Forum Thread
Improve the blocking system
Forum-Index → Suggestions → Improve the blocking systemI thought of when you block a user, you shouldn't be allowed to view the profile, forum posts, or feeds of the user you blocked so you don't have to look at them anymore
There should also be a list of users you blocked, so you don't have to go to the user's profile to unblock them.
I feel as if my suggestion would help tone the drama on PH down quite a lot.
And all those who are making suggestions that will make PH safer, I agree with you and thank you.
"[This message is hidden: Blocked user. Show anyway?]
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That way you can choose to read the message if other people have replied to them, but you don't have to see their message if you don't want to :P and I definitely agree with being able to see who you have blocked so you can unblock them. On most websites, I tend to block as a temporary thing since people do change, but that's hard to do on here since I can't go through and unblock people if I don't know who I have blocked.
@Steel5299, you can block them then they/you are invisible.
One thing that's always left me confused about the blocking system here is the fact it doesn't do just that: hiding them from your view. As it is now, all it does it prevent them from replying to your feeds, sending you palpads/PMs, and preventing GTS offers from them. It could definitely use an overhaul, especially with how the community features took a big drop in activity last year.
Generally, if I have blocked someone, I do so because I don't want to see them and don't want them to see me. As an example, say I blocked someone because they constantly spam the notification wall with annoying messages; with the current system, I STILL see their annoying messages. The entire reason I blocked them is moot.
I think there should be a list of users you have blocked, and a visibility toggle next to their name. You can either completely hide them from your PH experience (meaning you see no feeds, forum posts, etc. by them period), a softer/middle version like how yukiwolf5 mentioned (their messages are hidden behind a spoiler so you can choose to look at them if you want to), and then a third option that lets you see everything that user posts (say you just blocked them because they're awful at GTS offers, but otherwise they're fine). By default, the user you blocked will "match" your visibility if you've chosen to make their stuff completely hidden (so they cannot see your feeds, forum posts and threads, GTS trades, profile, etc.).
Optionally, you can also write a reason you've blocked the person as a reminder to yourself. This way, you can say User A is blocked for lowball trade offers, User B for spam, User C for breaking your shiny shop rules repeatedly, etc. I don't feel it's necessary to let the blocked person know why you blocked them (as this could cause drama in a way like "Gee, Username blocked me for a lowball trade? I never did that! Hey everyone, no one should trade with Username because they'll rip you off, etc.")
This might help some of the hornet's nests that get stirred up from time to time. Say there's a trending feed that's causing problems and making people upset; by blocking the user who made the feed, you don't have to see it anymore and will likely avoid seeing more "troublesome" content from them in the future.
As a side note, I think people would feel safer too. There's a lot of younger users on here, and if they get bullied by someone and don't want to see them (and don't want the bully to see their own stuff), this should help immensely.
Great idea! And I hope it will be implemented at some point