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Original poster

Been blocked on fb by colleague and have no idea why? WWYD?

95 replies

waitingforthehammertofall · 14/08/2020 13:42

I discovered last night that I have been blocked by a work colleague who I work with regularly. I can hand on heart say I have never said a bad word about this person to anyone and can not think of any reason why they would do this. I highly rate this person for the work they do. I know I've been blocked as asked dh to search for them and he can see the person. I cannot search for them at all.

Should I just act like nothing has happened when I go to work next or ask the person outright?

The only thing I'm worried about is that someone has made up that I've said something about this person, I havent even mentioned this person in conversation to anyone. There seems to he a lot of people stirring things but I'm very careful not to get involved or comment on things, I have just observed.

I feel really upset and it makes it awkward working so closely with this person

You cant accidentally block someone can you?

OP posts:

Intelinside57 · 14/08/2020 15:30

I block people who repeatedly share negative stuff - lost dogs, cruelty, missing people etc. Missing people and children particularly because they can be particularly dodgy and a safeguarding issue. Anyone who supports Trump. Anyone who constantly moans about anything... I just don't want to see them. Also people who do nothing but share and copy and paste. It doesn't mean anything, just that I don't want to constantly see their posts appearing in notifications.

Redhair23 · 14/08/2020 15:32

Of course it’s hurtful and I would be wondering why too op. Anyone attempting to paint you as anything other than normal in that respect is just being a bit silly.

queenofknives · 14/08/2020 15:34

I wouldn't worry, but I understand that feeling (I have ditched all my social media so these things no longer affect me!) You're only human and it's not nice to feel rejected, even in a minor way. This is one of the things that makes social media so destructive to our mental health. Also I do understanding you asking, because the etiquette around social media use is really not well established and we don't always know what the appropriate reaction is. But ultimately my advice would be that when someone is off with you and you have absolutely no idea why, then you are probably safe to assume it's a 'them' problem rather than a 'you' problem. His loss.

Original poster

waitingforthehammertofall · 14/08/2020 15:34

@Redhair23

Of course it’s hurtful and I would be wondering why too op. Anyone attempting to paint you as anything other than normal in that respect is just being a bit silly.

Thank you. I know I'm not in the minority being upset by this. I think if most people were honest they would be a little upset if this happened to them or at least wonder why?

OP posts:

MilerVino · 14/08/2020 15:36

@waitingforthehammertofall

Ok, thanks. I guess I was just worried that I had somehow upset them in some way as I hate that thought. But...I cant think of anything I could have done. You're right, I wont ask, it is cringe...

If that is the case, then the grown up thing for them to do would be to speak to you to explain why they're upset.

I'd just ignore it and carry on as normal unless they do say something.

Megan2018 · 14/08/2020 15:37

I block everyone at work routinely, those I manage, those that manage me and everyone else. I don’t want any crossover from work and home despite having lovely colleagues I consider friends.

Original poster

waitingforthehammertofall · 14/08/2020 15:38

Thanks to all the kind people who replied. I'm now going to go and enjoy my weekend!

Bye xx

OP posts:

OneForMeToo · 14/08/2020 15:39

I recently blocked my sil, her fiancé and her mate from mine. She was just snooping because dh never posts so bye bye. Blocked rather than deleted as I don’t want her seeing the stuff I post and tag either.

AntiHop · 14/08/2020 15:40

I understand why this is bothering you op. Blocking is extreme. Why not unfollow or unfriend. I had an acquaintance block me. We weren't friends on fb. I saw her comment on mutual friends' fb sometimes. We had never interacted on fb. I found it odd that she felt the need to block me.

Cheeseandwin5 · 14/08/2020 15:41

I am puzzled why you are so stressed about FB and who you are 'friends' with.
He is a work colleague, nothing more. Just cause you are pleasant doesn't mean he has to be ore than that.

He should be treating you fairly and reasonable in work and that's it.
If you want to be friends with him then make the effort, but that doesn't mean he wants to be friends with you.
As other have mentioned you may want to look at why this means so much to you.

burnoutbabe · 14/08/2020 15:42

I to would wonder what I'd done if I was blocked by a work colleague. I have most of my work people on fb, if they thought I posted dribble, just hide me. Actively deleting and blocking me is extreme and I'd wonder what had happened.

