Today's #ResearchTip is if you see someone complaining they're blocked by an academic, don't reply to the academic telling them this was unfair while tagging the blocked person in. If you're unsure why, find out in the next tweet....

It may be the person's been blocked for a very good reason. They may have form for ongoing stalking/harassing of an academic. You intervening reminds the academic that their stalker is still on their case and brings them back into their orbit. Win for the stalker,not their victim

It might be the person hasn't been blocked for stalking, but for whatever reason the academic doesn't want to hear from them. Their choice. Their boundaries. You might think it's unfair but you may not know the backstory. Best to ask privately rather than challenge publicly.

If Twitter blockchain or similar is used then it's possible a person who follows an abuser is also blocked and that means when they want to see what an academics doing they can't. Not their fault, but also not for you to sort out.

I've said 'academics' here, but this applies to anyone online. It can include students or staff caught up in disagreements or discussions. If you feel someone's been unfairly treated and you know both them and the blocker well you might encourage a dialogue, but with caution.

Generally it's best to stay out of it. There may be really good reasons why someone is blocked, you won't know them, they may not want to admit them (to themselves or you) and encouraging any kind of contact is a green light for those who are stalking.

If you find yourself blocked it is worth sitting with that and noting even if you meant no harm perhaps they found your comments or persistent replies annoying, alarming or boring. Maybe you brought other abusers onto their timeline.

If you've never interacted with someone and find yourself blocked it's most likely you follow someone abusive and are caught up in a block chain. Making a massive drama about how someone *you don't even know* has blocked you is unlikely to endear you to them.

You could always email them if you've either been unpleasant and want to say sorry, or you've never interacted and fear you're in a blockchain (in which case be sympathetic, not accusatory). But if you know deep down you were a dick, leave it all be.

Marginalised folk on Twitter will be facing all kinds of stuff you may not see or experience yourself. Or you might experience but not find as distressing. Pushing people to remove the boundaries they have decided to set is a bad move. Don't do it.

It is not a badge of honour to not block. Pushing people to 'go outside their bubble' or 'comfort zone' is often a byword for 'accept abusive trolls, racism, death threats and unsolicited dick pics'. Don't encourage others to put themselves in danger so you look cool.

TL;DR let other people choose who they want to mute or block. If someone's been blocked let them sort it out. Never snitch tag or bring a blocked person back into their blockees timeline. You won't know the details. Boundaries are a good thing - let others fix and maintain theirs

btw if you want to know more about making social media work for you I'd recommend Mark Carrigan's Social Media for Academics - lots of good advice there https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/social-media-for-academics/book261904