Suggestion – Please making blocking a follower an option on WordPress

  • Unknown's avatar
    shazzhamid · Member ·

    Though my profile is public, I write not under a pseudonym but my own. Since of late I have found a disturbing blogger who lives in my country and is stalking me in all forms of media. Including this blog. I feel harassed and unsafe (as I do know the person personally) and the only difference with other media platforms (including my phone number) I have the ability to block this person.

    I really wish WordPress would take this suggestion in to serious consideration – based on safety.

  • Unknown's avatar
    timethief · Member ·

    That’s not going to happen.

    We cannot block or delete subscribers from public blogs. Everyone on the internet can view and follow any public blog.

    You can change your blog visibility to “private” http://en.support.wordpress.com/settings/privacy-settings/ Please read this about public blogs that become private blogs > Blog Privacy and Subscribers > http://wpcommaven.wordpress.com/2011/09/05/blog-privacy-and-subscribers/

    Note that you have complete control over everthing that’s posted to your blog.

    comment moderation
    http://en.support.wordpress.com/settings/discussion-settings/#comment-moderation
    comment blacklisting
    http://en.support.wordpress.com/settings/discussion-settings/#comment-blacklist

    However, if you blacklist be aware that you could be affecting legitimate commenters as well. IP addresses have not been unique for nigh unto 15 years now. ISPs place hundreds of us in the same IP block. Moreover, using the blacklist is useless when people can get a new IP and/or new email address in no time flat.
    Anyone can get a new IP in a couple of minutes.
    Anyone can get a new email address in a couple of minutes.
    Anyone with internet access can subscribe to any public blog in a feedreader.
    Anyone with internet access can read any public blog.

    Blocking would be a useless exercise.

  • Unknown's avatar
    shazzhamid · Member ·

    Well I still feel one should have the right of blocking ‘A’ follower (not the entire world) who they might consider harmful. and I agree it’s only a matter of them getting a new ip address or email or whatever but the fact is almost all social media platforms have that option.

    Like I said it’s only a suggestion.

  • Unknown's avatar
    timethief · Member ·

    Thanks for the suggestion. Please be sure to moderate your comments.

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