# "Report" function for PMs - do mods get an unaltered copy? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 19, 2014, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881 "2014-08-19T06:58:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/1 "2014-08-19T06:58:35Z")
From the moderator side - what happens if you use the “report” function on a PM at the SDMB? It came up in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731257) but, strictly speaking, that’s not what the OP asked, and his question has been pretty well answered. However, the mod team has so far been reticent on the question of whether they receive the text of a PM if someone reports it. It seems a bit rude to keep asking the question in that thread, so instead I’m asking here. FWIW, like a couple of posters in the referenced thread, I too moderate a vBulletin message board, and when one of our members reports a PM, a thread is automatically started in the moderator channel, with the full unaltered/unalterable text of the PM and the reporter’s comments. Other than that, we cannot see (and wouldn’t want to see) PMs. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/2 "2014-08-19T11:33:24Z")
As noted in the prior thread: we don’t seem to get any reports on PMs. I’ve never got one in the past. I assume they go to Jerry, as administrator, but not to mods in general. Therefore, I don’t know the answer to your question. For reports on posts, we get the url-link to the thread plus any comments you add to the report. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/3 "2014-08-19T11:41:11Z")
So how do you get informed about spam PMs? Do some people actually email you? ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/4 "2014-08-19T12:34:52Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > As noted in the prior thread: we don’t seem to get any reports on PMs. I’ve never got one in the past. I assume they go to Jerry, as administrator, but not to mods in general. Therefore, I don’t know the answer to your question. > > For reports on posts, we get the url-link to the thread plus any comments you add to the report. Dex–I wasn’t aware of the “Report PM” button until the other thread…it doesn’t seem like many people did. If you’d like, shoot me a quick PM and I’ll hit the “Report” button and post back here when it’s done. That might be a quick way to see if you can get them (and people simply aren’t using the button) or if they’re going somewhere other than the normal “Report Post” button sends them. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/5 "2014-08-19T14:02:48Z")
OK, test is underway. (I had reported one sent to me, and got nuthin’.) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/6 "2014-08-19T14:10:32Z")
In the event that these PM reports go to admin only, has someone told Mr. Davis why he has been getting test messages recently? ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/7 "2014-08-19T15:14:15Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > OK, test is underway. (I had reported one sent to me, and got nuthin’.) From my experience, you get nuthin’ (I don’t even see a button!) for my own PMs to myself. I just “reported” your PM about a minute ago, so depending on how long it takes, you should be getting it if you’re going to. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/8 "2014-08-19T15:19:20Z")
In the board where I’m an administrator’s case, the “Report this PM” button just dumps PMs into a sooper-sekrit mod-only forum where all reported posts (and, it turns out reported PMs) go. It also emails the forum’s mods. So for us, at least, it behaves exactly like a reported post. I don’t see any obvious options in the Admin Control Panel to set this up, so it might be default behavior…or not. I’m not experienced at all with setting up vB. I did check, and SDMB and the board I’m talking about are on the same version of vB. So it _should_ be possible to do it here (unless it was some sort of vB plugin/mod) ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/9 "2014-08-19T16:01:56Z")
The Report PM function came along in the latest upgrade. Chances are Jerry didn’t designate where they go and so they go nowhere; we didn’t expect any new functions and no provision was made. I’ll ask Jerry if he’ll look into it. ---
**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:** [August 19, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/10 "2014-08-19T16:21:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Fenris** : > > It also emails the forum’s mods. Which forum’s? The super-secret mod forum’s? Because PMs aren’t ordinarily part of any particular forum. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/11 "2014-08-19T16:36:39Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Which forum’s? The super-secret mod forum’s? Because PMs aren’t ordinarily part of any particular forum. We could tell you, but then we would have to kill you. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/12 "2014-08-19T17:13:54Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > The Report PM function came along in the latest upgrade. > > Chances are Jerry didn’t designate where they go and so they go nowhere; we didn’t expect any new functions and no provision was made. > > I’ll ask Jerry if he’ll look into it. So it’s like the “Close Door” button on some elevators? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/13 "2014-08-19T17:14:22Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Which forum’s? The super-secret mod forum’s? Because PMs aren’t ordinarily part of any particular forum. It might be a mod then. I’m used to getting Reported Post e-mails (for “my” forums) and having all reported posts (mine and everyone else’s) also go to a forum dedicated to Reported Posts in the “Mods Only” area. It’s really helpful–especially on a cell phone. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/14 "2014-08-19T17:33:47Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > We could tell you, but then we would have to kill you. I thought it was the other way ‘round, we can’t tell you until AFTER we kill you? Anyhow, **Fenris** , it’s been a coupla hours and I got nuttin’. I think the bottom line here is that if you want to REPORT a PM, do it via email. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/15 "2014-08-19T18:08:02Z")
Dex, I just reported your post above only to see if it’s me or if it’s the Report PM system (you might all have me on “Ignore Reported Post” or something 😛 ). Also, as an FYI for anyone who cares, checking in the vB options, there’s no obvious way I could find to mess with PM Reporting. There’s a whole section in the Admin Panel for Post Reporting\*, but nothing on PM Reporting that I can find. But my vB knowledge is limited to “What buttons can I push and will I break things?”, so… \*And that “Reported Posts Forum” feature seems to be a standard option, not a mod. ---
**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:** [August 19, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/16 "2014-08-19T18:08:05Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > It might be a mod then. > > I’m used to getting Reported Post e-mails (for “my” forums) and having all reported posts (mine and everyone else’s) also go to a forum dedicated to Reported Posts in the “Mods Only” area. It’s really helpful–especially on a cell phone. Same with the forum I mod. We have a forum hidden from other members with subforums: reported posts, infraction reports, moderator discussion (we do all our modly discussion in that forum rather than emailing each other), and a forum where bad posts [del]get wished into the cornfield[/del] go to die. And reported PMs get automatically filtered into the reported posts forum. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/17 "2014-08-19T18:24:51Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Dex, I just reported your post above only to see if it’s me or if it’s the Report PM system (you might all have me on “Ignore Reported Post” or something 😛 ). Yeah, but I haven’t got a copy of the report… I assume, neither has any other mad. (And, no, I don’t ever put anyone on IGNORE… ) ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/18 "2014-08-19T18:45:26Z")
That’s weird. I know my reported posts were getting through at least a week or two ago. Maybe you can’t report Mod posts? I don’t know, but I’ll test again by reporting Cochrane’s post just above yours. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/19 "2014-08-19T18:47:22Z")
We now receive Private Message reports. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881/20 "2014-08-19T18:55:09Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > That’s weird. I know my reported posts were getting through at least a week or two ago. Maybe you can’t report Mod posts? I don’t know, but I’ll test again by reporting Cochrane’s post just above yours. Can’t say what, if anything, is going on with Dex, but I see your post reports just fine. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-function-for-pms-do-mods-get-an-unaltered-copy/695881.md?page=2)