# Doc clarification: notification behaviour for staged users when posts are moved

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/doc-clarification-notification-behaviour-for-staged-users-when-posts-are-moved/382357
**Category:** Feature
**Tags:** mail-receiver
**Created:** [September 11, 2025, 5:57pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/doc-clarification-notification-behaviour-for-staged-users-when-posts-are-moved/382357 "2025-09-11T17:57:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
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### Author: ![Ethsim2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/ethsim2/32/522255_2.png) [@Ethsim2](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Ethsim2)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2025, 5:57pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/doc-clarification-notification-behaviour-for-staged-users-when-posts-are-moved/382357/1 "2025-09-11T17:57:00Z")

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What is the issue?

The discourse around staged users implies they will receive email notifications for replies to topics where they’ve posted by email. However, when their post is moved to another topic by a moderator, the documentation does not clearly explain how their notification status (e.g. “Watching”) applies to the new topic. As a result, it’s easy to assume they’ll keep getting replies in the new topic, but that isn’t always the case.

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Current behavior

- When a staged user posts via email, their notification level for that topic is automatically set to Watching.
- If a moderator moves their post into a different topic, the staged user remains “Watching” the original topic.
- They do not automatically begin watching the destination topic, so new replies there may not generate email notifications for them, unless they otherwise become subscribed or post again in the new topic.

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Why this matters

- Moderators working with staged users (especially in support forums or helpdesk workflows) may assume the user will keep getting responses even after a post is moved.
- Because the behavior is not clearly documented, replies can be missed, which may degrade the user experience or missances of communication.
- Clear documentation would help community admins and moderators understand what to expect and manage staged users appropriately (e.g., manually adjusting notification settings).

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Suggested resolution

- Doc clarification: Update the staged users / email-in documentation to explicitly state that notification settings are tied to topics, not to posts, and that moving a staged user’s post to a new topic does not transfer “Watching” status automatically.
- Optional enhancement: Provide a UI/setting so that, when moving a staged user’s post, moderators are prompted (or given the option) to also transfer the notification state (or subscribe the user to the new topic) so they continue to receive replies in the new topic.

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/doc-clarification-notification-behaviour-for-staged-users-when-posts-are-moved/382357)._