Reply #254: Watching how the feature has been used - I think that this is a good idea.

[salin]

The one thing not addressed, that I have seen unfold a number of times, is that the blocker - will then respond directly to a blocked poster, knowing that the blocked poster can not respond. At times it appears to be taunting. In some cases, then if the blockee - responding to a post of the blocker when the blocker was responding to the blockee - tries to get the conversation nuked, because the blockee was 'working around the system'. Of course the blockee wouldn't have done this if the blocker hadn't directly responded to the blockee. Confusing, eh? If this is kept in place, I do hope that there is an "anti taunting" rule - that is: if you block someone, do NOT respond directly to that person as it would work as taunting given that the person has been forced to not be able to respond.

All this said from observation. Thus far I am not aware of being on anyone's block list. I haven't had a mod warning since... ever. My point is that I don't tend to be 'controversial' and haven't really been at it regularly with many DUers and have generally been pretty good about keeping within civility bounds. However for five years I have also been an observer of dynamics - and I am rather concerned with some of the side dynamics that have been developing via this feature.

But am still willing to watch, wait and see.