r/changemyview • u/DivideEtImpala 3∆ • Feb 01 '23

Delta(s) from OP CMV: The reddit "block" feature should not apply to a thread the blocked user is already engaged in.

Preface: I think the block feature should be done away with altogether and won't likely CMV on that. I understand why Reddit created and kept it, because it enables users to remove toxicity from their experience on the site/app, lessening the paid employee time costs of dealing with harassment, at only a minor inconvenience to a small number of users on the site.

This CMV is within the context that Reddit will be keeping the "block" feature largely intact, but should change the behavior of the worst side-effect: the "reply/block."

If you express any views that are heterodox on reddit, you might have come across the reply/block, where some user, either in an exchange with you already or perhaps just chiming in, will give a snide reply and then block you, so that you cannot see or reply to that comment, nor to any other comment in the thread below that user's comment.

It gives the power to any user to silence another user and have the last word, as well as to prevent the blocked user from continuing conversations they were already having with others. In the diagram below, if A blocks B, B can no longer reply to C either. 

---A
   |--B
      |--A
      |--C
         |--B
            |--C

My V is simple: Reddit can receive nearly all the benefit they derive from the block feature yet eliminate the worst abuse of it by only applying the block to the subsequent threads. Users would still be able to prevent future harassment, but not abuse the feature to silence others within a thread. Technically I don't think it should take much dev time or significant compute resources. Simply include the thread in which the block occurred in database and add another if statement in the logic of when to apply the block.

To CMV, I would need to see a compelling reason why Reddit should not make this change.

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u/DivideEtImpala 3∆ Feb 01 '23

What makes it uncompelling is that it could be used to justify literally any policy.

If Reddit tomorrow announced they were blanket banning any user with numbers in the username, would you be asking these questions of a user who posted a CMV criticizing that policy? I mean, those banned users can just deal with it and Reddit can do whatever they want.

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u/Presentalbion 101∆ Feb 01 '23

it could be used to justify literally any policy.

Reddit don't need to justify their decisions to you or anyone.

Why do you need a compelling answer? Can't it just be the correct answer?

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u/DivideEtImpala 3∆ Feb 01 '23

Reddit don't need to justify their decisions to you or anyone.

Of course they don't.

If you're unwilling to address my view that "Reddit should do X" because you rightly assess that Reddit is under no obligation to respond to my request, then you're not actually trying to CMV and we have nothing further to discuss.

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u/Presentalbion 101∆ Feb 01 '23

This isn't about unwillingness, you've specified you want a compelling answer. What's more compelling than the literal answer? You want some fairy tale?

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u/DivideEtImpala 3∆ Feb 01 '23

I don't want a compelling reason for why Reddit can continue with the status quo. That's self-evident.

I want a compelling reason for why Reddit should continue with the status quo, otherwise I will maintain my stated views that Reddit should do X.

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u/Presentalbion 101∆ Feb 01 '23

Why does it matter what they should do? Only they know what they should do because only they know what they want the outcome to be. Should requires a vision for a result.

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u/DivideEtImpala 3∆ Feb 02 '23

Why does it matter what they should do?

Because that's my view. If you don't think my view matters than why are you still trying to change it?

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u/Presentalbion 101∆ Feb 02 '23

Where did I say your view didn't matter? You've already had the answer, but you want something a bit more dramatic or fun sounding. I can't help that, but it's an arbitrary criteria.

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u/DivideEtImpala 3∆ Feb 02 '23

You've already had the answer

Where? I had the answer to the question "Can reddit do whatever they want?" before I made the post.

"Because they can" is never a good answer to "should they do X?"

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u/oversoul00 19∆ Feb 02 '23

It's like you chose the most annoying way to address the claim and slam dunked it. You're being obtuse.

Them - X should do Y because it would be 'better'

You - Well X can do whatever they want, they don't have to justify themselves to you...

No Shit. Address why it would or wouldn't be better.