socialmedian: Does socialmedian need a block function?

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Does socialmedian need a block function?

Submitted by Jasongoldberg

Aug 04, 2008

Summary

A number of users have submitted requests for socialmedian to have a "block" function so that users can blog another user from following them. Question: Is this really needed? What's the harm in someone being able to follow what stories you clip?

Comments (5)

Jasongoldberg,

Aug 04, 2008

We are soon going to enable private news networks and private discussions. But, before that, is there a real reason you would not want someone else to be able to follow you? Please help me/us understand.

Davidpetherick,

Aug 04, 2008

Here's an example: I recently blocked a number of Twitter followers that were spambots or linked to porn / gambling / pharmaceuticals. Of course, that sort of activity is not an issue at Social Median (as yet!), but one likes to control who one is associated with. Having a crowd of followers with handles like "pornstar" and "muckygirly" is going to seem like being seen in the wrong company.

Another example: There are a some individuals and organisations who methodically 'stalk' my activity in social media, and often rework and rehash my ideas and activities in their own second-hand manner. Every time I join a new platform or mention a specific new tool I am using - ping - there they are, ususally within a hours of a trigger event or announcement.

Now, while this does not really bother me, and it's quite flattering in a way, it would be nice to be able to freeze such people out amd force them to think for themselves, or at least work harder to see what I'm doing or what interests me.

What I want to share is subtly different from what I want to see appropriated, and so having the option to say "you can't follow my insight and interests becaue i don't like you" is the logic I would cite. Petty, and un-christian perhaps, but it's human nature to want to be invisible to people you don't like seeing.

I think that this issue might be more important for females, as I know some of my own frinds and colleagues have felt concerned by the way they were 'followed', particularly by silent, barely identifiable, but very attentive males.

Jasongoldberg,

Aug 04, 2008

These are some good points. It didn't dawn on me too that someone might be judged based on who follows them. Will put some thought to this for sure.

Eristoddle,

Aug 05, 2008

Until I read David's comment, I was going to say that was idiotic especially if the site is open to search engines. But I see he does have a valid point.