# "Publicly indicating a Post Report" **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 31, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790 "2017-05-31T19:12:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/1 "2017-05-31T19:12:53Z")
This statement from Bone really surprised me: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20241730&postcount=13](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20241730&postcount=13) > [@surnames and boys names on girls?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surnames-and-boys-names-on-girls/787711/13): > > Moved from Great Debates to IMHO. > > Thanks for the report. Generally, unless it’s spam we prefer to not publicly indicate a post report. > > [/moderating] I’d always assumed this was a simple courtesy to prevent the Mods from having to read 73 notes about the same correction/suggestion/transgression. The main reason I’d do it silently is if I thought I might be over-reacting, or if it might “feed a troll.” Otherwise, I’d think it would save you all a lot of trouble. Is this really the preferred MO? ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/2 "2017-05-31T19:21:32Z")
I haven’t seen a mod add a comment like that before, but I’d be happy with that guidance. The “reported for forum change” post lives on even after the thread is moved, which distracts from it and can be confusing to people who don’t know it was originally in a different forum. And it can come off as a little rude to a newbie, especially when the post consists of just “reported” and nothing addressing their actual question. Neither of these points apply to spam, which is why it’s fine there. IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/3 "2017-05-31T20:04:37Z")
Since most spam is so obvious, multiple reports aren’t needed, so no sense in burdening other posters and indicating something has been reported accomplishes that. And since there is little doubt as to spam, publicly indicating a post has been reported is welcome. In other cases that are not spam, depending on context, it could be seen as a form of junior modding. In this instance it’s really not even close to an issue, so no big deal at all. In general, private reports are preferable because of the aforementioned potential of junior modding, and also to avoid the potential disagreement with the report. There is also the potential back and forth between posters saying they are reporting each other’s posts. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/4 "2017-05-31T20:22:54Z")
Reports fall into (at least) three categories, I’d think: -Spam. It makes sense to say whether it’s been reported. -Misbehavior by regular members. Saying it’s reported is obnoxious. -Forum changes. I could see saying, “This might do better in Cafe Society–I’ve sent a note upstairs to the mods,” as a heads-up. Were it my thread, I’d appreciate a note like that so I could either understand where to put my threads better, or I could explain why I’d put it where I put it (“I’m much more interested in talking about the political context in which Hemingway wrote than in talking about the novel’s aesthetic merits” or whatever). Just saying, “Reported for forum change,” is a bit on the brusque side, I’d think ---
**Author:** ![Kzbre5m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kzbre5m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kzbre5m)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/5 "2017-06-02T17:18:43Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] “This might do better in Cafe Society–I’ve sent a note upstairs to the mods,” [/QUOTE] I thought the mods lived downstairs, in the dungeon? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/6 "2017-06-02T19:59:02Z")
> [@Kzbre5m](#): > > I thought the mods lived downstairs, in the dungeon? :dubious: Some do. But you know how you’re lying in bed, and it’s 3 am, and something skitters across the ceiling, or maybe it’s in the attic, and then you hear a hollow giggling sound that dissolves into rough sobs? I think that’s **Miller**. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2017, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/7 "2017-06-04T03:21:49Z")
> [@Kzbre5m](#): > > I thought the mods lived downstairs, in the dungeon? :dubious: It is not a dungeon. It is a Mod cave and the damp walls and the leaky ceiling just help us to stay awake at night. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2017, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/8 "2017-06-04T03:33:32Z")
Mostly out of fear, though. Mostly. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/9 "2017-06-04T16:01:11Z")
Oh, come on. Y’all are telling us that you don’t have that ModCave all pimped out by now? 80" UHD TV inset in the wall, with Theater seating? Taps that pour top-rated brews (including a couple nice ciders)? A pong game in one corner, for when nostalgia takes over and you want that old-time feeling of getting to 21 before the other person (I TOTALLY see **TubaDiva** doing this!)? Yeah, we know the truth. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/10 "2017-06-04T18:49:56Z")
No, that’s the hologram we show prospective mods as an enticement. Once they’ve signed the blood pact we show them the real thing. At that point it’s too late for them to change their minds. They’re committed, body, mind and soul. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/11 "2017-06-05T01:59:05Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > No, that’s the hologram we show prospective mods as an enticement. > > Once they’ve signed the blood pact we show them the real thing. At that point it’s too late for them to change their minds. They’re committed, body, mind and soul. You have the mods committed? Maybe I’m glad my application wasn’t accepted… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/12 "2017-06-05T02:05:35Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > You have the mods committed? Maybe I’m glad my application wasn’t accepted… 😛 Do _not_ answer that 2am knock on the door. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/13 "2017-06-08T17:38:14Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > They’re committed, body, mind and soul. I’ve always assumed mods are soulless, but I guess it’s more accurate to say their souls are in escrow. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/14 "2017-07-15T14:06:42Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > In other cases that are not spam, depending on context, it could be seen as a form of junior modding. Does this guideline (about junior modding) apply in the IMHO forum? [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20346466&postcount=26](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20346466&postcount=26) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/15 "2017-07-15T14:22:19Z")
Is this the case in all the forums? I’ve done this quite a few times in GQ and have never gotten feedback not to do it. I usually try do it in a somewhat humorous way so it’s obvious there is no jr mod’ing involved, but GQ probably is the forum with the most threads started that belong elsewhere. (It may have had some competition for a few months with the Elections forum what with Trump and all, but that seems to have died down.) ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/16 "2017-07-15T14:35:30Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Does this guideline (about junior modding) apply in the IMHO forum? > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20346466&postcount=26](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20346466&postcount=26) Yes, I saw that. It’s generally not something we like, but since I woke up to around 12 reports for that post, I appreciated it. In this case the reported post was so egregious it was actually helpful. Context really does matter. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/17 "2017-07-15T14:57:17Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Yes, I saw that. It’s generally not something we like, but since I woke up to around 12 reports for that post, I appreciated it. In this case the reported post was so egregious it was actually helpful. > > Context really does matter. There were other posts like that, and one that crossed the line to being an insult itself. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/18 "2017-07-15T20:19:03Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Yes, I saw that. It’s generally not something we like, but since I woke up to around 12 reports for that post, I appreciated it. In this case the reported post was so egregious it was actually helpful. > > Context really does matter. It occurred to me after the edit window that I might have gone too far, although I’m glad it was helpful in this case. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/19 "2017-07-15T22:44:13Z")
We got rid of the ping-pong table after **JillGat** left, since games just weren’t the same without her unique playstyle. Back to the OP, another point: Sometimes I get a report that says “This is really offensive”, or whatever, but when I look at the post in question, I just don’t see it. On the other hand, sometimes I get four or five reports saying “This is really offensive”, and if I still just don’t see it myself, I know that that’s just me, and there really is something offensive there. So multiple reports for the same post can actually be useful, and so there’s no need to let others know they don’t need to report it. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-indicating-a-post-report/787790/20 "2017-07-15T23:37:09Z")
That’s how I saw it. I didn’t see a need to indicate I reported the post in question. It was so obviously offensive, I knew other people would report it, too. I also didn’t want to draw any more attention to the member than he deserved, except for bringing it to the mods’ attention via the report function.