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
Nice update but why is it required to file a text report under the "other" option? If I have a personal reason that has nothing to do with the site rules I shouldn't have to report those personal feelings to a stranger with whom I don't consent to view that information.
Sometimes people just want to prevent contact from another listener/member without being subjected to questioning and red tape. You already have options to report rule violations, I'd like to be able to block someone without my personal information being requested, collected, viewed or judged by an unknown authority.
So please remove the requirement for information under the "other" option or add a new option to not provide information, and allow our privacy if we so choose. You have absolutely no reason to know personal reasons for blocking someone.
@SentryTheDefiant then just write "personal reasons"? No one is forcing anyone to reveal private information, I don't get it.
@TaranWanderer
From the original post by Laura, "Each block report must include a text report as well". She doesn't say that you can provide a report if you want to, she says you "MUST". Just ignoring the request for information and putting gibberish or being vauge by saying "personal reason" doesn't change the fact that 7 cups has made it mandatory to provide that information regardless of what you want, which makes this a privacy issue and 7 cups is saying that you have no choice. And that brings it to another point, who is judging these reasons?
I know from the amazing text censorship system that some person who you don't know will judge your message that triggers the censor, without any context. 7 cups works on a guilty until proven innocent system when it comes to this because it doesn't matter what you meant, you'll be suspended first without notice if it "appears" to break a rule and in most cases your appeal will be ignored flat out ignored. I can give you an example of this happening to me where the person I was talking to was a fan of a particular tv show, we were having fun talking about that, quoting our favourite parts, the quote I chosen happened to trigger the censor and my account was suspended. My account was restored after explaining the situation with proof, but I was still handed out an additional punishment from the 7 cups staff, and thats the kind of thing that happens in such guilty until proven innocent nanny systems.
Now I can't think of a single good reason why this feature should be mandatory, because there isn't one.
@SentryTheDefiant A person isn't judging a message when the censor goes off. That's a programmed censor that's being tripped. The info written when reporting listeners are reviewed by real people, I assume it will be a similiar team for the written text for blocks.
I think it would be even a better step forward if the person we blocked gets a copy of the text message. I think they too deserve to know what behaviors or attitudes they displayed to get them blocked so that perhaps they might consider corrective action in the future. Too many of the reporting features feel far too much like anonymously snitching and they entirely miss the opprotunity for people growing and learning from encounters.
Further, when someone is blocked, they ought to have a pop up that allows them to respond with their version of the events. Far too many quality listeners have been run off the site over anonymous reports to which they have very little recourse other than to avail themselves on an admin team that may or may not get back to them in a reasonable time frame.
I know if I got banned over a nonsense report, I wouldn't bother defending myself to a system I think is inherently flawed. There are far too many other organizations I could spend time volunteering with. Perhaps being banned would give me that motivation to go out and find one of them. As it is now, 7 cups has such a low bar for entry, I'm not at all motivated to seek out other alternatives. Yet, if I had to choose between the effort of getting a second chance over a report that I think is nonsense or just finding somewhere else, I'm gonna go somewhere else.
@DaveMcGrath
@Laura
I agree that the person that has been blocked has the right to know why they got blocked. Too many listeners, new and old, have been on a blocking spree, leaving members and sometimes other listeners without any clue of what behavior precipitated a block. I know I have personally been blocked by many in recent weeks, with some all I said was hi, my name is.... With others the conversation seems to be going well and then the next day it is like what the heck happened to them, did they deactivate? And upon further investigation it is noted that they are indeed still active and that you were blocked overnight without warning.
@justHurting02
@Laura
I feel it is important that there be clarity to members who have been blocked. I spoke to 3 members in last two days that received blocks from multiple listeners recently. These are long term members of mine and honestly I feel I know them well enough to safely say not all those blocks were justified. @just, I am sorry this is happening.
@Laura
Excuse my ignorance, but I have had several tell me they are being blocked by far more listeners without warning and by listeners they felt were a good match. By any chance could there be a glitch causing this? I know the site and app has had issues recently.
Secondly, I believe greater clarification needs to occur in listener training. Two nights in a row this week there was a discussion about whether to block or not block an actively suicidal member (after providing crisis hotline info). I know we are supposed to end the chat politely. I personally dont see a block as a polite way to end a chat. Of course, if the member refuses to seek help it would be different in my mind.
I cant remember everyone who was around, but I do remember @babyBlue, @musicalMagic, @jenna, @pumpkin74 and a few others that I dont know their whole name. I was so tired, I can remember what we decided last night. Any of yall remember by any chance?
@Paula02 @Laura
I dont remember names, but I do remember the conversation. All listeners kow to refer and end the chat politely, but some say block and others say just end it. I was told to block and the reason to do that is becuase ending the chat is the same rejection as ending it and many times, the member is upset and will continue to message you regarldess of telling them you can not help them. Either way, they are ignored since we can not support these trouble persons. I was told that this wastes time and takes away from them reaching out for help through the refered links. @Jenna showed the room the rules to end the chat and not to block.
