Blocking - good or bad?

by wicked soda boy Posted 2012/03/13 01:09:12

Related Topics: Opinions, Funny, soda, Avatar, Sleep, Issues, Discussion, Block, Blocked, Debate

40 votes
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	Blocking should be a last resort, because it helps to have an open mind.	12 votes	30%
	Blocking is OK if someone is "trolling" you specifically and takes it to a personal level.	8 votes	20%
	Blocking is OK under the following circumstances...	2 votes	5%
	I never block under any circumstances...	6 votes	15%
	This is my policy on blocking...	12 votes	30%

Earlier today, I blocked a person who I have had some GREAT discussions with, regarding political issues. For the past year, this person has espoused opinions that I disagreed with, and we've commented numerous times on each other's comments - back and forth. HOWEVER, until today, we never blocked each other.

Today, the person in question referred to my comment, calling me a "puppy" - referring to my collie avatar. The funny thing is we are of a similar age - we have discussed as adults many topics. I think he felt he was losing the current argument and went for the childish approach.

In a small way, I will miss jousting with this person who thinks he's a lot smarter than he actually is. What I won't do is get into childish comments regarding my avatar or his avatar.

I don't lose any sleep if I block a fellow Soda Head who is unwilling to debate issues on an adult level. If it gets childish, then - good bye - I don't have any qualms about blocking.

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melly~thwarting Satan since... 2012/03/13 03:48:42

I never block under any circumstances...

+8
I don't understand why calling you a "puppy" is an insult. Or why that would make you assume he felt he was losing an argument.

Blocking is a feature of SodaHead, so you can feel free to use it. I can't imagine being angry enough with someone to block them. Seems silly to me. And I love free speech--good and the bad.
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More polls by wicked soda boy

Scream 2012/04/15 11:36:28

Blocking should be a last resort, because it helps to have an open mind.

+1
I've been arguing with someone all night. I continue to try and end the conversation but he keeps calling me names and won't acknowledge that I'm leaving. I'm sick of hearing his arguments so I blocked him. I'm not missing anything.

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wicked ... to Scream 2012/04/29 05:21:45

+1
Your sitituation seems like the exact reason the "block" function is made for. Don't feel bad.

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Catitude 2012/03/14 17:58:13 (edited)
wicked ... to Catitude 2012/03/14 18:51:02

+1
I'm curious - would you say the same thing if someone was specifically "stalking" you and posting negative comments on all your poll questions, and being argumentative with all your posted comments? In that scenario, it's not about someone having power over your thoughts, it's about someone who tries to make things personal, or someone who follows you around, to harrass you. Then, I think blocking is perfectly in order.

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Catitude to wicked ... 2012/03/14 19:52:19 (edited)
wicked ... to Catitude 2012/03/14 20:03:15

+1
Why not block a cyber-stalker? It's quite easy to do, it's reversible, if you change your mind later. Anyway, I support whatever you choose to do. Hang in there, friend.

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Catitude to wicked ... 2012/03/14 20:16:56 (edited)
Ves~Sailor Soldier of PHAET 2012/03/14 04:43:57

This is my policy on blocking...

It holds no bearing. It's not up to me what other people choose to do.

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Nowonmai 2012/03/13 23:58:32

This is my policy on blocking...

+1
I typically only block when someone has done so to me, as I don't approve of "snipe and block" tactics from certain ultra conservatives here. (the ones if you dare to post a factual statement that is contrary to their incorrect ones, they drop a snide comment, then block) But calling you a puppy might have been referring to your YOUTH not your dog.

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wicked ... to Nowonmai 2012/03/14 18:35:25

Actually the person contacted me through a mutual Soda friend, and apologized for the puppy comment, and I unblocked and we are on good terms now. So, this story has a happy ending.

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Stonecipher 2012/03/13 17:30:12

I never block under any circumstances...

+1
I just don't pay attention to it all.

