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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Work friend blocked me on WhatsApp. Would you ask why?

103 replies

JuvenileBigfoot · 09/02/2025 18:05

I messaged a work friend yesterday with a question. She messaged back. All fine.

Today I noticed she's blocked me.

Do I ask why when I see her on Tuesday? Or just assume she has her reasons and go on as normal?

I'm baffled!

OP posts:
ManchesterLu · 09/02/2025 18:35

People who are saying you shouldn't message about work at the weekend.. I do agree, but blocking is a complete overreaction! Surely she can just reply when she's ready if she doesn't want to. Or answer the question but then say she doesn't want to think about work at the weekend.

Alternative is she's just got a new phone and hasn't sorted the app out yet - that definitely happens!

Original poster
JuvenileBigfoot · 09/02/2025 18:35

Carrotstick123 · 09/02/2025 18:31

Has she not just deleted the app?

I guess she might have. I could just be being paranoid! I'm new-ish at this particular workplace and I'm still in the phase of wanting to make a good impression and to be liked, so I hate thinking I've accidentally upset anyone

OP posts:
ThatsNotMyTeen · 09/02/2025 18:36

SpringBunnyHopHop · 09/02/2025 18:34

Why are you prying by asking none work related questions?

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Jesus she describes the colleague as a friend.

why is there this trait on here to dream up all
sorts of weird situations which bear no resemblance to the OP’s post nor answer the question she’s asked?

Original poster
JuvenileBigfoot · 09/02/2025 18:37

SpringBunnyHopHop · 09/02/2025 18:34

Why are you prying by asking none work related questions?

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That's a bit of a leap! I wasn't prying, she's a friend. It wasn't an intrusive question!

OP posts:
Original poster
JuvenileBigfoot · 09/02/2025 18:37

ManchesterLu · 09/02/2025 18:35

People who are saying you shouldn't message about work at the weekend.. I do agree, but blocking is a complete overreaction! Surely she can just reply when she's ready if she doesn't want to. Or answer the question but then say she doesn't want to think about work at the weekend.

Alternative is she's just got a new phone and hasn't sorted the app out yet - that definitely happens!

It wasn't about work. And we sometimes work weekends, although she wasn't working yesterday.

OP posts:
pearbottomjeans · 09/02/2025 18:38

SpringBunnyHopHop · 09/02/2025 18:34

Why are you prying by asking none work related questions?

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Because they’re friends?? Or OP thinks they are. Have you never had a friend you made through work?

Franjipanl8r · 09/02/2025 18:40

Are you messaging her too much in general? Do you need to be messaging her or could you just ask her the question when you next see her at work?

JustRollWithIt · 09/02/2025 18:41

I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation. I would try not to overthink it, pretend you haven't noticed anything, and go on as normal

SpringBunnyHopHop · 09/02/2025 18:42

pearbottomjeans · 09/02/2025 18:38

Because they’re friends?? Or OP thinks they are. Have you never had a friend you made through work?

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Of course I have but some people text far too much and become annoying.

biscuitsandbooks · 09/02/2025 18:42

SpringBunnyHopHop · 09/02/2025 18:34

Why are you prying by asking none work related questions?

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Because they're friends? 🙄

Thirteenblackcat · 09/02/2025 18:43

SpringBunnyHopHop · 09/02/2025 18:34

Why are you prying by asking none work related questions?

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this is a weird question and a massive assumption. It is possible to be friends with work colleagues and chat to them outside of work. Are you familiar with this concept?

PinkyFlamingo · 09/02/2025 18:44

SpringBunnyHopHop · 09/02/2025 18:34

Why are you prying by asking none work related questions?

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So you have never ever asked a friend a question? Ever? Of course you have. What a stupid post

Trickabrick · 09/02/2025 18:44

paulyispoorly · 09/02/2025 18:19

It makes me laugh the assumptions on here that everyone works Monday to Friday 9-5

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Funny thing is that I work irregular shift patterns myself so no idea why I said that, but glad it amused you 😄

pearbottomjeans · 09/02/2025 18:44

SpringBunnyHopHop · 09/02/2025 18:42

Of course I have but some people text far too much and become annoying.