I do think there is a lot of confusion with many members so Im glad you posted this here.
@Paula02
I agree that there should be enhanced training regarding blocking. I have only used it for inappropriate sexual content and harrassment.
I am very concerned about blocking suicidal people. These individuals are in a fragile state. Blocking them is virtually the same as rejecting them or telling them they are not worthy of your support. You don't have to answer their messages if they repeat message you. But God forbid that someone be tipped over the edge because they were already suicidal and now they feel additional rejection on top.
@carefreeHeart57 this has literally happened. I can't find the link anymore but someone wrote an article about their brother killing himself after coming here and being treated poorly.
I don't think blocking those people is healthy. I understand ending the chat and not responding further, but blocking seems extreme (like unless they start harassing you or whatever) They are in active crisis maybe, but what about after the crisis when they need recovery support? Leaving the option open for them to reach to a listener post-crisis might give the person some hope. Just opinons from someone who has been actively suicidal in the past. <3
@wontsleepwontwake
I agree HOPE is a big deal in my life right now and don't have much of it.
@Laura, I looked at my options while in a chat and I'm very happy to see that members have the drop down option of "I'd Rather Not Say" 
That takes away a big part of the possible discouragement members may recieve by the change. With this option, I do see this change as overall being positive, but I think more steps could be taken when it comes to listeners blocking when there's no reason for it.
Today I did have a listener block me though, for no reason that I can imagine other than wanting to avoid getting a not so great review, although nothing report-worthy in my opinion. I have no clue what the listener put down as to why they blocked me. I would be happy to share more details if allowed, and am also happy to discuss with you via PM/email with a screenshot as a real study case if you're interested in brainstorming future options.
I do think when this happens, something on that page needs to be offered to members (and possibly in the reverse situation as well, where a member blocks, especially with a reportable accusation) where they can give their 'side'. As it is now, if people don't know to email/use a forum from the feedback page only one 'side' is known, and it can be a race of who hits the block and fills it out first. Unfortunately, the more detailed the more likely it is that person is going to lose that race.
@AffyAvo
Yes this is the problem.
Listeners are blocking members for NO reason other than a) they don't want a bad review
b) they're bored? or don't want the chat?
So making more options for listeners to block will not solve problems but rather add to it.
@AffyAvo
yup! we added in "id rather not say" yesterday
@Laura
I think this is a good idea to get a better picture of why blocks are done.
@Laura
What about mediation between two listeners whose connections have been blocked?
@Laura
which option should we use for members with inappropriate usernames ? Pretty much every day there is someone with a username that makes me uncomfortable. I would very much like a way to flag them and have their account removed ASAP. Or find a way to shadow ban them where they think their account is still active but nobody can see them.
@Litttle0ne I think there is a form for that. @MissZ do you have a link to it?
@Litttle0ne Hey! If you see someone with an inappropriate username, there are a few things that you can do! If it is in a group support room, and if it is a member or a listener, you can use this form to get a moderator into the room to take care of the issue, and until then, you can mute them for yourself, and that way you won't be able to see them in the room anymore.
If it is in 1 on 1s, or you see them somewhere else on the site, you can do the following! If it is a member, you send an email to laura@7cups.com and admin will take care of it. If it is a listener, and you are on your listener account, you can use this form to report your fellow listener. If it is a listener, and you connected with them in a 1 on 1 from your member account, please send in an honest review, that is like a report, and someone will take care of it!
@MissZ Thanks for that!
@Laura i love that
Yayy! Thanks, great update @Laura.
I'm becoming quite frustrated. Its been quite some time since i haven been on 7cups, as i've been busy.
Since coming back i have encountered two trolls straight off the bat. i blocked them after realising they were trolls. My account was then suspended. I dicovered that apparently since i was last on 7cups the blocking issue has become somewhat of a big deal. I spoke to a couple of mods in the listener chat rooms about this, and it was decided that i needed to go through certain steps before blocking a chat. I should warn them, i should be polite, and i should end the chat and if they continue i should then block them.
I'm frustrated now as someone has started a chat with me and they are being inappropriate and are clearly just wasting my time... but each time i try to "politely warn" them about it they steer the conversation back to "yes, i really do need help. i need to talk to you about something" and i have no "reason" to block them or end the chat.
How much time do i really need to continue wasting on people who are SO OBVIOUSLY just trolls and wasting my time? I have sent emailed to support about this and haven't had anything come back about it. I feel like i was punished for blocking people even though they absolutely were just trolling and wasting time that i could have spent helping people with actually issues who want help!!!
I only block when a member is speaking inappropriately to me or trying to sext with me. I am not comfortable with that and we are not a sexual help center. I feel that I have the right to block them after I have warned them that I am not comfortable with the conversation.
@IzzieBelle I agree, the protection should be for the listeners. There are too many people who abuse listeners here for fun, or just to get their kicks.
