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🚫 How can we improve the situation regarding Block Limits, Unwanted Contact and Content? 📩

Poll - Total Votes: 172

Show more Relevant Content in feeds

Provide more Content Filtering options

Provide additional Broad Blocking Options (Age/Gender)

Offer Lifetime 10,000 Blocks as a separate purchase option

Increase Regular Block Limit (500)

Increase VIP Block Limit (5000)

Show Results

You may vote on multiple answers.

Hello members of Similar Worlds!

We have realized that there continues to be a noticeable number of requests for us to increase the Block Limits set on individual SW accounts.

This limit currently stands at:
🚫 500 Blocks for Regular Members 💛
🚫 5000 Blocks for VIP Members ⭐

We did carefully consider many factors when deciding on these blocking limits and believe that they are fair or reasonable standards to allow comfortable usage of this site.

It's important to let you know that "Unlimited Blocking" is not something trivial to implement, nor would it be a realistic feature to implement, if we want this site to remain at proper functioning capacity for it's users.

For example, each time you block an additional user on this site, our server processes must do an additional check per blocked user each time you visit various pages on the site.

If we have over 10,000 active users having Block Lists of 5000+ members, there can easily be millions of Block/Filtering checks happening per second, which places a huge strain on our servers.

So these features do take additional resources to function, which increases in magnitude as your block list grows.

We are still very much interested in finding a solution to making sure members are happy and comfortable on Similar Worlds.

What would help is for us to understand exactly:
WHY do some members wish to block so many users?

Our intention of the block feature is to prevent unwanted contact, such as harassing, bullying, stalking, etc...

It's unlikely that 500+ members have been harassing any particular user since they joined this site.

If you simply do not wish to see posts of certain users, then there is also the Mute function, which is a bit less resource-heavy than Blocking is.

We also understand that Similar Worlds is still a very much "Open" site, in that most feeds are not highly tailored to your preferences and groups.
However, this is something we plan to improve on in the very near future.

In the meantime, we encourage you to explore the Feed Filtering options already available for your Homepage:
• Relevant
• Everyone (Default)
• Friends & Groups
• Friends Only

It is our aim that over time as we grow in membership and post volume, we will begin to better filter the posts and users you see, which will make the site much more relevant to you, more comfortable and interesting.

This should also help reduce the number of Annoying/Disturbing/Boring Users and Posts you come across on this site.

We do believe that Excessive/Impulsive/Unlimited Blocking is not the best way to go.

For example, what will happen when we eventually reach Millions of users on this site?

Will some members wish to block Half of the entire SW population by that time?

In such a case, it would be unreasonable to do 500,000+ Block checks per page load for a single user.

For this reason, we would like to do our best to work with you, our users, to come a solution that provides the comfort you are seeking on SW, without excessively overburdening our servers to unsustainable levels.

Please chat with us in the comments below, so we can work together to find the best solution. :)

Thank you!
-The SW Team

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

Andrew · Admin

Thanks very much for the feedback!

We have been noting your Answers and Suggestions, and we will be working to improve the situation for those who wish to have better control of the content they see, and more control over who is able to connect with them on SW.

SW-User

Maybe make it easier to unblock also.. as it stands i have to unblock one at a time, go back to my list and do it again.
how about when i want to unblock.
i hit unblock and check boxes appear on my list so i can select everyone i want to unblock at once then hit unblock and I'm done..

PPHdicwiwnawiwm · 31-35, F

All of the above block suggestions are fundamental and significant (except the first two✌🏼). I have faith SW Team is capable of unlimited blockings later or now 🙌🏼It's possible y'all 🙌🏼.

(Privately, the content and relevent filters r harmful/betrayals as I never want to be cyber-stalked via the search option. Some users/I rather be aware of toxic/incompatible peeps and I/others can protect myself/ourselves via safest block options)

Mass blocking of age, genders, certain popular triggering groups,etc are ideal. no one has the time to individually block thousands of people for the same reasons (I know y'all 😭 🔫. I feel u. how mentally depressed/rl &cl draining/waste of energy+time?! Most peeps simply leave sw. Most people never wish to form incurable mental disorders y'all🙃 ).
I notice numerous sw users leave because they can't discover their compatible audiences(or whatevar). Some were blinded by conflicting sw users thus Some peeps consistently were offended/disappointed/whatever with each sw's visits/logins. The lack of options to self protect themselves and the unharmonious of others may drive certain users astray(some these people are the noteworthy essences/ passionates of sw too. Yazz y'all great roles in sw but some peeps are undeniable standouts without trying ) .

