A little while ago, I got blocked on BlueSky by someone I’d never even interacted with. I had just heard them on a gaming podcast, thought they had interesting things to say, and went to follow them. But when I was about to hit that follow button I couldn’t. I had been blocked!
It honestly caught me off guard.
I wasn’t mad, just confused. I hadn’t replied to them, never tagged them, never even liked one of their posts. So why block me?
That little moment led me down a rabbit hole — and it revealed a growing issue in online spaces around AI, and how people who talk about it are being labeled and shut out, sometimes unfairly.
I Use AI… That’s Pretty Much It
Let me get this out of the way first: I’m not a content creator. I just write a small blog — a personal project where I explore things I care about, like education, tech, and video games. Sometimes I use AI tools like ChatGPT to help me organize my thoughts or fix grammar, because I can be a bit scatterbrained. AI helps me focus. That’s it.
But apparently, just talking about using AI in a positive light can be enough to get you on someone’s bad side.
The Weird World of Blocklists
I later learned that I hadn’t just been blocked randomly. I had likely been added to a user-created blocklist — the kind where someone curates a list of accounts they personally believe are harmful, annoying, or not worth following. These lists aren’t automated. Someone has to decide: “These people are the problem.”
Then others — sometimes well-meaning folks trying to protect their online experience — subscribe to that list and block everyone on it, without really checking who’s on it or why.
That’s how people like me — a teacher with a personal blog who uses ChatGPT to clean up his paragraphs — end up on the same list as scammers or spam accounts. It’s frustrating. It feels unfair. And it made me question how we’re handling the AI conversation online.
The Problem with Painting People as “AI Fanboys”
Somehow, I got labeled an “AI fanboy.” Which is funny, because I’m not out here pushing AI as a replacement for artists, game developers, or writers. I’ve said it multiple times — AI can’t replace creativity, purpose, or lived experience. It’s a tool, not an artist.
But even saying “AI is helpful for brainstorming” is enough for some people to decide I’m not worth following.
The frustrating part is that this kind of thinking discourages honest conversation. We need to talk about AI — the good, the bad, the dangerous, and the exciting. But when people start tossing anyone who uses it onto a blocklist, it just pushes folks into silence.
I Get It — But We Need to Be Careful
Look, I understand where the fear comes from. There are companies out there misusing AI to cut jobs, flood the web with low-effort content, or replace paid artists with AI-generated graphics. That’s a serious problem.
“Duolingo 'AI-first': Company is replacing contract workers with AI”
But not everyone using AI is part of that. Sometimes, we’re just trying to express ourselves a little more clearly or manage a personal project more efficiently.
For example, I’ve used Canva to make my blog header. If I ever turned my blog into something serious, I’d want to hire a real artist. I even know who I’d ask — friends and family who are actual digital artists. That’s the balance. Use tools when they make sense. Hire humans when it matters.
A Moment of Self-Reflection
After seeing all the backlash toward AI, I’ll admit — I had to reflect on my own habits. And yes, there were times when I used AI-generated images just because it was fun or easy. I even had an anime-style avatar based on a photo of myself. It looked funny and quirky, and I liked it. It wasn’t for profit or anything serious — just something I enjoyed.
But over time, I came to understand that these AI art tools are often trained on the work of real artists — artists who weren’t asked for permission, and who aren’t getting compensated. That’s the part that changed how I felt.
So I made a decision. I stopped using AI-generated images altogether.
If you look at my profile now, you’ll see my Nintendo Mii character. It’s not AI-generated — just a Mii that kind of looks like me and fits the vibe. A lot of people use character icons as avatars, and this one felt right. It was a small change, but an intentional one. I want to use AI as a tool, yes — but I also want to use it ethically.
The Bigger Issue with Blocklists
The real issue here isn’t just being blocked — it’s how easily people can get blocked by association. When you blindly follow someone else’s curated list of “bad actors,” you’re not protecting your space — you’re outsourcing your judgment.
And sometimes, that means blocking a regular person who’s just writing about their life, their thoughts, or a tool that helped them be a little more productive this week.
We need better ways to moderate online spaces — ones that involve context, conversation, and actual evaluation.
Final Thought
I’ll keep writing my little blog. I’ll keep using AI to help shape my thoughts and fix my grammar. I’ll also keep being honest about how I use it — and just as honest when I change my mind about how I should be using it.
We all have room to grow. We all make adjustments. And if that gets me blocked again, so be it.
I’d rather be blocked for being honest than followed for being quiet.
-Prof. Rock
I appreciate your attempts at discussing AI with nuance. But as for the practice of blocking, I would encourage you to reframe your thinking a bit.
When I create content, when I write something on my blogor post on social media or whatever, nobody is obligated to view it -- and I am not entitled to their attention. Any 'view' I get (or even better, 'engagement'!) is a blessing, a gift, a sort of bonus.
You talk about moderation, but one critical component of effective moderation is easy, frictionless blocking. Blocks should flow like water. It might sting at first, sure, but ultimately blocks are/should be meaningless.
Often when someone tries to explain in-depth as to why they shouldn't have been blocked... I clock that as a red flag, like they're explaining the very reason they *should* be blocked, y'know? Not saying that's the case here, but it's a slippery-slope territory people can fall into.
I understand your larger point was the unfairness of a block list hitting you when perhaps it wasn't deserved, but. Anyway.
Okay thanks have fun out there.
Thanks for sharing this.
I feel as though Bluesky has gone to censorship extremes that, from experience, blocks important conversations or dissenting views, which defeats the whole point of an open platform.
The trouble is is that once you're on such a list the stigma follows you around. Truthfully I think it's open to all sorts of abuse.
I'm 100% for blocking problematic people who want to cause trouble. But blocking people merely mentioning AI? Yikes.