The "Dude" Factor: Why I Finally Hit the Block Button. Have you ever blocked someone on Linked In?

Have you ever blocked someone on LinkedIn?

I have invested 40+ years in media. Sometimes I post to help others navigate this industry. Other times, I post to get a recurring thought out of my head. Both are valid.

I also post because LinkedIn is the great equalizer. A small company like mine gets the same space and opportunity as the giants. That matters.

My posts are opinions. They’re intended to be constructive, sometimes provocative, and occasionally uncomfortable. I don’t mind disagreement. In fact, thoughtful dissent makes us better.

I once had a mentor who told me: “The farther you stick your chin out, the more likely it is to get popped.”Fair enough. I’ve eaten a knuckle sandwich or two.

Over time, I’ve set a few personal rules for posting:

Say what’s on your mind. Don’t play it safe. You can’t please everyone.

When in doubt, don’t post. If I’m second-guessing the why, it gets scrapped.

The one-and-done rule: If a comment is negative, I respond once to clarify. Never twice. I leave it up for the sake of conversation.

Last week, I broke my own pattern.

One comment opened with, “Hey dude.”I replied politely and quickly: tone matters, and professionalism still counts here.

The response came back with, “I would argue that…”

I didn’t read another word.

Between the casual “dude” and the immediate argumentative pivot, I realized something important: I didn’t owe this interaction any more of my time or energy.

So I did something I’ve never done before. I blocked him.

And honestly? It felt… right.

Boundaries aren’t censorship. They’re clarity.