Topic Feature Request: A feature to allow only TL4 users to view comment history in a specific topic, while lower-level users can still comment.
HopscotchRemixer, a moderator on the Hopscotch Forum, proposed this feature to enable users to report suspicious activity without alerting others. The idea is to create a topic where users can comment with a link to the suspicious activity, and a TL4 user can reply to the comment, allowing the mod team to investigate without others seeing the report.
However, Falco suggested that this is similar to using the “Something Else” flag option, which already exists. HopscotchRemixer clarified that, in their case, moderators cannot see flags, and this feature would provide a way for them to be notified of suspicious activity.
Falco disagreed, stating that moderators can see flags and act on them. HopscotchRemixer explained that their administrators have modified their permissions, preventing them from seeing flags.
Falco suggested that this is a self-inflicted problem and that the team is working on improving the flag review queue.
codinghorror proposed alternative solutions, such as replying publicly to the topic or casting a “something else” flag and describing the issue privately.
Hello! I am a moderator on the Hopscotch Forum. The moderator team for our forum wants to know if a feature could be developed/has already been developed but we don’t know about it. We want to know if it would be possible to have a topic where only a Trust Level 4 user could view the entire search history, and anyone below that could only comment, not view. However, with a little twist. If the TL4 user directly replies to the user that commented, than the <TL4 user could still see it.
Here is what we would use it for:
If a user suspects suspicious activity but doesn’t have a specific reason to flag yet, they could reply to this topic with a link to the comment so the mod team could look over the conversation. They would want to tag the team on the topic to prevent users from being suspicious that the mod team would be looking over them. Then a mod would reply with a quick thank you. Nobody else on the forum would be able to see the report.
Here are some limitations:
-We don’t want to use PMs because we might get spammed with them
-We also only want the user to see the posts he/she had been replied to
-The mod team would automatically be tagged in the topic (although I am pretty sure we could do this by just setting the topic to watching)
Again, I do apologize if something like this already exists, we just don’t know about it. We don’t have admin permissions, like the admins (kinda duh) but we do have all TL4 abilities.
As moderators we can’t see flags (like we don’t get notified). The admins only have that ability. So this would be a way for us to know of suspicious activity. Also it’s kind of just a “watch out!” not a “oh you need to be here right now!” kind of thing.
Not us, the admins have modified what things we can see. We don’t get notified if a post gets flagged, of course we can see if a post gets flagged, but only if we are on that topic and we know where to look. I hope this makes sense? IDK the situation with what permissions we have is kind of weird, I can further explain if you need me to.
We are working in a lot of improvements to the flag review queue, but everything wraps around the concept of user flagging and moderators handling those flags.