What is your threshold for blocking someone?

[WhereIsMyJumper]

I always used to think you only use it in extreme circumstances- such as harassment.

I know there is a trend of some blocking others as a ‘fuck you’ in the heat of the moment.
To me, it seems like an extreme step to take but then I am not known for being great at putting boundaries in place with others.

I have never been blocked (that I know of) and have only ever blocked one person because of unwanted advances.

To me, blocking someone is final. If I took that decision, I’m saying I don’t want you in my life now or ever again. But I wouldn’t want to regret it, either.

• Spammers and scammers.
• Online dates who are unreasonable, like the one who demanded to know why I hadn't responded when I had already told him I had a busy day at work and wouldn't be able to check my phone.
• Anyone who turns out to be a raging brexiteer or misogynist or racist. (Which covers a couple of former colleagues.)

In practice, apart from the spammers/scammers, I've only blocked about 5 people over the years.

I block spammers and scammers.

Other than that, I have only ever had to block one other person and that was because they were a really poisonous, threatening and nasty piece of work. They will remain blocked. I see that as self preservation, not childishness.

It certainly could come across that way but I believe for him it is down to MH issues. I’ve known him a long time and know plenty of people that know him. He’s always been unstable. Not nasty or manipulative but doesn’t know what he wants from one day to the next and it’s draining me now 😂

I block spammers, scammers and people I definitely don’t want to hear from again (OLD harassment where I’ve said I’m not interested etc). Apart from that I can’t see the need to.

I’ve only ever blocked someone who sent me constant memes in the night

Quite high.

If they are not getting a hint and I'm really stressed about work then I have done it.

I've also blocked someone after seeing them when it was clear they only wanted one thing and I wasn't interested.

Other than those examples, they would have to be harassing me or for me to feel unsafe.

I'm quite good at doing the slow fade which I personally think is kinder. I have been the recipient of being ghosted and it totally spun me out for a week.

Oh yes if its a number I don't know or a message I don't know that's an instant block.

I would feel like it would hurt the other person too much, that’s what puts me off. I don’t like causing pain to other people. I just want to protect myself. But I’m thinking just staying firm in not contacting and either ignoring any contact I get, or explaining that I don’t want to speak anymore (one more time!)

I would not have the patience for someone who messed me around like that. "He's always been unstable" and its draining you. Sounds amazing 😂
As far as blocking, I don't think its dramatic or final. If it works for you then do it.

When I am 100% mentally done with someone.
I blocked an ex friend. I thought we were good friends but she started not replying to most of my messages, then ignoring me to my face, seemingly for no reason. However, she would pick and choose when she wanted to speak to me and felt like she was keeping me on the backburner. I was fed up of it wondering where I stood. I could have just ignored her messages but they were allowing her too much of my head space. So I blocked her and put a stop to it.

I think some of it is down to how you are with messages etc - I'm quite good at just ignoring people I don't want to speak to. My phone is almost always on silent and I don't have access to my phone at work. But some people aren't able to ignore their phone like that so blocking might be an easier solution for them.

I’m really good at ignoring messages usually 😂
my phone is also on silent always.
Its the dreaded dopamine hit you get when you hear from an ex that’s hard to ignore for me

I’ve been where you are and yes women do this to men also! It’s the validation and veiled concern caveated with the beautiful ‘yes we slept together’ but I did say I wasn’t ‘sure’ text that gets them off the hook. And you are the one left looking like an idiot!

On Facebook? Might make me sound extremely childish but when a person is CONSTANTLY online and they don't acknowledge my post about my dog the was PTS or wish me a happy birthday,then they're gone.

If I don’t want to hear from them again. For whatever reason. That’s it. I know on MN, it’s a fate worse than death, inflicted for only the most heinous of crimes, which I’ve always found a bit odd.

For me, it means ‘I am done with you’.

Have you told him to stop contacting you?

I block people I don't know all the time. Usually they are people being arseholes to me. I don't know them and I wont feel their loss whatsoever.

I have had to block people I do know... Covid brought out the arsehole in a lot of people.

The threshold is-if you want to block them block them.

I wish you could block people on here, but I understand it is difficult due to name changes etc. But I have been followed about on some threads and harassed. Blocking a particular username would be really helpful.

I blocked an old friend who never congratulated me on my pregnancy 6years ago. I basically didn’t hear a peep out of her for about 4 years so I deleted her from my social media and phone. She then tried to add me again.

At that point I thought wtf? Why is she wanting to look at my online postings but can’t get in touch after I birth a child? I blocked her then and knew that was it for me.

Before I had my family I blocked a guy who was hot and cold with me but I then unblocked him and it made everything messy and embarrassing. Best to block for good if you do.

It's not actually that difficult technically, though if you want yo allow users the option of unblocking, it is a bit trickier. Not insurmountable, though. Doubt it's at all high on MNHQ's wishlist, mind.

Oh and I also blocked my bridesmaid. No communication for a few years. No idea why. Then I posted about a milestone wedding anniversary. Still no acknowledgement or congratulations. Blocked.

Constantly calling people ‘Karens’. I’ll allow it once but if it’s a constant thing then they’re gone. Likewise, I don’t subscribe to any ‘Karen’ YouTube channels and also scroll past any posters on here who use the term.

It actually makes my skin crawl and I genuinely believe it’s only used by quite uneducated people who can’t think of a good counter argument so just resort to this.

I've never blocked anyone other than spam. I don't get why people can't cope with not answering. If someone sends you a message and you dont want to reply just leave it til you are ready, it's this constant replying that leaves people feeling harassed. Id usually reply within the day to friends or family but rarely immediately. I'm also not on SM so don't get many messages, just WhatsApp and I have lots of locked chats that i look at maybe every other day when I'm catching up on life admin stuff.

I block my sister when she starts sending me videos I'm not interested in. She's the type to leave religious pamphlets stashed about the house after visiting. After a few months of respite, I unblock then rinse and repeat as required.

Not explicitly. I’m thinking that’s exactly what I will say if I ever hear from him again. I know I need to do it, but it’s hard because I actually don’t want him to stop contacting me - I just know it’s in my best interests not to speak to him again