There are four buttons we have access to on user comments. Reply to post, delete comment, block reader from story, and finally, block reader from author.
The first two are self-explanatory. My question is, do the last two only block the reader from posting comments about either the story, or the author, or do they actually block the reader from actually READING the story or anything by the author?
They block the reader from commenting, not from reading.
So the last 'choice' is isn't actually a functioning option then, because if it only blocks the reader from commentating, not reading, then it doesn't 'block reader from author'? Which, I took to mean, literary, to block all the authors work from that Storiesonline account, so they can neither read nor comment..
As I understand, it will block the reader to comment on other, including future works of the same author (or likely, a pseudonym). So it have, however situational, but discernible function. One could argue, it probably must also block them from voting on the author's works.
Totally blocking access is unenforceable, even if it certainly can be done to the account in question, there always anonymous access.
The third option may not function as you expect either, because I wouldn't expect it to stop the reader from reading or downloading the story, just from commenting on it.
IMO it's a sensible way to go, protecting the author from comments they find offensive while allowing readers to continue reading the stories of oversensitive authors.
AJ
IMO it's a sensible way to go, protecting the author from comments they find offensive while allowing readers to continue reading the stories of oversensitive authors.
Don't get me wrong, I wasn't having a go at the system, it just piqued my curiosity that two of the choices seemed similar, and that the answer Lazeez provided seemed to make the later two choices rather disingenuous.
To clarify, choice 3 states "Block reader from story" and four "Block reader from Author" and I can see now why StarFleet Carl raised the question. The implication by the wording is that the third option blocks the (offending) reader from the story and the fourth blocks the (offending) reader from the writer. That all seems simple enough, (if you ignore the creation of multiple accounts via proxies. Personally, I think if someone goes to all the effort of creating another e-mail address to register another account, just to send you a message saying "You're shit" then that person has issues that need addressing, but that's by-the-by)
Lazeez's official response of
They block the reader from commenting, not from reading.
Implies that it's only the ability to comment that is removed from the angry individual NOT the ability to read the authors work, so the wording should actually be; "Block the reader from commenting on the story" and "Block the reader from sending you comments" Possibly that could be seen by many as being a RichardS level of pedant-ism.
Interestingly, since we are on the subject, it made me curious as to how many individuals I have blocked on this site. I thought the answer was 'none'. Turns out that I was wrong, it's actually one (Mat Twassel), and I was curious to see how many categories I have also 'blocked'. Turns out that seems to be 'none'. However my blocked, sorry, excluded story list is 1183, yet if none of the categories are selected, does that mean that those 1183 stories are all blocked because they are written by Mark Twassel? If so, that probably explains why I blocked that individual in the first place...
"Block the reader from sending you comments"
Should that be "Block the reader from commenting on any of your stories"?
AJ
Should that be "Block the reader from commenting on any of your stories"?
No, because you can send writers PM's separate from stories, so you (Lazeez) would need an option for the writers to stop that happening, should the writer desire.
By the way (as someone who managed to do completely the wrong thing), you cannot block yourself from commenting on your own story. Thank goodness! (I was trying to delete a comment of mine to reposted it with edits, since there's no edit button, but alas, that other button was too tempting and I was too distracted - hence the typos I was editing).
It did raise the question: should I foolishly block someone and wish to unblock them, is that in my power or an ask-for-help thing?
I've never blocked anyone yet (except myself) and hope to not start. Please, everyone, don't go off and write something just to make me block you! :)
It did raise the question: should I foolishly block someone and wish to unblock them, is that in my power or an ask-for-help thing?
For now it's ask for help. I haven't implemented a 'Manage User Blocking' to show you who you blocked and the ability to cancel that block.
I fully understand why those labels aren't used, every bit of guidance I've encountered says to keep labels simple. Even four or five words is often stretching that. I would, however, say there should be a full description somewhere (and for all I know, there is, I haven't checked).