Quote:
Originally Posted by Perna
If we have a friend's list, can't we have a blocked/not friends list? You can block someone but it sends a "you have been blocked by X". It doesn't even have to be viewable by everyone except the blocked and the blockee; totally separate from the "ignore" feature.
Ignore only affects the person ignoring; but blocked gives someone else control over my behavior (I'm not allowed to post/express myself, they can express themselves by blocking me but I cannot express myself, even if that person is ignoring/can't see my post anyway). If I get 5 friends to block you, is that not bullying? If I'm having a bad day and suddenly I'm blocked by people, without even knowing they have blocked me (even knowing, too, but I'm trying to be helpful), how is that different from a bunch of school kids cyber bullying a classmate?
Think about it; a lot of people might not like this post and let me know; not personally, by telling me to my "face" where I can reassure them that's okay, I understand, I bear no ill will, or, that that hurts me; but by blocking me.
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my opinion ...the blocking feature does not prevent a person from expressing their self...
example say someone believes being a lesbian is a mental disorder and I believe its not a mental disorder that needs to be cured.
I read the thread, then I decide to reply. I write out my post, right click, copy, my reply.. then submit.. I discover the starter of the thread has blocked me from replying to them... I feel this issue is important to me so I can either start my own thread by clicking on new thread then paste my reply in and submit...and there we have it ...I have expressed myself and started a new thread which other members can also contribute to... I can even block the person who blocked me to prevent them from derailing my thread.
as for getting 5 friends to block a person...lol the only people that would be getting hurt are those doing the blocking pact because it wont stop the person from posting in other threads and it doesnt prevent the person from starting their own threads on the same issues...
question to think about...how would these 5 people feel when they discover the person they have made a pact to block has threads going on the same issues they thought they blocked the person from and when they try to reply in the blocked persons thread they discover they are blocked from participating in a thread about the same subject matter they were first to start a thread on?
my point is... the blocking feature isnt supposed to be a punishment/ vindictive act used against each other, its supposed to be a way to help ourselves feel safer here. Ive been here for three years now and have read many posts asking for a way to help ourselves be less triggered by those we find offensive, or posts of triggering matters..
sure now that we have another way to protect ourselves from triggering people/triggering posts theres bound to be some who misuse/abuse having this tool but in the end they are only harming their self by using it in negative ways. they are not harming the person they block because that blocked person can still express their self by making posts/replies and threads on their own and with their friends. posting is also not the only way a person can express their self here on psych central...the blocked person can also create their own social group and set it up so that only those they like are in the social group. theres also the chat rooms and blogs, emailing, pming....so in the end using the blocking feature for negativity like blocking pacts against others is harming their self. but I believe out of the thousands of members here the percentage of those that would use the blocking feature for negativity such as blocking pacts against particular members is very slim. I think it says alot about the person that would use psych central as a way to harm others. and those things would not be positive qualities that a person would want other members to think of them as.
Ive been here for three years and I believe a majority of members here are those that would rather psych central remain a supportive mental health site not a battle ground used to abuse/bully and manipulate members.