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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Please, please, please can we have a feature to block individual posters

125 replies

RudsyFarmer · 06/09/2023 11:24

Honestly I can’t believe how aggressive some of the posters on the site are. Pure anger pouring forth regularly. I am not expecting MN to ban any posters based on their vitriol, but can we at least have an option not to see their posts?

And yes I know I can leave before a divisive ChatBot comes and helpfully posts this on the thread.

OP posts:
MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 07/09/2023 09:55

If you don't like it don't read it

How do I know I don't like something if not by reading it?

MNHQ
LilyMumsnet · 07/09/2023 10:24

Hi OP

Thanks so much for the suggestion.

This has been raised before - we're always more than happy to bring things back up for discussion so we'll do that.

KatherineJaneway · 07/09/2023 17:02

I'd love blocking but this has to be the account itself and not based on username.

A few times I've had to name change as people who disagreed with me followed me around this site and trolled me on other threads. That's not OK.

SamphiretheTervosaurReturneth · 07/09/2023 18:05

I've been gone from here for a while. Someone told me the tenor of the place had changed a lot quite quickly. FWR had gone quiet, newish posters were clamouring for the ability to delete words, posts, people they didn't agree with.

And here you are doing just that. Why? The lack of being able to create much of an echo chamber for yourself is one of the benefits of the site. You are always having to see the opposite opinion, stupid responses etc

And still MNHQ take time to respond to reports to weed out the PFBs, the trolls etc.

Why change what is fast becoming a very unusual, non partisan site?

ICanBuyMyOwnBooks · 07/09/2023 18:14

It's not to create an echo chamber imo it's the opposite. It's to block all the trolls, gfs and MRAs that are allowed to stand now. In the old days, they'd have been banned. Being able to block them would actually open up debate. The trolls can chat to each other and everyone else can block/grey rock them. It sounds like bliss.

Alycidon · 07/09/2023 18:18

I wouldn't support this. There are enough people being 'cancelled' in the world without Mumsnet joining in.

tribpot · 07/09/2023 18:42

But no-one gets cancelled. They can still post. People who don't want to read their posts don't see them.

AromanticSpices · 08/09/2023 15:45

Sorry to disagree but there are two reasons I think choosing who you don't see is a bad idea.
One - it'd either have to be username based, so easy to get around and encouraging frequent namechanging by anyone who hates the notion that anyone might ever block them, OR would be user based so compromising name changes (and if MN ever do this I'm leaving the site).

Two - it makes the discussion disjointed and potentially you have tons of people repeating the same thing or having their own arguments or totally misunderstanding a train of thought because they are seeing a different discussion from everyone else.

I truly think this is a bad idea for decent discussion. Just report suspected trolls or ignore them - they totally rely on people responding to them so the more people learn to scroll past goady posts the more they will disappear (or up the ante and get banned).

AromanticSpices · 08/09/2023 15:48

KatherineJaneway · 07/09/2023 17:02

I'd love blocking but this has to be the account itself and not based on username.

A few times I've had to name change as people who disagreed with me followed me around this site and trolled me on other threads. That's not OK.

Then by selective blocking and testing you could figure out usernames linked to one person, which is a terrible idea and many would stop posting, me included.

Linking usernames is a serious privacy issue and people have been posting for years under the assurance the public can't link usernames to a user.

KatherineJaneway · 08/09/2023 16:07

AromanticSpices · 08/09/2023 15:48

Then by selective blocking and testing you could figure out usernames linked to one person, which is a terrible idea and many would stop posting, me included.

Linking usernames is a serious privacy issue and people have been posting for years under the assurance the public can't link usernames to a user.

Show quote history

Not if you blocked by account

reallygen · 08/09/2023 16:11

That’s right. It cannot be linked to accounts as it would be an absolute boon for the stalkers and doxxers (who sadly do exist)

AromanticSpices · 08/09/2023 16:14

KatherineJaneway · 08/09/2023 16:07

Not if you blocked by account

Show quote history

I'm not sure I get you. You block one username. By blocking and unblocking and posting on various threads, seeing whose posts you no longer see, you can work out which usernames are linked.

Can you explain what you mean by 'not if you blocked by account'? Because blocking by account is the specific thing I'm talking about.

KatherineJaneway · 08/09/2023 16:23

AromanticSpices · 08/09/2023 16:14

I'm not sure I get you. You block one username. By blocking and unblocking and posting on various threads, seeing whose posts you no longer see, you can work out which usernames are linked.

Can you explain what you mean by 'not if you blocked by account'? Because blocking by account is the specific thing I'm talking about.

