How to Tell If You Are on "Ignore" in Yahoo! Messenger

The "Ignore" feature in Yahoo! Messenger stops unwanted instant messages sent by a familiar or unfamiliar Yahoo! Messenger user from reaching another user. In addition, it places the undesired user on an Ignore List and blocks him from seeing the other user's chat status. Although Yahoo! for security reasons doesn't show you when someone ignores you, you can still usually tell quickly if you are on another user's Yahoo! Messenger Ignore List.

Instructions

1. Check if the person is shown as offline in Yahoo! Messenger when you know she is online in her Yahoo! account. If she is shown as offline, you're most likely on her Ignore List. If you see the person on your list as online, then you're not on the Ignore List because blocked Yahoo! Messenger users only see the people that blocked them as offline.

2. Try to send a person you believe may have ignored you an instant message and make it sound as if you're testing your messenger service, even if you've received other messages. For example, in the body of the message, say something like "I think my messenger isn't working. Please send me a reply in the next day or two so I can confirm." If you don't hear back from the person, it is likely he's ignored you.

3. Contact the person by other means -- email, phone, Web chat or in-person -- if those methods are available to you and he is someone you previously spoke to via these tools. Ask point blank whether you've been placed on the Ignore List.

Tips & Warnings

• Yahoo! has a SPIM -- spam for instant messenger -- reporting feature. If the person you're trying to contact isn't someone you previously communicated with or received an invitation from to chat, do not contact the person by other means. You could lose your messenger privileges if Yahoo! perceives your request to chat as a form of spam. In addition, the other person may interpret repeated attempts at contact as harassment. This could result in legal complications if the user contacts law enforcement for assistance.

References

• Yahoo! Messenger: Stealth & Privacy Settings
• Yahoo! Help; How to Ignore a Contact in Yahoo! Messenger; June 2011
• Yahoo! Help; How to Remove Someone From the Ignore List; March 2011
• Yahoo! Help; Receiving SPIM (Spam for Instant Messenger); March 2011
• Yahoo! Help; What to Do If You Are Being Threatened Through Yahoo! Messenger; May 2011