LogFAQs > #972905723

Malcrasternus posted...

While I personally don't use the block or even ignore features here I feel they're still good tools to have. I'm still not seeing any solid arguments on how these tools harm more than help, besides maybe hindering the flow of some topics.

The fact this got 300+ posts is nuts.

as someone said in this thread

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/7-site-suggestions/80052702

The block function makes no sense from a design perspective. It disincentives people from creating an account, especially from people who primarily care to read. As a guest user you are guaranteed all publicly accessible content. So for registered lurker users it does nothing but degrade the user experience with little benefit, since there is always that nagging thought of "Am I missing any content?" The logout trick doesn't work for boards with level reading requirements, but those boards are the exception rather than the norm. Even then, most have fairly low reading requirements so a lurker alt is all that is needed to get the full uncensored version of the board and an easy switch when you feel like posting.
The block function also creates a perverse incentive to go the throwaway route. Any account that is used for a long time will eventually accumulate a bunch of blocks, degrading the user experience with time. With throwaways, you'll get a fresh new username and an enemy block reset on a periodic basis. So unless you care for the level boards or certain community boards, having an old account is of little benefit.
The block function is also disruptive in contrast to ignore. All it takes is a "Who posted" and someone quoting it to bust the personal echo chamber to derail the topic or to turn it into some argument. It also can confuse guest users since they are immune to it.
In theory it is supposed to cut down on harassment, but in practice it is a tool weaponized by trolls to degrade the experience of other users or to gatekeep topics via a personal echo chamber. It is a hot mess and the cons outweigh the benefits as the staff have stated years ago. The 180 by the admins makes little sense, given they knew it was going to cause a ton of problems. This feature is also the most controversial and most complained about addition to the site. No other site update has seen that many complaints and problems since its implementation years ago. Overall it is a bad feature to implement. It fails to achieve its stated objective and the cost of degrading the user experience is too heavy.

It makes sense to implement in a forum that allows you to forbid guest users from viewing posts, but not in the majority of gamefaqs.

and as that thread said, one way people abuse it is locking others out of their topics who are showing up the lies the TC is telling. So it becomes a way for trolls to lock out anti trolls who expose them.