Why did happycamper74 block me?
There's a lot people on here saying they're being blocked and unblocked for no reason, there's some SW glitch going on here.
26-30, F
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Nuno · Admin
Hello,
We have recently released a few changes to the system that will take some extra measures to prevent contact between users if the system believes it's the best to reduce harassment and block circumvention on SW.
Having several alt accounts increases the risk of these auto-blocks from happening, too.
Generally, following our Terms of Service and Acceptable Behavior Guidelines will reduce the chances of being prevented from contacting/seeing other users, to almost zero.
Regards.
We have recently released a few changes to the system that will take some extra measures to prevent contact between users if the system believes it's the best to reduce harassment and block circumvention on SW.
Having several alt accounts increases the risk of these auto-blocks from happening, too.
Generally, following our Terms of Service and Acceptable Behavior Guidelines will reduce the chances of being prevented from contacting/seeing other users, to almost zero.
Regards.
Trappedmermaidsoul · 26-30, F
@Nuno thanks for the update
uncalled4 · 56-60, M
Trappedmermaidsoul · 26-30, F
@Nuno Can I message my friends again?
Nuno · Admin
[quote]Surely we're all capable of managing our own blocking here?[/quote]
[quote]I'm pretty sure I'm capable of deciding who to block or not.[/quote]
We don't doubt you are capable of managing your blocks.
As I said above: [i]"to reduce [b]harassment and block circumvention[/b] on SW"[/i]
One big problem we've seen constantly happening on SW is that when there is a conflict between two users, and one user blocks the other, the person that was blocked many times creates a new account (or uses an existing alt account) to circumvent the block and contact the person who blocked.
This has caused many users not feel safe on SW, and find Blocking to be "useless", when it comes to harassment.
If someone blocks someone else, there is absolutely no reason to keep allowing contact from alternative accounts of the person blocked.
If you lost contact with another user that you weren't expecting to, then that's either because one of the parties has blocked the other, between the various alt accounts.
Hence I mentioned above: [i]"Having several alt accounts increases the risk of these auto-blocks from happening, too."[/i]
Please note that the auto-blocks are temporary. Once enough time has passed, contact will be allowed again.
[quote]I'm pretty sure I'm capable of deciding who to block or not.[/quote]
We don't doubt you are capable of managing your blocks.
As I said above: [i]"to reduce [b]harassment and block circumvention[/b] on SW"[/i]
One big problem we've seen constantly happening on SW is that when there is a conflict between two users, and one user blocks the other, the person that was blocked many times creates a new account (or uses an existing alt account) to circumvent the block and contact the person who blocked.
This has caused many users not feel safe on SW, and find Blocking to be "useless", when it comes to harassment.
If someone blocks someone else, there is absolutely no reason to keep allowing contact from alternative accounts of the person blocked.
If you lost contact with another user that you weren't expecting to, then that's either because one of the parties has blocked the other, between the various alt accounts.
Hence I mentioned above: [i]"Having several alt accounts increases the risk of these auto-blocks from happening, too."[/i]
Please note that the auto-blocks are temporary. Once enough time has passed, contact will be allowed again.
This message was deleted by its author.
NudasPriest · 46-50, M
@Nuno A few thoughts:
I assume your system uses IP addresses as it's primary ability to identify alt accounts. What happens if two users live together and share an internet connection (non-mobile)?
What happens if someone is a friend with one alt, and blocks another alt, not realizing they are the same person? Does 'friendship' ensure that an autoblock won't happen?
If you are 100% confident in the ability to identify alt accounts, why do you allow problem users to immediately create another? If this was time delayed to a month or so, this would strengthen the block system as you desire, without the frustration and confusion that this latest algorithm change has created.
I assume your system uses IP addresses as it's primary ability to identify alt accounts. What happens if two users live together and share an internet connection (non-mobile)?
What happens if someone is a friend with one alt, and blocks another alt, not realizing they are the same person? Does 'friendship' ensure that an autoblock won't happen?
If you are 100% confident in the ability to identify alt accounts, why do you allow problem users to immediately create another? If this was time delayed to a month or so, this would strengthen the block system as you desire, without the frustration and confusion that this latest algorithm change has created.
Nuno · Admin
[quote]@NudasPriest I assume your system uses IP addresses as it's primary ability to identify alt accounts. What happens if two users live together and share an internet connection (non-mobile)?[/quote]
While the IP address has some impact in some situations, it's not the factor that causes the auto-blocks. We cannot disclose more details, though.
Users living together or sharing internet connections shouldn't be a problem.
[quote]What happens if someone is a friend with one alt, and blocks another alt, not realizing they are the same person? Does 'friendship' ensure that an autoblock won't happen?[/quote]
If someone blocks someone else, that's because they had a good motivation, so there is no reason to keep allowing contact from alternative accounts of the person blocked.
[quote]If you are 100% confident in the ability to identify alt accounts, why do you allow problem users to immediately create another?[/quote]
Creating alt accounts is not disallowed on Similar Worlds (if not exaggerated).
