# Spam threads. Is flagging enough or do we need to report somehow? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 24, 2020, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-threads-is-flagging-enough-or-do-we-need-to-report-somehow/912759 "2020-06-24T15:39:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-threads-is-flagging-enough-or-do-we-need-to-report-somehow/912759/1 "2020-06-24T15:39:43Z")
Title pretty much says it all. One of the things I really loved about the old board was how quickly spammers were staked through the heart and their threads sent to the cornfield. I think I read somewhere that posts with enough flags are automatically hidden, but are the mods notified to follow up or do we still need to ring someone’s bell? Thread in question > [@Out of work? Looking for a job?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-work-looking-for-a-job/912753): > > Have I got the job for you! A ‘three-month, fart-time’ position paying $10,000 for only 30-60 minutes per day! It comes with the title of VP, & the best part… any [asshole](https://hellotushy.com/pages/bidet-2020-job-posting?sscid=61k4_nhrsb) can do it! Yes, it’s real! rofl ---
**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 24, 2020, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-threads-is-flagging-enough-or-do-we-need-to-report-somehow/912759/2 "2020-06-24T15:42:13Z")
When you flag a post, there’s several check buttons, one of which is spam. If the flagging isn’t related to one of the presets, there’s an option to write an explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-threads-is-flagging-enough-or-do-we-need-to-report-somehow/912759/3 "2020-06-24T15:46:41Z")
That’s why I was asking. If enough people hit the spam radio button to hide the post, is a mod notified in the background to clean up the thread or are we just going to have spam carcasses littering the board. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-threads-is-flagging-enough-or-do-we-need-to-report-somehow/912759/4 "2020-06-24T16:32:22Z")
I’m curious about reporting, does a flag bring a post to moderator attention, or am I missing a “regular” report function? ETA I flagged my post and it says it’s bringing it to moderater attention, so yes? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-threads-is-flagging-enough-or-do-we-need-to-report-somehow/912759/5 "2020-06-24T16:38:52Z")
Yes. I received reports on this post due to your flag on it. I believe you can flag a post as “Inappropriate,” “Spam,” or “Something Else.” All are sent to us for review. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-threads-is-flagging-enough-or-do-we-need-to-report-somehow/912759/6 "2020-06-24T16:41:51Z")
I flagged one of my own posts on Monday, chose “Something Else” was given a message box to explain. Within maybe ten minutes Miller replied with a PM. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-threads-is-flagging-enough-or-do-we-need-to-report-somehow/912759/7 "2020-06-24T16:44:44Z")
@Colibre, you moved my thread from _mpsims_ to _cafe society_ I saw a message from you about it. Did everyone else see it, as well? (Not beefing about move, at all. Just wondering who sees mod notes on everyday things like this.) ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-threads-is-flagging-enough-or-do-we-need-to-report-somehow/912759/8 "2020-06-24T16:48:25Z")
Just curious - did you really think the post was a spam? I thought it was just sharing a pretty funny site. Maybe it’s just me… ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-threads-is-flagging-enough-or-do-we-need-to-report-somehow/912759/9 "2020-06-24T18:43:29Z")
I really did at the time. It had all the earmarks. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-threads-is-flagging-enough-or-do-we-need-to-report-somehow/912759/10 "2020-06-24T20:31:52Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Title pretty much says it all. One of the things I really loved about the old board was how quickly spammers were staked through the heart and their threads sent to the cornfield. I think I read somewhere that posts with enough flags are automatically hidden, but are the mods notified to follow up or do we still need to ring someone’s bell? > > Thread in question > [Out of work? Looking for a job?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-work-looking-for-a-job/912753) No. We receive notifications on anything that has been flagged for review. In that case, there were a couple of clues that it wasn’t spam. One was that the OP has been a member for 20 years. The second was that it was a joke thread, though I guess you had to click the link to be sure of that. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-threads-is-flagging-enough-or-do-we-need-to-report-somehow/912759/11 "2020-06-24T20:38:36Z")
You should check the join date and posting history of a poster you suspect is posting spam: -Just joined today -Has no other posts, or just a few inane posts. Sometimes spammers try making a few decoy posts before posting the spam. -Post contains a link I admit we have on occasion banned legit posters for those reasons (and readmitted them when they got in touch), but at least 99.9% of spammers have those characteristics. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-threads-is-flagging-enough-or-do-we-need-to-report-somehow/912759/12 "2020-06-24T22:06:53Z")
I missed the join date because it’s not in the corner any more. I didn’t know you can click on the avatar to find it.