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lm1b2 2012/03/13 16:07:08

Blocking is OK under the following circumstances...

You block me,I block you,simple as that! If you can't take the heat,stay out of the oven.As far as your blocking your friend for being "childish",you both sound childish!

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wicked ... to lm1b2 2012/03/13 17:26:03

+1
Perhaps you're correct. I unblocked this morning - would have missed the guy in some ways, and he was always honorable and civil in the past, so it would have been silly to keep a grudge. Thanks for your comments.

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Sir Bud 2012/03/13 10:41:32

Blocking should be a last resort, because it helps to have an open mind.

+2
What a childish blog this is trying to disguise a personal attack and rant against another person by using the issue of blocking.Someone needs to accept that not everybody is like them,that we are not all the same(thank goodness) and accept when others no longer wish to have their attention and move on.

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TheTruth1313 2012/03/13 05:43:23

Blocking should be a last resort, because it helps to have an open mind.

+2
Admittedly, I have blocked 3 people and I felt justified in dong so, but, I have actually been blocked by about 10 or 12 in about the month and a half that I have been on SH. Basically, because the cowards just couldn't get past "The Truth" lol.

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Tara-ABO-2012 2012/03/13 05:24:23

This is my policy on blocking...

+1
I rarely block. About the only thing I block for is name calling. If someone resorts to calling me names I no longer wish to deal with them. I can take alot, I realize people get frustrated and they can get a little rude and I can usually over look that. But name calling is just more then I wish to deal with.

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AustinBarcaFan 2012/03/13 05:04:57

I never block under any circumstances...

+2
I see blocking as silly and unnecessary when you can choose to ignore a post or refuse to respond. I often see blocking here used as a childish "last word" tactic in discussions. When the person you are debating with types their reply and blocks you so they get the last word in. I always go back and edit my last post with my reply to point out their childish behavior. I don't see any reason to block someone unless they are relentlessly harassing a person and in that case, its probably better to go to the site admins to complain if someone is truly harassing, which I will just take a guess is probably a rare occasion.

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wicked ... to AustinB... 2012/03/13 05:13:01

+1
Thanks ABF

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D D 2012/03/13 04:51:35

Blocking should be a last resort, because it helps to have an open mind.

+4
I block people who have gotten abusive or stalk. Some people you can go round and round with and they cannot see you disagree and leave it at that. They have to keep going and it becomes a kind of harassment. In real life I wouldn't put up with being abused or harassed.

I got blocked for the first time yesterday. It was by someone I has not come across before. We didn't even have a real go around or anything. I responded to her question, she didn't like it and boom...I was blocked. I found it amusing.

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wicked ... to D D 2012/03/13 04:56:01

Don't feel bad if you were blocked. It has more to do with the person who blocked you than with you (unless you said something personally offensive - did you?).

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D D to wicked ... 2012/03/13 05:54:07

+1
No, I didn't. That is why it is weird and it was our first meeting. Who blocks on first meeting????

I think it is funny.

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Feria~THEZombieSlayingB!tch... 2012/03/13 04:29:02

This is my policy on blocking...

+2
If you want to block, block.

I don't, and I never have.

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wicked ... to Feria~T... 2012/03/13 04:44:05

+1
That's great!

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ken 2012/03/13 04:28:22

This is my policy on blocking...

+3
I never block under any circumstance.

I blocked a gal one time but felt like such a hypocrite that I immediately unblocked her. She counter-blocked me and now I can never interact with her again. Boy, did that ever backfire on me?

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wicked ... to ken 2012/03/13 04:44:40

+1
That's great!

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ken to wicked ... 2012/03/13 04:46:47

+1
What's great?

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wicked ... to ken 2012/03/13 04:50:35

It's great if you choose not to ever block anyone. Yee-ha!
Good for you! I support your way of doing things - if that's what works for you - do it!

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charles_1 2012/03/13 04:03:41

This is my policy on blocking...

