We really need the option to block users

[AnnaNotherOne]

I know MNHQ for some reason are adamant that this isn’t something that’s necessary but I strongly disagree.

There are so many posters who never ever add anything to a conversation and I would appreciate being able to screen their comments out completely. One poster in particular has been getting right on my tits lately, constantly calling every poster “girl”. It’s irritating and patronising and I don’t want to see it.

When will this be revisited and implemented?

…on what is supposed to be women centred support site.

Can I just point out that this site is not and has never been the above. It is a business that some people make a heck of a lot of money out of. If a poster wants to have a supportive thread regarding her divorce, or husband’s affair or any other upsetting event, and Mumsnet want to plaster it all over Facebook then they will do so. Do you think they will think for even one second about that poster? No. They won’t.

For every thread supporting someone, there are two that rip someone to shreds and seriously upset people.

Supportive? It’s money. It’s advertising. That’s all.

Odds and sods (quite literally) but not like they were at that point

It’s both

Maybe they just don’t want a site where posters only encounter views they agree with?

Then they should just say that. It's a fair point and they have a right to do so. It makes no sense to hide behind the nonsensical faux-naive claims they and other posters make about what happens when you block a poster - including that a poster blocking a username means 'all views can't be expressed'.

Well if you are going to "block" someone (which seems to be the go to response from many MNetters to real life situations which most people wouldn't bat an eyelid at) then you also need to add a "grey rock" function - one step down from blocking - and an option to report any "flying monkeys", which would apply to any poster referring to any posts that the "blocked" poster has made.

Maybe MN could provide a prefect table in the hall at break time so that the terminally offended can report naughty people and get them sanctioned. Oh, wait... there is already an option to do this.

@BumCrocodile I think you've described a 'log it with 101' reporting system there...

There is no obligation to use Mumsnet and nor is using Mumsnet a fundamental Human Right. Blocking an individual poster as an individual user is the online equivalent of putting your fingers in your ears and yelling "lalalala I'm not listening". If someone is actually abusive ir offensive then MNHQ will ban them. For everything else, if you don't have the maturity to cope with the fact that other people have the right to think and say differently to you, then mumsnet is not the place for you. If you do, then you don't need a "block" function.

Fair enough; I did miss the DV post. I completely agree with this post. I just wish more posters understood the difference between people who challenge a view or opinion or way of doing something and posters who disagree for the sake of having an argument. It’s the latter that does spoil the site.

I'm still wondering why people keep saying that blocking a username "isn't necessary because you could simply report the poster". Once again, it's that odd misunderstanding of how blocking works. Isn't 'reporting' only for posts that break T&C and 'blocking' for posters' personal issues with others, even when their posts don't break T&C?

I'm pretty sure some users would love to block me (and I don’t think I've broken T&C yet). Why should I mind if they do? If people can't cope with others blocking or ignoring them, it’s quite interesting to know why they think they must be heard by everyone.

<mumsnet head tilt, faux-naivety>

It would also be weaponised, posters would be announcing “blocked” to posters who they get in a spat with.

I don't think you should be able to block someone because you find their posting style irritating, if a person tags you in something just ignore it is maybe best.

There are some posters I’m just simply not interested in seeing though. I should have that choice.

Mumsnet is a discussion forum so unless someone is being abusive, or expressing extremely offensive views I don't think a block function is necessary.
People can be irritating ,that's life. If you find some posters annoying just move on. Or don't read the post from the people you don't like.

They can name change though so you would be forever blocking or hiding someone you didn't like, I personally don't think it would add to your enjoyment of the site you would just be sidelined into blocking.

I’d prefer to see trolls and posters posting in bad faith dealt with swiftly. Sometimes I’ve reported a poster and it’s taken a while to deal with it and in the meantime threads dissolve into chaos.

I agree, and unfortunately it's kind of a trade-off of the site becoming so popular.

I've just seen a thread with one stupid flippant comment that about 50% of posters are then replying to and quoting. It's tedious, I agree. When it happens on "trending" threads the effect is amplified too.

I think perhaps some kind of standard guidance about how to deal with derailers would in theory be useful (eg don't quote their posts or reply directly to them, but if necessary summarise and address the points they've raised, like "some people might suggest that cooking your partner a meal is abusive and controlling, but obviously it isn't"). If goaders are ignored they lose their power. The more people that just sigh and scroll past, the better. Far easier said than done, though!

But that's never going to happen while we have huge numbers of posters who don't even realise they're meant to read all of OP's posts, and ideally a few others, before adding to a thread.

I think it would 🤷🏻‍♀️

“When will this be revisited and implemented?”

??

The answer is no and it has been explained why.

Why do you think it’ll then happen? You sound very entitled to think it’s suddenly going to be implemented just because you want it.

I can imagine the threads
You’re blocked!
Blocked you back!
I did it first, so there!
🙄

And do you report them?

I’d love it because I think there are certain posters that deliberately derail threads. They do not just express an opinion they continually post on multiple threads even if no one agrees with them.

I don’t know if MN thinks it’s good for traffic but for me it makes me less likely to use the site because it’s just angry people not interested in debate or discussion but just wanting a bun fight. I liked it when you could get support and encouragement rather than judgement and bullying.

But wouldn’t that drive you insane? A potentially very patchy thread?

I mean I’ve had some discussions with posters that haven’t always used the best language but like the tea enough to still want to read what they say 🤣

There was a poster on here years ago who used to keep a spreadsheet.

She was actually a wonderful poster.

But that was back in day when sock puppeting was a massive problem.

You can't post under 2 names on the same thread anymore which is an improvement, I had 2 names ive since deleted one because sometimes I would try and reply using the wrong name, i wasn't sock puppeting honest 😀

I'd like to be able to block people who don't read the full thread and people who hop on with the same point as someone above, and who keep suggesting things after the OP has resolved an issue.
So not differences of opinion (I hide those threads!) but things that contribute to the length of an otherwise interesting thread.

It would be interesting to have a trial of blocking and see if it creates the issues people think it might.

I thought the spreadsheet thing was a joke?