Show quote history

If you block an account, they cannot see you at all. That is not 'selective blocking'. You get rid of the main annoying person whoever they post as.

You'd have to put a heck of a lot of time and effort into looking at threads to try and decipher which person had which usernames.

JaneJeffer · 08/09/2023 16:24

I can't see how this would work. If I blocked the OP now for example and started ignoring all their posts then others would start asking did you not read what @RudsyFarmer said and then I would have to say I had blocked them!

MsFrost · 08/09/2023 16:25

Yes, this is a common feature on a lot of forums so I don't really see why it's not on mumsnet. Individual users should be able to control what they see on their own screens.

JaneJeffer · 08/09/2023 16:27

By blocking and unblocking and posting on various threads, seeing whose posts you no longer see, you can work out which usernames are linked.
I can't understand this at all!

gamerchick · 08/09/2023 16:28

There are people on here who would just do that. There are some who would take pleasure in it. There would be very determined abusers who would take the time to find out all of their estranged ex's usernames for eg. MRAs who want to bring MN down from the inside. We know they're on here.

It's a shit idea and would change Mumsnet for the worst.

Even though I dislike the namechnge thing in general.

Original poster
RudsyFarmer · 08/09/2023 16:28

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 07/09/2023 09:55

If you don't like it don't read it

How do I know I don't like something if not by reading it?

My thoughts were you’re right. I’d like to have the opportunity of ‘not reading it’ by blocking or hiding it. Doesn’t mean you can’t read it. I’d just like to have the choice.

OP posts:
Araminta34 · 08/09/2023 16:31

Unphased · 06/09/2023 14:59

Were would it end? Delete someone because their opinion is not the same as yours, it leads to a lack of debate

This. It's a discussion forum, but many posters don't like opinions that aren't mirror images of their own.
It's fine to ban any kind of hate speech, but other than that, people should be entitled to voice what they think.

AromanticSpices · 08/09/2023 16:33

KatherineJaneway · 08/09/2023 16:23

If you block an account, they cannot see you at all. That is not 'selective blocking'. You get rid of the main annoying person whoever they post as.

You'd have to put a heck of a lot of time and effort into looking at threads to try and decipher which person had which usernames.

Show quote history

No, if you block an account, YOU cannot see THEM. You can't affect what another person sees.

I could block you, go and compare other threads and see which other username disappears. It matters not one iota 'how much time' you think it would take you. Once it is possible, the privacy afforded by changing usernames disappears.

A forum can't make something like that possible just on the offchance 'but no-one would actually do it'. You make sure it remains impossible.

You can't block by user account and keep the current level of username privacy.

AromanticSpices · 08/09/2023 16:35

gamerchick · 08/09/2023 16:28

There are people on here who would just do that. There are some who would take pleasure in it. There would be very determined abusers who would take the time to find out all of their estranged ex's usernames for eg. MRAs who want to bring MN down from the inside. We know they're on here.

It's a shit idea and would change Mumsnet for the worst.

Even though I dislike the namechnge thing in general.

Yes, there have been plenty of posters on here who have changed names and posted specifically to ask if anyone can link their other usernames to them, often because of exes or abusive partners looking for their MN accounts.

Often they have an idea of what subject or old username they would be posting on.

reallygen · 08/09/2023 16:37

Yes, I don't think Mumsnet would do it by account. It would have real privacy implications (there are some determined people on other sites who would use it). I would have to leave, and don't think I'd be alone in that.

AromanticSpices · 08/09/2023 16:40

It's bad enough the people that repeat 'cancel the cheque' hundreds of times because they haven't bothered to read the thread, it'll be worse when they've deliberately chosen not to even display half the replies.

What I do, if I see a username who irritates me, I just make sure I don't directly reply to them so their post just gets further and further upscreen (or downscreen, depending on your settings).

I don't believe I have any sort of right or privilege to be able to read a forum and never feel irritated. Use of the report button, although not instantaneous, really is the best way, if they're breaking Talk guidelines. Loads of times I've loaded a thread to see a deleted message and everyone replying to the deleted message and felt a kind of tranquility at never knowing what the goady post said!

AromanticSpices · 08/09/2023 16:41

Anyway, to go back to the OP:
"I am not expecting MN to ban any posters based on their vitriol,"

If they are constantly breaking Talk guidelines, they can get banned. I'm not sure if/what the warning system is now, but people do get banned.

Phos · 08/09/2023 16:44

This brings its own difficulties. I’ve blocked some
egregious souls on Facebook but we are in the same
group and sometimes comments sections make no sense because I missed something from one of them.

Unpleasant as they are sometimes the less nice posts would be necessary for context.