+2
If a person is insulting, or a bully, I block them. Even if I see them doing it to other people. I would not enter into a discussion with that kind of person face to face, so why bother with them online. You get to choose who you converse with.

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wicked ... to charles_1 2012/03/13 04:45:15

Thanks charles.

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melly~thwarting Satan since... 2012/03/13 03:48:42

I never block under any circumstances...

+8
I don't understand why calling you a "puppy" is an insult. Or why that would make you assume he felt he was losing an argument.

Blocking is a feature of SodaHead, so you can feel free to use it. I can't imagine being angry enough with someone to block them. Seems silly to me. And I love free speech--good and the bad.

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wicked ... to melly~t... 2012/03/13 04:00:50 (edited)

So, if you are now PP's proxy, maybe you can ask your friend PP why he was unwilling to discuss the topic on the basis of the facts and the issues without resorting to childish references to my collie pic?

Since you took the time to contact me on this, what is YOUR motivation? Does PP miss me?
Truth be told - it could be a bad thing if PP and I didn't have some good back-and-forth, assuming we didn't disrespect each other with "puppy" comments.

What do you think, Melly? Are you a peace-maker?

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melly~t... to wicked ... 2012/03/13 04:12:24 (edited)

+6
PP? I don't know what you're talking about. I am a good friend of PP, but how was I to know who you meant? What I mean is that calling you a puppy, because of your avatar, doesn't seem rude to me. I'm only going off what you wrote in your post.

My motivation is to say that I hate blocking, and I find it ridiculous. That said, many people I know and love use it freely--as do many I don't love so much. Your story reminded me of when my mom, all outraged at her sister, relayed a story of their falling out. After she was done, I thought, she's right...you got worked up over nothing. I don't know who your fight is with--nor am I trying to pick one with you.

If you need an emissary, you could fill me in and I'm happy to help,but I honestly was just going off what you wrote,and I thought you were talking about someone whose initials are not PP--not that it matters.

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wicked ... to melly~t... 2012/03/13 04:43:13

It's nice of you to offer to be an emmisary between PP and me. He and I had many good discussions, and I relate to your message about having many discussions among family members.

Obviously you DO KNOW who I referred to, because you said "puppy". Ha ha ha.
PP's use of "puppy" was intended to mean I was a younger or less capable debater. I think he actually knows better. I'm probably older than PP, as well as more knowlegeable, so it's just OK with me if I don't have his comments on my future posts. I believe he has a money motive to say many of the things he says on Soda Head.
I won't miss butting heads with PP.

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melly~t... to wicked ... 2012/03/13 04:47:23

+3
Ok--that's cool. But I didn't know who you were talking about. You said he called you "puppy" in your post.

Take care.

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Bob, th... to melly~t... 2012/03/13 04:23:31

+2
that's why you are my hero!!! :) You have a great sense of humor....and I swear you know when I'm drinking coffee or a soda when I read your comments.....knowing that you have this mystical power makes you scary sometimes!!! :)

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melly~t... to Bob, th... 2012/03/13 04:29:43

+5
LOL! You're MY hero! See? We disagree all the time politically, but respect each other's views and then find the commonalities. I'm very fortunate to have your friendship!

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Bob, th... to melly~t... 2012/03/13 04:32:31

+2
Mmmmmmmm, bamboo!! My favorite!!! How did you know? I think it makes my hips big......but it's so freaking awesome!!!

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melly~t... to Bob, th... 2012/03/13 04:47:37

+3
Lolz!

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bman~AVA 2012/03/13 03:46:50

Blocking is OK if someone is "trolling" you specifically and takes it to a pe...

+3
Well, I don't go around blocking folks regular but with that being said I also realize there are times when some of those folks are in desperate need of blocking. It can help to get rid of the pain in the neck people that just irritate you to do it.

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LAAD Gunner - USMC 2012/03/13 03:39:37

I never block under any circumstances...

+2
Never have never will

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