Personally, I solely seek to feel/be safe with compatible cyber environment/audiences on sw. I desire the freedom to be "my (multiple) -self(-selves)" at that moment in time.
I never purposely wish to hurt/offend anyone kind but I'm not 10000000000000% compatible for all existences on earth(No one is, I think ).
I'm not a nazi because I never want the power to control/force anyone via my posts. I respect kind individuals's distinct perferences (I do expect the same in return tho)

I hope we/others have the options to feel safe/Freedom asap. Freedom of Options for all unique users to find their types of compatible audiences (or not ).
Yazz, I understand not everyone agrees with my wants/needs but I hope users understand their preferences may be opposite/harmful/offensive to my/others's wants/needs. Thanks ☮️☮️

Peace out ✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

Personally I block no one, I just ignore those that I find annoying. But there seems to be a fad to block everyone belonging to certain groups.

In light of the last perhaps it might be better to just give the user the ability to block those groups instead. Might be less of a strain on your system resources to do it that way. Same goes for question categories like NSFW.

SStarfish ·

People don't just block because someone is harrasing them personally..

Some people are just so gross and rude and vile and disgusting in their posts that one just wants nothing to do with them at all and therefore blocks them from ones self so as not to deal with such a type of petson

Whereas others are just aggravatingly rude or stupid and one wishes to avoid interacting with them as well to preserve ones sanity..

Not everything is about harrasment. When one is forced to deal and interact with such types against ones wishes it becomes overly agravating.

Filtering such type of people would be great.. But since such fine tuned restraints are not in place as a whole thereforeva snowflake must resort to individual blocking in self defense.. Imo

Fernie · F

I have been a member of SW since the beginning. It's a great site. I just cannot understand why, when someone in a post is obnoxious and I block him, why can't I get back into that post? It's like SW is punishing me for blocking someone.

Chickie · F

We do believe that Excessive/Impulsive/Unlimited Blocking is not the best way to go

I feel like the admins hold too much sympathy towards the blockee (if that's the right word) you say it's unrealistic to had unlimited blocking options but it also unrealistic to expect most users to mute and move on. Sometimes muting isn't enough what if it's an user with a profile picture of their genitals or their profile contains content that I am not comfortable with a user interacting with me? I block them. I feel similar to the admins off of AM (Answer Mug) they don't allow blocking because they feel like they causes more conflict I assume the admins of SW feel the same way.

With all due respect no, I do not feel safe with the sexual deviants, trolls, and underage users doing risky stuff running rampant with their multiple accounts still up and running no matter how many times I report them. Maybe we wouldn't be requesting for more blocking slots available if you took the reports seriously. I block users to feel safe besides other personal reasons I have 240 people blocked they fall into the category of trolls,people who spam or with multiple accounts, and perverse users.. Muting is not enough and I don't agree with you blocking ideology but it's your site. I know a lot of people won't agree with me and that I am just one person but I want to put my 2 cents in. I still adore the team though❤

P.S. You should prevent minors from interacting with adults too.
P.P.S Bring back the blurred profile picture option to censor profiles with genital profile pictures.

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Peaches · F

@Chickie I agree with all you've said here except they sympathy part?🤔

Chickie · F

@Peaches The part about the blocking? I guess it wasn't the right choice of words but people who are against blocking are the ones who don't like being blocked.

Peaches · F

@Chickie Oh, so I guess you meant the staff is more for the ones being blocked? Well they say it isn't an easy thing to implement, that it's a strain on the system. I think it's the reason we don't have a whiteboard too like we did on EP. But it's also a "strain" to come here for a pleasant time when diapers, dic pics, and other disgusting contents are thrown at you for no good reason except for them to have a good laugh at other people's expense. 👎🏼😒

bearinthebigbluehouse · 26-30, M

Well... Bear ain't ever gonna block 5000 people so I guess that helps a little. ʕ´•ᴥ•`ʔ/

SW-User

If I find people offensive, annoying or aggravating, I want to be able to block them. I come here to relax and unwind not be irritated with people. So more blocks would be nice.

uncalled4 · 56-60, M

My feeling is that there are an awful lot of trolls, time wasting s***posters, users with multiple accounts, etc., so this is an issue that will probably increase in number as SW grows.

