It also helps to have friends who reach out with timely reminders here and there, too.

Just the other day, a friend of mine saved me from someone who I had a run in with a week or two ago and didn't block.

Fortunately, he saw what happened and reminded me who it was so I could decide how I wanted to proceed with them.

I know a handful but don’t block them. Don’t go out of my way to track them but I do like to keep an eye on what’s happening. Though I’d imagine that predators do their share of blocking in an attempt to silence their victims.

I twice experienced men stating they were pedophiles, in posts on SW.

The first one literally said that he prefers preteen girls, and the context made it clear that he meant romantically. He also wrote that he tries to talk with preteen girls when he meet them. He seemed somehow clueless that people would have a problem with that.

The other one was more tricky, because he simply mentioned that he self pleasures near a high school, but I replied to him in the comments where he wrote "I have done many much worse things and never been caught, and there is nothing you can do to get me caught" so I left it alone at that point and filed a ticket, because we're not supposed to bully these people into deleting their posts (evidence) etc.

The SW admins say they sometimes contact the police, that's why we need to let them think they are safe here.

It's crazy that they actually post these things publicly, however when it comes to DMs I had several men, relatively young guys too, confess or almost confess to being pedophiles – like years ago, because I wouldn't bother replying to any such people nowadays, but I assume it still happens and they are around.

I understand and to some degree applaud the sentiment and intention, but that sounds like turning sw into work. and if there's one thing I don't need is another job. and trying to circle around to backfill a function of the site that should be in handled by something/someone else already seems like stepping into a hornets nest with virtually no upside.

Thats a good idea.
Not everyone sees all the posts and all the users, so predators can go pretty unchecked here.
If you've had past contact with one, they would be in your user contacts that the algorithm picks up. So you would be in a prime position to warn others

I have only blocked those who have blocked me. So i see no need to unblock them. Am done with them.

I realise that they are around when i see my friends responding to replies i cannot see.

But that doesnt bother me. I have enough nice people around. Dont need rude ones who can hurt me again.

Report and block i suppose. I block people I find offensive. Generally report those I find cruel.

I think you're right

Tbh, I used to block more, I've only blocked about 20 atm, probably just people who annoy me personally

Yes, there is that hope that you'll just go away silently and not make trouble so that they can go to the next victim.

I did it another way.

I upset a lot of people just by existing and them making things up about me in their heads, and I scared the others.

Magic.

Better to keep them in view.

no one needs that kind of negativity in their life 😬

I would love some predators. Cannibals especially please say hello. :)
I am not fussy about gender, just be hungry. :)