Mastodawn

Spread Mastodon Oct 1, 2023

Mastodon Migration

On blocking etiquette...

Earlier today posted "a polite warning is appropriate'" before blocking someone (https://mastodon.online/@mastodonmigration/111155248958298902). Been thinking about this and would like to retract it.

If you feel like giving someone a warning, by all means do so, but it's entirely up to you. If it's offensive, or they have a history of off-topic replies and/or abuse, or if you just don't want to waste the time, or let your thread get jacked, it's your post, go ahead and block them. Curious what you think?

Mastodon Migration (@[email protected])

@[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] Agree that a polite warning is appropriate. A lot of new users arrive here from Twitter thinking that social media is a flame thrower contest. They should be given a chance to adapt their ways to more civil discourse. But what we have here is fragile and we should take appropriate measures to not permit threadjacking flame wars to overwhelm our discourse. #threadjacking

Mastodon

Andreas M. Heitmann

@mastodonmigration I do Block when it is absolutely necessary. Otherwise I mute.

Point is: administrators and moderators should warn before they block!

This should be a given ...

Jorge Candeias Sep 30, 2023

@mastodonmigration I hardly ever warn.

The decision of not wanting to see that person (or bot, or whatever) on my timeline is mine and mine alone and not up for debate. So why debate it?

The only instance when I may say something is if I want the person to know exactly why they're gonna be blocked. But since I'm pretty much convinced that's something that won't change anyone's behaviour I very rarely do it.

Alien BOB Sep 30, 2023

@mastodonmigration If I decide to block someone, they have already offended me somehow, Why should I be polite to them?

Mark Loundy Sep 30, 2023

@mastodonmigration I cut the connection without comment.

Tim Chambers Sep 30, 2023

@mastodonmigration My own protocol. If something seems like it's moving from a public friendly exchange to more intense one, but I think there might still be light not just heat ...then I move it to "mentioned users only" and if any conversation becomes a full on argument, I immediately mute or block depending on the nature of the other person. But in general err on the side of muting or blocking early.

Far better for mental health.

Grant Sep 30, 2023

@mastodonmigration

I almost never blocked anyone on shitter. However, after a while here, I found myself blocking people who behaved in a way that would be typical on shitter.
I guess the reasoning is, that Mastodon isn't like shitter and I don't want to have anything to do with people who come here and behave as they would on shitter.
That said, I've only blocked a few here and generally find that people are just fine.

🦆Sep 30, 2023

@mastodonmigration No reason to give any notice at all. One of the beauties of Mastodon is absolute and full ownership of the content you want to see.

As an instance-operator, I have a bit more responsibility than I do as a user. I shouldn't block too aggressively, and I need to consider my user base. However, that still doesn't mean I need to warn anyone.

Vibe checks are pretty straightforward and you should generally trust your gut.

Frank Inserra Sep 30, 2023

@mastodonmigration Except for a handful of people on my small instance, all my relationships in the Fediverse are parasocial. Except for those I know IRL, I seriously doubt anybody would notice if I blocked them. I’m a pretty tolerant person, but if you are one of the few people I’ve blocked, it may be for your benefit as much as mine, knowing how I react to hateful, obtuse, inflammatory, presumptuous, or sharply ill-considered commentary or commentary marked by carefree ignorance or myopia. I don’t think I’ll be warning anybody on those few occasions when I block.

George Station Sep 30, 2023

@mastodonmigration Commenting to note that this is a constant topic on that cul-de-sac called Bluesky, and folks there tend to just block early and often.

I think people across the spaces are trying to grow a non-Twitter (maybe anti-Twitter? well, anti-troll for sure) culture. Not Kumbaya but also not fake "debate" that's really just trolling.

New drop-ins here need a fair chance to adapt (I did) but meanwhile we each get to decide what our feed looks/feels like.

Crystal_Fish_Caves Sep 30, 2023

@mastodonmigration when I first started on Mastodon, xactly a year ago, I would occasionally (very occasionally) get hit in the face with some really disturbing fetish porn, or sometimes just a beautiful woman shoving her tits in my face. Immediate block and I would post that I know where to get porn when I want it, but that is not what I am doing here and to please keep their private parts private. It has not happened again in many months thanks yall for keeping it in your respective pants. : )

Kim Spence-Jones 🇬🇧😷Sep 30, 2023

@mastodonmigration If I think a warning might do some good (for example people who bring their Twitter persona to Mastodon, without appreciating the different vibe here), I’ll try it. Otherwise, instant block. And no second chances!

George Garner Sep 30, 2023

@mastodonmigration Autonomy and consent absolutely matters, as does one’s right to revoke consent. I wish more people recognized that there should not be, nor is there a blanket right for another to impact someone’s life—no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.

I’m saying yes, absolutely block who ever when ever for whatever reason.

OldeHippi 🦋🎨🙏🌺Sep 30, 2023

@mastodonmigration
There is no need to warn. It is a personal choice.

Canadian Crone Oct 1, 2023

@mastodonmigration If someone is offensive [in my opinion] or racist or misogynistic or pushing misinformation or whatever I perceive as toxic, they are blocked. #EndOf PS I do try to make sure I haven’t come to the wrong conclusion by scanning their previous posts.

SmashedRatOnPress Oct 1, 2023

@mastodonmigration "Curious what you think?"

Luckily, I've never come to that bridge, but when (in all likelihood) I someday do, I guess I'll decide how to proceed... So far 'stodon has been a pleasant place to be.