FedUpofLockdown123 · 14/08/2020 15:48

I would be paranoid by this too (I'm a parnoid people pleaser). If it was just an unfriend then it wouldn't bother me so much but I only block if it's someone I don't want to see my page or contwnct me or I don't want to see their page. Ex, ex's new gf, people who send inappropriate messages, MLM peope etc are the people who are on mine.

A number of people have blocked me for no reason. A friend's brother who I've known since primary school and a random guy who I don't even know. These don't bother me but if a colleague blocked me out of the blue and hasn't blocked anyone else in work then it does seem personal and like you I would worry I'd done something wrong. Easier said than done but try not to let it bother you too much and I agree with the person who posted that perhaps it's a case of mentionitis and his partner has got annoyed.

FedUpofLockdown123 · 14/08/2020 15:49

Contwnct is obviously contact....

bevelino · 14/08/2020 15:49

OP, if you know the guy just ask him. In my team we are all fairly close at work but most of us keep our professional lives and social media separate.

ErickBroch · 14/08/2020 15:50

Ah OP this would really bother me too. Like you said, no normal way of asking though. Likely options are a. paranoid partner b. lies being spread c. you might be friends with someone they don't like d. political/other (but you already said you don't post anything like that)

HowFastIsTooFast · 14/08/2020 15:55

I have one colleague blocked on Instagram because she's a nosy old witch who will look, never interact, but then bring up things I've posted with other staff. 'Did you see HowFast was out for dinner again the other night, alright for some' kind of thing.

I couldn't give the slightest shit if she's noticed she's blocked, she's a colleague not a friend and I'm under no obligation to share anything external with her. Others at work I do interact with on social media but that's because we're friends and socialise together outside of work.

Thankfully our MD thinks social media is a childish waste of time (despite being on Twitter and Insta himself ) and when petty disputes about it have come up with young team members in the past he's very fast to shut them down as nonsense.

converseandjeans · 14/08/2020 15:57

Those missing person things are annoying. I unfollowed a colleague because they kept posting stuff about missing dogs & people. Often from the other end of the country.

converseandjeans · 14/08/2020 15:59

I am puzzled why you are so stressed about FB and who you are 'friends' with.

He is a work colleague, nothing more. Just cause you are pleasant doesn't mean he has to be ore than that.

I agree with this - you're colleagues & don't need to be friends.

ohnomesandwiches · 14/08/2020 16:03

Like the OP this would bother me. Unfriending is one thing but blocking is a bit more than that.

Happened to me with a work colleague, male. Turned out his wife was insecure and made him block me. Wasn't just me, there were other women too.

CaptainMyCaptain · 14/08/2020 16:06

I have deleted people who share missing persons posts on FB as I think it's such a bad idea to share them (apart from official police ones)

I totally agree. What if the missing person just wants to get away? There was one today on a local page where it appears someone's boyfriend is missing, he doesn't appear to be vulnerable. I will share the Police ones as I assume there is a good reason.

I recently blocked a person living in England who repeatedly shares posts of dogs and people missing in the USA.
This is really annoying too although I usually just point it out to them because they haven't read the original post properly.

Neverbeensocross · 14/08/2020 16:58

Blocking can be a reaction to something extreme- or it could be the exact opposite. if he has an insecure partner, or a feeling that there is something in his life, or a mutual connection you may be unaware of, he wants not to have access to his life, there is every chance that however deliberate, blocking may not be personnal, as such.

MarineAqua · 14/08/2020 17:04

I had a work colleague unfriend me and a few others for no apparent reason. Guess Imy posts probably annoy her?

CaptainMyCaptain · 14/08/2020 17:18

random guy who I don't even know
Why were you 'friends' with a random guy who you don't even know anyway?

ThisLittleLady · 14/08/2020 17:23

Maybe he likes you op. Maybe he spends too much time looking at your fb page and pictures and had decided to block you so he can’t see what’s happening in your life? I’d let it go unless he mentions it.

FedUpofLockdown123 · 14/08/2020 17:29

Why were you 'friends' with a random guy who you don't even know anyway?

I didn't say I was friends with a random guy I don't even know. I said a random guy I don't even know has blocked me. I can't see his comments on any posts and a friend showed me who it was writing the comments. I don't know him, he once sent me a message request a few years ago asking how I was. As I don't know him I ignored the message and can only assume this is why I'm blocked.

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