How to See If You Are Blocked on Gmail With Pidgin

Blocking users on Google Chat helps to prevent harassment and protect privacy.

When a Gmail user blocks someone from his Google Chat program, the user simply appears as offline -- there isn't any sort of message or alert to inform the blocked user that he has been blocked. If you have a Gmail contact who has suddenly fallen off the radar, you may be wondering if you somehow got on his bad side or if he's just busy. The universal chat client Pidgin provides a clever workaround to find out whether or not you have been blocked.

Instructions

1. Launch Pidgin. Click the "Add" button.

2. Select "XMPP" from the "Protocol" drop-down menu. Type your Google username into the "Screen name" field. Do not include "@gmail.com" or "@googlemail.com." Type "gmail.com" into the "Domain" field. Enter your password. Click "Save." Your Pidgin buddy list is displayed on the screen.

3. Right-click on your contact's offline username. Select "Get Info" to open the Buddy Information window. If the user is merely offline and has not blocked you, the Buddy Information window displays the user's name and any other profile information she has made public. If the Buddy Information window is blank, the user has blocked you.

References

• Hongkiat: How To Know Who Blocked You in Google Talk
• Pidgin: FAQ - How Do I Use Google Talk