LunadelobosIAMTHEDRAGON · F

@uncalled4 Yes.

Peaches · F

@uncalled4 You are so right!

Doomflower · 41-45, M

I mute people who post annoying content. I will only generally block someone who posts obnoxiously on one of my entries after being warned to stop or is an asshat in comment sections and I just dont want to see them.

Suggestion 1: if I mute a user I don't want to see their comments on other posts.

I also block anyone who lies about their age on their profile to be over 18 and then posts that they're really underage. I don't want to be in contact with people like that because sometimes my conversations and posts are adult.

Suggestion 2: no under 18, period.

View 4 more replies »

Chickie · F

@Doomflower I actually got flak for warning users about minors with adult accounts and all I got back was the "They aren't doing anything wrong" mentality. I also block users with multiple accounts I it's spam imo

Fernie · F

@Peaches damn right! more than one account means they are up to somethin'!

Peaches · F

@Fernie Yeah, some get in trouble with people here and just get another account. 😶It's really creepy watching them and talk to themselves.

JRVanguard · 26-30, M

All of these, but more blocks is the one most of us need but protecting under aged kids should be primary concern

View 4 more replies »

Fernie · F

@LunadelobosIAMTHEDRAGON EP at least had the feature that allowed you to choose the age group you preferred to hang with. I agree that they'd find a way in. I don't get the fetish thing because the internet is FILLED with fetish sites...why come here? Are the fetish sites even too creepy for THEM?

BetweenKittensandRiots · 36-40, MVIP

@LunadelobosIAMTHEDRAGON I have noticed and one part of me is like oh I'm getting my way and the other is like oh wait now every topic is sex....

and I want so much more...

LunadelobosIAMTHEDRAGON · F

Salutations.

How lucky for you.

The world is filled with all sort of humans;
Otherwise we'd all be the same and that's be so boring.
@BetweenKittensandRiots

This comment is hidden. Show Comment

summersong · F

I think content filtering is the way to go. Honestly I think one of the most useful ways to prevent unwanted contact is to have some sort of user ability to set a specific audience for posts. I don't know how big of a pain this would be on the admin side but it would at least address harassment and incidences of stalking

SW-User

@summersong definitely "friends only" post option would encourage more sharing of private experiences and thoughts/feelings. There are things I will never share with all of SW but would share with only my friends.

SW-User

I block people who tend to be offensive, immature with their comments, crass and juvenile. I'm not a fan of the extreme fetish folks..some are just disgusting and disturbing. I personally would prefer to mingle with people of my own age range just because the life experience is similar. I find myself scrolling and blocking because of content of posts. To each his/her own, but to be able to enjoy this site takes some effort as most of us have to weed through the bs and it gets rather exhausting. At this point I don't show my age range because it would make no difference...I've tried, but if there was a way to choose a particular group based on age, I would certainly be more open to that. I know for me it would reduce the number of blocks I have to use. I have little in common with those under 40 and it seems the younger people are the majority so I deal with a lot of immature, silly, and disgusting q's and stories. Oh and the drama with some of the users...sheesh, that's a whole other issue I try to avoid...blocked.

Btw thanks to the SW team for all your efforts and hard work. I can't imagine how difficult it is to run a site like this. Your time and attention to this site are truly appreciated. Great job guys!

SW-User

I think till you find a reasonable fix for people who have no compunction about creating dozens of accounts, you'll always have issues with this.
Personally, I'd really like to see options like closing posts to comments, making posts available only to certain groups (friends, followers. perhaps more levels). more limiting options rather than the current default of 'everyone gets to see everything'

SW-User

Personally I think you need to work on responding to reports. The mute function works well enough for me not to want to use the block function as much. But I would rather see posts and comments that obviously violate ToS (pornography, harassment, illegal content, etc.) be acted on quickly. I understand that it is due to the lack of moderators on this site, but you might want to think about hiring some or maybe getting some volunteers in (though you need to ensure they don't abuse this power somewhat.... ) Probably a lot more complicated than I make it sound, but just food for thought.

