Does the Call Option Still Exist on Skype If Someone Blocked You?
Skype's various quirks can be confusing until you're familiar with them. For example, an invisible user appears offline. If you know how to check, however, you can find out in just a few seconds whether he is truly offline or simply hiding. Skype is surprisingly transparent in this case, doing little to actually protect the user's desired secrecy level. The same is not true, however, when a Skype contact blocks you.
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When You Are Blocked
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Being blocked on Skype is not a dramatic occurrence. The program does not give you any indication that your contact has blocked you. Instead, it simply appears that your contact has gone offline. Skype does not reveal whether you have been blocked or whether you contact has truly signed off. You may need to use context or other information to figure this out. For example, you could ask a mutual friend if the person you suspect has blocked you is online. If so, you can be confident that your friend has indeed blocked you on Skype.
Consequences of Skype's Treatment of Blocking
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Because Skype is so careful not to let you know that you have been blocked, its features remain the same. You can still send chat messages to the friend who blocked you. These messages are accompanied by a small black rotating circle to the far right of the message, indicating that it was not delivered. Similarly, Skype protects its users' privacy in blocking by maintaining the "Call" button. You can still attempt to place a call to someone who has blocked you. Again, Skype does not give you any indication that you have been blocked. Instead, the call is treated the same way as it would be if your contact were simply offline. Your contact receives no notification of the messages or attempted call.
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Other Buttons
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In addition to the "Call" button remaining in place, you still have access to the "Video Call," "Add People" and "Check Settings" buttons across the top of the screen. You can also still use the "Send File" button near the bottom of the screen. Despite the existence of all of these buttons, you cannot actually communicate with your contact in any way through Skype. Any attempts you make to communicate using any of these buttons never show up for the contact who has blocked you.
Blocking a Contact
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This ambiguity on Skype's part can be quite frustrating if you suspect you have been blocked. On the other hand, if you wish to tactfully avoid speaking to someone, blocking him can be a simple solution. Because Skype does not inform him that you have blocked him, he may not ever notice. You can unblock him at any time and he will simply see you coming online as if you had been signed off. When you block someone, you have the option of removing him from your contact list. If you do not choose to do so, he appears in the offline section of this list with a red border around his icon.
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