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.
I am excited to see this as an indicator of a push towards better quality and a more tangible way to be able to act on issues that arise
@Laura this is really cool I love this I think this will be really useful for the community! :)
@Laura Thanks for the update! Hopefully, this update will allow for more effective blocking.
This is a nice update, but I do think blocks and reports should be separate, as well as the text report being optional if it just a block, and not a report. For example, if someone wishes to block someone for being overly dependent, but they feel they don't deserve to be reported, then they can just block them.
@Emily619 I'm sure this is what the "other" option could be used for, as well as having to write text about it, you can write about why you chose to block and how you feel they don't need to be reported (having that text portion can really clear up any confusion about a block without having to separate the two!)
@Emily619 I agree. Sometimes there would be reasons to back away from the connection that don't warrant a report or drastic action.
I like the idea of being more specific about why one wants the block. I do think thete should be feedvack to voth the person vlocking and to the person vlocked or reported...no matter the reason. Othereise it is too easy for either person to feel they are not being listened to &/or that the matter remains unaddressed.
Latelly some of my conversations disappear and I cant ever message the person. It happened 3 4 times already and I dont think it's because of me. Can anyone do something? It sucks when you find a good listener
@Wicket35
@kallyope
I am willing to be your listener if you would like to contact me.
@DanaMH
honestly at this point I think I might be better off getting off this site. We come here to get support, invest time in developing trust and have a two way conversations, and then we get blocked cowardly with no justification. Listeners should give us some reason for it. Just blockin isn't better than saying "hey i'm sorry I can't help you anymore" or whatever it might be.
So yeah I feel lonely and undervalued enough as is and this is not helping.
Thank you anyway
@kallyope
Thank you for sharing this insight.
Are there others who believe that members should receive a block reason?
@Laura
Thank you for the update. I like that text is required for blocking. Blocking is serious and should be done only in cases where you can support your decision with facts.
I was blocked by a member during a chat and it really hurt my feelings. I don't know why they blocked me, but knowing that they now have to explain their action makes me feel better. I was never contacted about the incident, but it will be nice to know that in the future, the person will have to support their decision with facts making it less easy to just randomly block people you disagree with.
@carefreeHeart57 When it comes to listeners blocking, yes. Members do not have the same expectation though. Members should be able to block if doing so makes them feel more comfortable being here.
I hope this tool doesn't dissuade members from blocking someone if they feel like it's the best course of action for them.
good news. Hoping it will reduce the number of abusive blocks! I'm too often blocked for no valid reason.
Me too TortueDesBois. I think this update to blocking is a good step but I don't think it'll solve the problem. I mean someone could chose "other" as their reason and in the required text just write gibberish (kfaoehdfhsofhaofho)
@BrightWriter I wonder if these ones would be followed up on, since it's essentially blocking for no reason (because, if you can't write a genuine reason, then it's probably not a good reason to block)
@TaranWanderer What if a member wishes to keep the entire chat confidential though? If a member wishes to block, they should be able to do so. Members have no training.
@AffyAvo hmm I think they don't need to share any details of the chat if they don't want to (it's not like the report or looking into the report means forcing them to say what they talked about), but they shouldn't really be just randomly blocking listeners--I feel like if they felt the need to block, there's probably room for improvement for the listener (and we can't improve the quality of this site without hearing about what's not working and addressing it). Otherwise, why not just not respond anymore or ask for the chat to end? They don't have training but they're still humans.
I think this "investigating gibberish reports" might be more important in regards to a listener blocking a member, but at the same time, members blocking/reporting listeners for valid reasons is what helps make the site better...
@TaranWanderer I agree it's going to be good for looking into why listeners are blocking!
For members though, there can be subtle things that may make one feel unsafe. I usually give detailed reports, but I can understand others not wanting to, especially with particular triggers, and I think that's ok. It's ideal if members can give an explaination, even if vague so that a listener can be given feedback if necessary. Ultimately though, when in a chat, members should be doing whatever it is that they require for their own needs first.
@Laura
I do hope this improves the quality on blacking as many members/listeners get blocked for really no reasons. But mostly I am seeing as a mentor when I mentor is listeners taking on a certain chat topic and not knowing how to fully support the member and not asking for mentor help. So yes great idea Laura I do hope this helps alot
I would like to learn more about how this will effect listener-to-member blocking/reporting. I know several members who have been blocked at the beginning of a chat and have been left feeling very hurt and confused by this. If listeners are required to leave a reason to block as well, does that mean that reason will be reviewed too? If the reason seems invlaid or is left blank, will someone be reaching out to that listener to discuss their reasons for blcokng? For example, in Emily's scenario, I think it would be fair to write "overdependent, have tried to talk to them about this to no avail" that it would be a totally valid reason and no action against the listener or member would occur. But if the listener wrote, "I don't know anything about ptsd" (harmful/wrongflu block) or "something so there is text here so I dont' have to leave a reason" (going around the requirement to leave a review) will those listeners be followed up with? Thanks.
@Laura Thanks for the update! Hoping this continues to help us increase the quality of the community.