If I were blocking someone, would rather just not see the blocked person's post than them not be able to post on my threads. I still respect their right to express themselves, even if I have the right not to see it on my threads.

I got ignored a couple of times recently. And with this new feature, I can't respond to their threads.

Some people must have really been upset about others even being on their threads, even with "_________is on your ignore list". Okay. I understand. I am trying to understand about different people's comfort levels.

I am also starting to wonder if this is a lot about me. Because this new feature seemed to start after I had some problems with my own issues. I feared that people were just shutting me out by not responding to my posts.

I don't want to be a problem here.

I am afraid I am.

I am really concerned.

I need a pm from the moderators or something if I am causing problems. Or a reassurance that I am not. One mod did tell me I was not a problem, so for a while I thought I wasn't.

this happened recently while I was away.

Was this about something I did?

I got ignored by 2 people at once around this time (March 29, 2013)

I have a strong suggestion not to restrict or repress anyone any further on the boards, i.e. by disabling the "thanks/hugs" or by making them unable to post on a thread.

I fear this will lead to more and more repression of people's expressions.

Not everyone harrasses or abuses. I wish people would just be okay with not having to see someone's response.

I want people to learn how to communicate on here and I feel like this new feature might make many of us afraid to even practice this. Communication skills makes a good group, not simply shutting each other out. IMHO.

I felt perfectly fine when I used to block people and not be able to see their posts or worry about them pming me. Yes, I knew they were on my thread. But I felt safer not seeing their words if they might bother me. And they didn't because I could not see them. They could still post, but I did not have to see it.

Just my own humble input.

Carol