Andrew · Admin

@SW-User Thanks for the feedback.
We are indeed looking towards having more Moderators/Staff on-board, but it is a very sensitive task, and needs to happen gradually.

A staff who can manage reports on SW needs to have some access to private/personal information, or back-end company data in order to deal with those reports. Hence, we need to be very cautious in selecting someone for these positions; they would need to work with us for some time as a basic moderator, before being promoted to handle reports.

Increased speed of dealing with reports is definitely something we plan to improve soon.

SW-User

Because the scum bags make additional profiles to harass you. You block one they make another. There are some messed up people here who won't let people just use this site in peace. They offenders get a warning which they ignore and keep doing the same things over and over again.

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Peaches · F

@SW-User I KNOW?!😰 Me too, and I have over 120 mean filthy talking people blocked already?!🥀

SW-User

@Peaches Too bad people have to be so mean.

Peaches · F

@SW-User They are lashing out because they can't in "real life" without hiding on the internet.😏

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Bubbles · 36-40, F

I really think that if you just wouldn't allow a picture to be sent in private, until the person has replied to a message, would prevent a lot of unwanted pictures being sent, and thus a lot of blocks. All of the dick pictures I receive are unwanted and from people who just send out dick pictures in mass in hopes to get a reply.

Andrew · Admin

@Bubbles Thanks, this is something we are looking into improving soon.

Peaches · F

@Andrew I'm hoping for the "preview" to private messages to be closed. I get mean and nasty messages and I don't even have to open them to see that crap!👎🏼

SW-User

I have to go with the content filtering, to protect those you don't wish to see the content and maybe I suggested something yesterday, is it possible to block PM completely to those who aren't in your friends list, I know the filters are there, but new members aren't made aware of this during sign up so anything unsolicited will go straight to them.

sighmeupforthat · 46-50, M

group blocking would be nice!!!

there's some groups that just leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Magenta · F

@sighmeupforthat Indeed! My suggestion as well. It would solve the having to block/mute so many people.

LunadelobosIAMTHEDRAGON · F

@sighmeupforthat I agree.

TeresaRudolph71 · 51-55, F

@sighmeupforthat Or perhaps group muting, which would place less of a strain on this site's server?

SStarfish ·

Preventing the creation of mutuple profiles by known trolls and persons who are known for harrasing others would help the issue..

Example if one ip address is making a bunch of profiles that act the same way and or stalk the same person.. Then they should be autumaticly flagged for review and removed by you the admins..

(The site should check into mutiple profiles being created by one ip address imo)

This would help eliminate redundant blocking on a large scale because certain trolls are known to have over 20 profiles. And I'm not even exaggerating.

FailedToFetch · 56-60, M

Do you also look at how many times a profile is blocked?

SW-User

Personally I'm nowhere near the limit, but I have seen a lot of posts about this. Female members seem to be harassed a LOT more than male users, so maybe the adult filters could be modified to protect females more in order to prevent the need for personal blocks.

Different types of blocks may also help. If members would for example be satisfied with preventing someone to send private messages and view their own posts, but allow interaction in replies to other people's posts, that would make checks on a lot of pages obsolete.

This raises a few questions though: how many of you would be satisfied with partial blocks and which types of interactions would you like to be able to prevent separately?

SW-User

Addition: The muting of groups would eliminate the need to block or mute all their members too and maybe multi-accounts could be handled better. I have no problem with people creating multiple accounts to share different sides of themselves, but it should not be necessary to block the same person multiple times for similar behavior on different accounts.

DanielChristensen · 46-50, M

I've been here for several months. I've currently got about 70 blocked and a similar number muted. That's plenty enough for me. I periodically look through and remove filters on deleted accounts.

It is reasonable to ignore content you dislike without needing it to be blocked. I only block people that comment rudely and profusely to my posts and people I find odiously arrogant.

People that need to block hundreds or more probably shouldn't be using social media. That isn't going to stop them, of course, but I don't think you should cater to unreasonable personalities, considering how blocking taxes your servers.

Thank you for similar worlds. I really appreciate it.

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

What a great & timely question.

Probably the best thing we could do is require mutual respect and common courtesy. But then, we are online and these things are the first to go. Oh well.

So, being serious, your block feature is fine. I don't personally use it, but I understand why some people need to.

Same with the mute feature.

What I do use every single time on here is the feed filter. I would like to be able to set my default as friends only. I only set a wider filter (or none) when I am 100% caught up with messages, notifications, and friend posts. That is rare.

CheerfullyCurious · 46-50, F

Maybe I am an idiot, or maybe Content and variety of users are not filtering through to my feed but I definetely in the past 3 months have not even seen a total of 500 different members posts coming on my feed. I wonder if it is because i use my phone ? How can people even need 500 blocks?

Pfuzylogic · M

Even with blocks there are a lot of posts that blister the reputations of others here with unfounded accusations and hateful speech
Common sense on the part of administration should limit insulting material.

MagnifiqueGirl

People want to block the ones that don't agree with them most of the time

TeresaRudolph71 · 51-55, F

@MagnifiqueGirl I don't do that myself, but I know of one person who did block me because she didn't agree with my views. It's too bad she couldn't have just muted me, though that wouldn't have been necessary either. Oh well.

Spoiledbrat · F

It was hard for me to choose between a higher block limit and an increased filter as I don't know what increased filter will entail. I might benefit from that. It's hard to say. I block however because I don't want to have any contact with those users and I don't want them to have any contact with me. I don't want to be burdened with their posts. I won't block someone just because I disagree with their opinions.

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TheMagicPill

@BurstMe95 You really should relax.

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MrBrownstone · 46-50, M

@DethComesRipping Exactly

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TeresaRudolph71 · 51-55, F

@okaybut I think that perhaps muting groups might help with this. That way we wouldn't have to see certain kinds of posts in our feed, while those who do post that stuff could post to their heart's content and just be seen by those who want to see them.

But yes, filtering will be the best way to go, once SW has enough users so there will still be plenty of posts to see with those filtering options in place.

SW-User

Is it possible to optimize the blocking code? It sounds like blocks would be better in a key-value database but maybe everything's too set in stone now, or maybe I just need another coffee...

MeisterAndrew · 41-45, M

If you even need 100 blocks the problem is obviously with you. People should learn to grow up or if you're too soft just don't use the site. There's also the hiding feature. Don't know why SW ever implemented an unneeded blocking feature.

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MeisterAndrew · 41-45, M

@Peaches No I don't think you understand. Neither block nor mute will solve multiple accounts. There's obviously another problem when most people hardly use it while a few others overuse it. That's more of a reflection on yourself.

Peaches · F

@MeisterAndrew You don't know me or why I've blocked someone. There are more insulting people here than kind ones. I don't have to take that and I won't. BLOCK!

MeisterAndrew · 41-45, M

lols

This comment is hidden. Show Comment

MrBrownstone · 46-50, M

The overwhelming amount of blocks people are doing are frivolous. Don’t increase the limit.

TeresaRudolph71 · 51-55, F

@MrBrownstone I agree. I've heard that some people are blocking all users in certain groups, which I personally think is a shame, as sometimes it's possible to enjoy talking with people whose perspective is a little different, even if we don't want to see all their posts.

I'm hoping that when there are millions of users on this site, we can have filtering options more like those that EP had. I think that will be a much better solution, once we have enough users so that we would still see a lot of posts with those filtering options in place. Then people probably wouldn't feel the need to block so many people.

CrustyDDingus · 36-40, M

I say we march em off to the guillotines!

Peaches · F

Yes, filtering options should help.

Neoerectus · M

The Follower step could use some shielding like a block, but no notice.

Regular Blocking should also be with no notice.

bijouxbroussard · F

If there were a way to prevent multiple profiles by the same users, often one block would suffice where several are now needed. It’s against the TOS to establish another profile to get around being blocked, yet people still do it.

LunadelobosIAMTHEDRAGON · F

@bijouxbroussard There is a way, I think.

Well, a former user of EP told me, and she was really VERY computer savvy.

It was MORE than that even. It was a way to make that site really more sensitive and intelligent. To weed out and BLOCK the BAD apples.
And she did work with computer systems, yes, that's why she was so astute.

She outlined it to the Staff of EP.
They could care less.

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