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So you do know why OP may have texted her work friend a non-work-related question then…🙄

SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 09/02/2025 18:45

Maybe she's getting too many messages from friends and colleagues and needs a bit of space. If it feels too uncomfortable to say nothing about being blocked, trying mentioning it to her, in a matter of fact way, next time you see her at work: 'Oh, I noticed you're not on WhatsApp at the moment. Are you taking a break from it? Don't blame you, it does get a bit much.' Don't ask her if you've done something wrong or look offended, just leave her be if she says yes.

Princesspollyyy · 09/02/2025 18:48

I would make a guess that she hasn't blocked you, and there is another reason. Maybe WhatsApp has been deleted from her phone, something is wrong with her phone? Or some other technical reason.

I would ask her about it when you next see her. It will bug you otherwise. Just say 'I sent you another message but it didn't go through?'

Original poster
JuvenileBigfoot · 09/02/2025 18:49

Franjipanl8r · 09/02/2025 18:40

Are you messaging her too much in general? Do you need to be messaging her or could you just ask her the question when you next see her at work?

No, not a lot. Last time we exchanged messages out of work was beginning of Jan. I last saw her at work on Wednesday when she came to find me to catch up as I'd been off sick.

OP posts:
Original poster
JuvenileBigfoot · 09/02/2025 18:50

JustRollWithIt · 09/02/2025 18:41

I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation. I would try not to overthink it, pretend you haven't noticed anything, and go on as normal

I am a bit of an overthinker, yes.

OP posts:
Errors · 09/02/2025 18:50

Princesspollyyy · 09/02/2025 18:48

I would make a guess that she hasn't blocked you, and there is another reason. Maybe WhatsApp has been deleted from her phone, something is wrong with her phone? Or some other technical reason.

I would ask her about it when you next see her. It will bug you otherwise. Just say 'I sent you another message but it didn't go through?'

I was going to say this. How long ago did you send the text OP? Are you absolutely certain you have been blocked? It seems like an odd thing to do after a seemingly innocent exchange

Errors · 09/02/2025 18:51

She may have changed her privacy settings on WhatsApp so that her profile photo isn’t showing anymore?

Isittimeformynapyet · 09/02/2025 18:51

I have never blocked anyone, apart from scam/unsolicited numbers.

I'm in my 50s. Is all this blocking a younger person's game?

Original poster
JuvenileBigfoot · 09/02/2025 18:52

SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 09/02/2025 18:45

Maybe she's getting too many messages from friends and colleagues and needs a bit of space. If it feels too uncomfortable to say nothing about being blocked, trying mentioning it to her, in a matter of fact way, next time you see her at work: 'Oh, I noticed you're not on WhatsApp at the moment. Are you taking a break from it? Don't blame you, it does get a bit much.' Don't ask her if you've done something wrong or look offended, just leave her be if she says yes.

This seems sensible, thank you.

OP posts:
Wonderi · 09/02/2025 18:52

I have lots of work friends.
Its normal for us to message each other out of work.

I wouldn’t ask her about it though.

My brother blocks people because he’s in a controlling relationship and his gf reads his messages and a simple msg off someone can cause a big argument.

It could be a similar situation for her and you asking might make her feel uncomfortable.

Mumofnarnia · 09/02/2025 18:53

JuvenileBigfoot · 09/02/2025 18:35

I guess she might have. I could just be being paranoid! I'm new-ish at this particular workplace and I'm still in the phase of wanting to make a good impression and to be liked, so I hate thinking I've accidentally upset anyone

Show quote history

Were you friends before you started working there? If so then that is quite strange for her to randomly block you. If not, and you’re new-ish in that particular work place then you may not actually be as close as you think you are.
depending on how new-ish you are, you may not even know each other well enough to be calling her a friend??

It may be that she could have deleted the app, removed her profile picture or just got fed up of receiving messages outside of work from you (despite the message being non work related). It might not be anything personal but I never used to like to mix work with my personal life so if there was a lot of messaging outside of work whether or not it was work related she might not have wanted her colleague messaging her all the time. One thing I have learned is that work colleagues are generally not your friends and whilst there are exceptions to this, many of them are not as ‘friendly’ or as close to you as you may like to think. That’s just my experience. Yours could be different of course.

Original poster
JuvenileBigfoot · 09/02/2025 18:53

Errors · 09/02/2025 18:50

I was going to say this. How long ago did you send the text OP? Are you absolutely certain you have been blocked? It seems like an odd thing to do after a seemingly innocent exchange

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True, I am not 100% certain. Hopefully she's just mid phone-change or something

OP posts: