I’m getting pretty annoyed at the constant derailing of threads discussing the fact that things have been flagged in a thread, and then people trying to work out what’s happening.
Flagging of content is ruining the community for all, and while it is something that is well founded in a lot of cases, where personal attacks happen, the fact that posts are being hidden is hindering the enjoyment or flow of the discussion.
Posts being hidden when flagged leads to further derailment of conversations whereby people then speculate, or try to identify who may or may not have done it, or what was said etc.
Therefore, I think it’s time something was done about it @AlanDoe and if you’re up for it, I think it should be up for the community to openly discuss what is felt should be done to try to return the community back to the place it was previously before flagging ruined everything as it has done for a while.
My suggestion(s):
Stop hiding posts that are flagged from others, let people move on & gloss over posts that are flagged if they want.
If possible, make it so that threads with too many flags are automatically put in slow-mode.
As already, too many flags should lock a thread.
Alter the weighting of flags from number of people to ensure that the fun can’t be spoilt by one or two people on the forum going flagging people for things they disagree with (a screenshot in a thread discussing Film/TV, of a scene in the film which showed a bare butt? Come on.).
Update the code of conduct to ensure it’s clear what constitutes as off-topic (or similar) for the various flag reasons.
Hold people accountable if they flag too many things inappropriately or are targeting specific user - removing their ability to flag, or reducing their level.
Ultimately, there are people out there targeting specific people, or whatever as some sort of attacks, and it’s ruining this place and the general flow of conversation.
So, community… What do you think can be done better to tackle the flagging? Suggestions?
[Also, general discussion about flagging so we don’t derail more topics]
Warn then ban whoever it is that is abusing the system. Alan can see who flagged what. If it wasn’t needed, speak to that person.
Go back 6 months and we didn’t have this issue. People would get flagged, sometimes a little over zealously, sometimes deserved. But it wasn’t most threads where someone dared to mention something that didn’t relate to the thread title.
I’m pretty sure the reason it is the way it is now is because those would often result in a string of why was this flagged posts?
It wasn’t until recently, when the quantity of flagged posts started getting out of hand that these meta why was that flagged discussions came about derailing discussions.
No thank you. These would take us back to a time to when flags were abused to censor certain topics. But maybe this is the outcome those abusing it want?
I think either one of two things need to happen:
we ditch the trust levels. We don’t really need them anymore.
flag weighting is increased exponentially. It seems to only require one or two flags to take a post down. It ought to be more. If something is serious enough to warrant it, it’ll get the more it needs. 2 is two low. All it takes is one bad actor to get a sock puppet up to trust level 3 and they can wreak havoc. Maybe that’s what’s happening?
Increase the number of flags that are needed makes sense, set it to 1000 for level 0, 100 for level 1, 20 for Level 2 & 15 for Level 3 or something ridiculous.
This is an idea - I think we still need to keep low levels, to stop spamming etc.
I care. But you and me both. I’ve been taking more of a backseat this year in discourse. Not just because of the flagging problem, but it’s a big factor. Alan’s been great at tackling flag misuse in the past, I don’t understand why this latest stint is different.
When was the last time, other than the night we don’t talk about, that something was so bad that it would require many of us to flag it?
This is a mountain out of a molehill situation. Alan speaks to whomever is flagging for pointless reasons. “Stop it, or you will be banned” they stop or get banned. The end.
I also suspect it’s not just one person now, but the others are doing it and then “zOMG, the flagger is back”
This is the real issue here. If only level 3 can flag remove level 3 like level 4 was a few weeks ago. Make everyone level 2 apart from new people who are level 1 to start off.
What I personally think would actually stop people would be something like:
First time flagging posts (that don’t need to be flagged) - Alan warns you not to do it again, and a 1-week flag ban
Second time flagging posts (that don’t need to be flagged) - 1 week ban from community, and 1-month flag ban
Third time flagging posts (that don’t need to be flagged) - 1 month ban from community, and flagging rights removed FOREVER.
Edit: you would be able to appeal this to Alan as well, so you wouldn’t just be instantly banned from the community. ie - you have to justify your flag.
We’ve been here before. Several times. The forum was even shut down for a few days in 2021 when spamgate happened. One important quote from the older 2019 thread “A Quick Community Health Update” is:
The same is happening again. it’s cyclic behaviour: familiarity, entitlement, elitism, call it whatever - it’s a human psychological level issue. And it’s tiring and frustrating to watch a place which was abundant with financial tips, help & knowledge disappear down the toilet.
Maybe that’s the best route, as a trial!
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