March 15: Updates to Blocks Reports!
HI team,
We have updated the blocking tool! Here is what you need to know.
Members blocking a listeners AND Listeners blocking members features now have some additional features. Our goal was to make blocking a more helpful tool in assessing for quality connections.
The updated categories are -
Each block report must include a text report as well.
All of the block reports submitted by a member → about a listener will be submitted to our flag review page. If feedback is warranted we will share it with the listener, much like a text review.
The goal is to make the block reporting tool more helpful for determining the quality of a connection.
@Laura
This looks a very sensible update to me. Thank you.
What update to Blocks?
@Laura
Thanks for the update Laura! Hopefully this will help to stop people blocking when there isn't a fair reason to :)
@Laura
Thank you for the improvement that involves everyone's work/connection with others, in order to keep it of quality! 
@Laura
Hi Laura, is that limited to listener/member chats or is it extended to conversations with guests too?
thanks :)
Sometimes members just want space and don't want anyone to pm them because they don't have a green, orange, or red status button. Sometimes members will block chats to have space and I don't think they should get flagged or have to write it
@Llamonade I believe in member settings, there is a box you can check if you don't want to allow listeners to initiate chats 
that seems like the better option rather than blocking people (since blocking just because you don't want to chat at the moment can hurt a listener's feelings or make them doubt themselves, but just checking that box leads to no incidence and no negative feelings :D )
@TaranWanderer Hmmm. Yeah....there is probably a whole range of choice here.
I am not a Listener, so I don't know rhis....is there a person they can talk to in the decision process to block a member (using the example of depende cy).
This is a really valuable conversstion and we clearly need additional tools....I AM concerned though rhar if we OVERregulate ...espec if ir is out of reacrion....rhis could end up veing yet another place where people ceel they can't claim and tslk avout whst is going on for thrm.
A Listener can get triggered just as easily as a Member...and either person could end up making decisions out of that space thst theu can't take back and/or not being able to see where the other person is trly coming from.
@SpruceRaven Yeah, if a listener is having a hard time handling a chat (say for the dependant example) and have tried expressing to the member their boundaries but haven't had luck, they could talk to peer support or a mentor about it first just to make sure they have tried all their options, and then come to the conclusion to block or not.
From how I see it, this update isn't really over-regulating, it's just giving better options and better ways to look at why people are blocking and what we can do to make sure other people are kept safe and comfortable too. We already had the option to block, now it's just made more useful from an understanding and potential action standpoint.
We know people can get upset, they can block out of emotional reaction sometimes, and I don't think there would always be any negative action because of it (lets say even if it was followed up, the person could just say they were uncomfortable or felt triggered and wanted to end the conversation to keep themselves safe, and it would probably end at that). But for the times when people block out of trying to keep themselves and others on this site safe from a bad member/listener, this update seems really useful.
@TaranWanderer I agree.
@TaranWanderer
So what about the people who don't want to participate in this information gathering? Having it forced upon you is definitely not giving you more options, it's restricted them. Sometimes people just want to end contact with a listener/member for their own personal reasons that have nothing to do with the rules of the website. It shouldn't be mandatory to provide personal information to 7 cups of tea staff members that has nothing to do with the terms of service, ever. What happened to our anonymity, our privacy?
If 7 cups wants to collect data to find out the personal reasons why people block each other (and I can't imagine why they would or how that's useful to anyone) just make a survey and the people who want to be involved in that can choose to be.
@TaranWanderer That only works for people we haven't chatted with before though. If we have chatted with a listener, they can send us a message as I understand it, regardless of our settings.
@AffyAvo No, if the Listener blocjs the Memver when they try to contacr the listener they get a not available message and no opportunity to leave an offline message.
@SpruceRaven I think they meant that the "do not allow listeners to initiate chats" setting doesn't let a member be online with no messages if someone had already messaged them before they turned that setting on. Which is a good point, I wonder if there would ever be a way to completely block messages coming in without having to actually block individual listeners. Would be a good feature, I think :)
@TaranWanderer Yes, that's what I was referring to.
@TaranWanderer oh I see.
@TaranWanderer
That option is only for the first time a listener tries to talk to you it doesn't apply to on going conversations
@TaranWanderer
Also people should QTIP, Quit Taking It Personally just because someone blocks you as a member doesn't mean they did it to hurt your feelings. There's lots of reasons why a member can decide to block a listener. And also I know all the settings feautures because I'm not a newbie and I'm also a listener. When a member feels better they can manage their blocks and unblock too
@Llamonade
I agree.. I had a listener block me recently me for reasons I am unsure. It was the first time I was blocked on 7 cups but I just figure they had their reasons and its ok. They are entitled to do as they see fit. I think a listener should have a little bit more understanding that these things happen and I do not take it personally at all even if they don't like me. :)
@Laura
@Llamanede
@Pumpkin74
All of yall are stronger people than I am. Not taking something personally is something I cant ever do.
Maybe from the general sense of abandonment I feel so often. I feel less of this when it is explained to me, I mean it still hurts deeply, but at least I am not left wondering what did I do.
Still too much blocking going on. I mean, how many times have I put in a general request and waited for 5 or 10 min. Finally get a listener and they may ask how I am doing. I am scared to respond anything other than ok, because if I say I feel horrible or had a difficult day, I run the risk of being blocked on the spot.
@justHurting02
@SpruceRavan
@Llamonade
@TaranWonderer
meant to send the above message to everyone but couldnt figure out how to link.
@Llamonade good point.
If someone is in a Triggered state....they might block just to get space and not be able to articulate it till later...if at all.
@SpruceRaven
Yup sometimes members just want space
@Laura Very needed. I hope this will help improve the communication and the site in general.
These are good. I think including Block only as an option would be good also. An online form somewhere to file a report for a listener who blocked you inappropriately would also be good, rather than needing to go to email.
@Laura I hope it works well for the community. Thanks to share the information.:)
@Laura
Great idea,