Have you ever blocked or ignored someone you didn’t want to talk to anymore? Most of us know how it feels to shut someone out when we’re angry or upset with them.
But which is the less hurtful option – blocking or ignoring them? Both come with some painful consequences. The results can be pretty different for you and the other person.
There’s often no easy fix, but going through this article will help you understand the impacts, and you can make the best decision on your hands. So, if you find yourself in this situation, think through which option will minimize hurt feelings the most.
The Emotional Impact of Blocking VS. Ignoring
Blocking can feel harsh, but provides closure
Blocking someone on a social media platform or their phone number can feel very harsh and final. You are slamming the door on any further communication in a definite, one-way manner. The blocked person can no longer see any of your posts or texts.
However, while blocking may seem rude or overly justified initially, it provides some closure in the long run.
The blocked person at least knows where they stand and that you don’t wish to hear from them anymore. They can stop trying to get in touch or see what’s happening in your life.
Ignoring leaves the door open and uncertainty, which can hurt more
Ignoring someone rather than outright blocking them leaves more uncertainty on the table. You essentially “ghost” them by not replying to messages or texts without explanation or excuse.
Since you don’t block them, the ignored person can still see your social media posts and know you’re active.
This indifference and lack of response can hurt much worse over time, even though you technically haven’t prevented contact. The ignored person is left wondering why you suddenly don’t care to reply anymore.
Feeling rejected versus feeling neglected
Regarding emotional impacts, blocking tends to make people feel more rejected and ignored, often causing feelings of neglect.
Both can do damage, but being rejected can feel like a more definite statement that you no longer matter to that person.
On the other hand, being ignored can make you feel unimportant or like an afterthought. There is no justification given for why the person doesn’t respond anymore.
The uncertainty leaves you wishing you knew why someone ignores you versus blocks you outright.
Ultimately, to a certain degree, being blocked seems to be more hurtful than being ignored. However, what hurts more to one depends significantly on the existing relationship and history, too.
But in many cases, the feeling of being neglected that comes with being ignored is tougher to heal emotionally. The door is still open, but that person doesn’t care to walk through it.
Consequences of Blocking
They lose access to your updates and info
When you block somebody on a platform like Facebook, one significant consequence is that they can no longer see your updates, posts, or other info. The blocked person is excluded from what’s going on in your life and loses that regular access.
Feelings of rejection
Beyond losing access to your news, blocking someone sends a clear message of rejection. Since you decided to cut off contact, the blocked person might reasonably feel hurt or like they weren’t your priority. This pill can be tough to swallow.
Loss of regular communication can damage relationships
If you block a friend, family member, or other important contact, severing that normal communication can damage your relationship. Without interacting, you lose your connection and the ability to reconcile or resolve conflicts.
May not understand why they were blocked
In some cases, people block others for petty or unjustified reasons. If the blocked person doesn’t know or understand the implications behind your decision, it can confuse and frustrate them. The uncertainty makes the rejection even harder to cope with.
Consequences of Ignoring
They feel neglected and unimportant
When you ignore someone rather than directly ending the relationship, it can make them feel neglected. Your lack of response indicates that they no longer matter or aren’t a priority to you. This feeling of exclusion is hurtful.
Can hurt intimacy and trust in relationships
Ignoring a partner or close friend damages the intimacy and trust in that relationship. By shutting them out without explanation, you communicate that you don’t want to engage anymore. This one-way reaction often hurts worse than setting mature boundaries.
May become resentful from lack of attention
People who are consistently ignored may start to feel resentful at the lack of attention and care. Even if the relationship has become toxic, repeatedly begging for communication and getting nothing can negatively impact them.
Starts to withdraw from the relationship
When one person in a relationship ignores the other, it frequently leads to withdrawal. The ignored party stops putting in as much effort since it’s not reciprocated. This might determine whether someone ultimately ends things.
Final Thoughts
The truth is that human beings are complicated, and relationships can be messy. Ignoring or blocking someone is often the easiest route when communication breaks down in real life or online. However, both options inherently carry emotional consequences.
Blocking, to a certain level, would create more hurt and feel overwhelming initially, but it provides definitive closure in many cases.
On the other hand, ignoring someone leaves open uncertainty about where you stand, which can finally cause more drawn-out hurt. Rejection stings at the moment, but neglect eats away slowly over time.
There’s rarely an ideal choice when you don’t wish to engage with someone anymore. However, avoiding immature, one-sided reactions often leads to less damage. Thinking through all sides of why communication shut down can lead to wiser decisions.
