Glitches by blocks? Because if someone is getting blocked on any sort of large scale, they're probably not being very Glitchy. 
    Posted 13 months ago by Old Pea Head Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1 to Old Pea Head's suggestion.  I think there needs to be a way of tracking abusive players' number of blocks and if they reach a certain point, maybe the player should spend some time away from Glitch....
    Posted 13 months ago by ♪♥~ Auren ~♥♪ Subscriber! | Permalink
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