What is not allowed is to use those alt accounts to circumvent blocks and perpetuate conflicts with other users.
Please note also, these auto-blocks are implemented also to prevent users from using [b]existing[/b] alt accounts, that could have been created years ago.
In addition, over the past years, for specific scenarios, we have also successfully prevented thousands of new accounts from being either created or taking any effect.
While the IP address has some impact in some situations, it's not the factor that causes the auto-blocks. We cannot disclose more details, though.
Users living together or sharing internet connections shouldn't be a problem.
[quote]What happens if someone is a friend with one alt, and blocks another alt, not realizing they are the same person? Does 'friendship' ensure that an autoblock won't happen?[/quote]
If someone blocks someone else, that's because they had a good motivation, so there is no reason to keep allowing contact from alternative accounts of the person blocked.
[quote]If you are 100% confident in the ability to identify alt accounts, why do you allow problem users to immediately create another?[/quote]
Creating alt accounts is not disallowed on Similar Worlds (if not exaggerated).
What is not allowed is to use those alt accounts to circumvent blocks and perpetuate conflicts with other users.
Please note also, these auto-blocks are implemented also to prevent users from using [b]existing[/b] alt accounts, that could have been created years ago.
In addition, over the past years, for specific scenarios, we have also successfully prevented thousands of new accounts from being either created or taking any effect.
NudasPriest · 46-50, M
@Nuno I appreciate you replying, thank you. Clearly I'm not a fan of algorithms. I do like to make my own decisions, but I accept there are some issues here that you're trying hard to address.
I disagree with this comment though:
[quote]if someone blocks someone else, that's because they had a good motivation, so there is no reason to keep allowing contact from alternative accounts of the person blocked.[/quote]
I suspect some users lazily block someone, when a mute might be more appropriate. I have some friends with fairly passionate views on certain topics, but I've also blocked people when I wasn't in the mood for seeing passionate arguments. People block others for a range of different reasons, and perhaps beyond what you've had in mind with this recent change. I would counter by saying:
"If someone is friends with someone else, that's because they had a good motivation, so there is no reason to automatically block them simply because an alternative account is blocked".
[quote]Creating alt accounts is not disallowed on Similar Worlds (if not exaggerated).
What is not allowed is to use those alt accounts to circumvent blocks and perpetuate conflicts with other users.[/quote]
I didn't suggest not allowing alts. Just alts from "problem users". That wouldn't solve the 'existing alts' issue, but it would help. If you have evidence that a user is using alts to circumvent blocks, against the TOS, then why tolerate them here at all?
I'll round up with something positive. This is good to hear, thanks:
[quote]In addition, over the past years, for specific scenarios, we have also successfully prevented thousands of new accounts from being either created or taking any effect.[/quote]
I disagree with this comment though:
[quote]if someone blocks someone else, that's because they had a good motivation, so there is no reason to keep allowing contact from alternative accounts of the person blocked.[/quote]
I suspect some users lazily block someone, when a mute might be more appropriate. I have some friends with fairly passionate views on certain topics, but I've also blocked people when I wasn't in the mood for seeing passionate arguments. People block others for a range of different reasons, and perhaps beyond what you've had in mind with this recent change. I would counter by saying:
"If someone is friends with someone else, that's because they had a good motivation, so there is no reason to automatically block them simply because an alternative account is blocked".
[quote]Creating alt accounts is not disallowed on Similar Worlds (if not exaggerated).
What is not allowed is to use those alt accounts to circumvent blocks and perpetuate conflicts with other users.[/quote]
I didn't suggest not allowing alts. Just alts from "problem users". That wouldn't solve the 'existing alts' issue, but it would help. If you have evidence that a user is using alts to circumvent blocks, against the TOS, then why tolerate them here at all?
I'll round up with something positive. This is good to hear, thanks:
[quote]In addition, over the past years, for specific scenarios, we have also successfully prevented thousands of new accounts from being either created or taking any effect.[/quote]
Nuno · Admin
Sorry, I meant to reply to this specifically, too:
[quote]@NudasPriest What happens if someone is a friend with one alt, and blocks another alt[/quote]
If the person (who blocked one of your alt accounts) follows you (on this account), the auto-block shouldn't be in effect.
This is something we thought about.
But it has to be the blocker that has to follow you, not the other way around.
[quote]@NudasPriest What happens if someone is a friend with one alt, and blocks another alt[/quote]
If the person (who blocked one of your alt accounts) follows you (on this account), the auto-block shouldn't be in effect.
This is something we thought about.
But it has to be the blocker that has to follow you, not the other way around.
ImperialAerosolKidFromEP · 46-50, M
@Nuno I can see you're dealing w/a real problem here, but it is possible for individuals to turn it off? I mean, AFAIK no one has ever targeted me in this way and tried to game the system. So from down here, it seems the blocking was working just the way I like it: I don't wanna deal w/this guy again, I block 'em. Problem solved.