What are Flags and how do they work?

Community
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Flagging is powerful moderation tool for you - users. If you want to raise an issue about a post without derailing the topic at hand, the best course of action is usually to flag it.

This feature is intended to dissuade bad behavior and spam, as well as to promote civilized discussion on Overgrow. After flagging post, system will notify Moderators and if needed will take an action automatically (e.g. post will be hidden - see details below).

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By default, clicking the flag button (below each post) will present a user with the following options:

  • Message @Sam
    I want to talk to this person directly and privately about their post.

  • It’s Off-Topic
    This post is not relevant to the current discussion as defined by the title and first post, and should probably be moved elsewhere.

  • It’s Inappropriate
    This post contains content that a reasonable person would consider offensive, abusive, or a violation of our community guidelines.

  • It’s Spam
    This post is an advertisement. It is not useful or relevant to the current topic, but promotional in nature.

  • Something Else
    This post requires moderator attention for another reason not listed above.

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Marking a post as Off-Topic, Inappropriate or Spam will trigger a moderator notification so moderators may review the issue in their flag queue.

Furthermore, this also “casts a flag” on the post, which has other consequences:

  • A user whose posts have accumulated 5 “agreed” flags can not reach Trust Level (TL) 3. (with unique posts and unique users for each flag, confirmed by a moderator)
  • A post with 3 flags will be automatically hidden.
  • A staff member can use the “Take Action” button, which will cause this to happen immediately.
  • When a post is automatically hidden due to flags, the user receives a PM informing them their post was flagged. After 10 minutes, the user may edit their post and it will be unhidden.
    If another 3 flags occur, the post will be hidden again and editing will not unhide the post.
  • A new (TL0) user whose post is flagged as spam 3 times from 3 different users will have all their posts hidden as a result.
  • If after 48 hours a flag is still in the flag queue without any action taken, an automatic mail will go out to contact_email.
  • A topic with 12 unresolved flags from at least 5 different users will be automatically closed until the moderators can intervene.
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Ok folks,the reason the system did react last night was the flag were marked custom. The system is working and ready to defend the site.

I hope all is well with our community.

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