Don’t display the flag ‘Off-Topic’ option on the first post of a topic?

UX
1

Is it applicable to display the flag option:

Off-Topic

This post is not relevant to the current discussion as defined by the title and first post, and should probably be moved elsewhere.

if it’s the first post?

2 Likes
2

I use “off topic” on first posts that don’t fit in the forum. For example, a user who asks a question here but actually wanted to ask it in another Discourse forum.
For me, this is also off topic, even if it shouldn’t be moved to a different topic. ‘Spam’ or ‘inappropriate’ don’t fit there any better either, because it’s neither advertising nor offensive.

You could also use it on topics that need to be moved to a different category.

6 Likes
3

Yeah, I agree there are usecases for flagging the first post like that, especially for

But I also agree that the wording is a bit odd, when used on a first post.

4 Likes
4

Perhaps something like this would be more fitting?

First post:

This post is not relevant to the current category, and should probably be moved elsewhere.

Subsequent posts (staying as it is at the moment):

This post is not relevant to the current discussion as defined by the title and first post, and should probably be moved elsewhere.

5

I would prefer one text for both use cases (first post and replies).

There are already 3 versions of off-topic texts.

  • The one you quoted above for topics on desktop

    This post is not relevant to the current discussion as defined by the title and first post, and should probably be moved elsewhere.

  • The mobile version of that text on topics and in chat

    Not relevant to the discussion

  • And then there is the desktop one for chats

    This message is not relevant to the current discussion as defined by the channel title, and should probably be moved elsewhere.

So I would prefer something like “This post seems out of place and may need to be moved somewhere else” on desktop and “This seems to be out of place” on mobile.
The one for chat could use the same wording as the desktop one for topic but use message instead of post.

All current flag texts

Mobile:

  • It’s Off-Topic: Not relevant to the discussion
  • It’s Spam: This is an advertisement or vandalism
  • It’s Inappropriate: A violation of our community guidelines
  • It’s Illegal: This is illegal
  • Something Else: Requires staff attention for another reason

Desktop on topics:

  • It’s Off-Topic: This post is not relevant to the current discussion as defined by the title and first post, and should probably be moved elsewhere.
  • It’s Spam: This post is an advertisement, or vandalism. It is not useful or relevant to the current topic.
  • It’s Inappropriate: This post contains content that a reasonable person would consider offensive, abusive, to be hateful conduct or a violation of our community guidelines.
  • It’s Illegal: This post requires staff attention because I believe it contains content that is illegal.
  • Something Else: This post requires staff attention for another reason not listed above.

Desktop in chat:

  • It’s Off-Topic: This message is not relevant to the current discussion as defined by the channel title, and should probably be moved elsewhere.
  • It’s Spam: This message is an advertisement, or vandalism. It is not useful or relevant to the current channel.
  • It’s Inappropriate: This message contains content that a reasonable person would consider offensive, abusive, or a violation of our community guidelines.
  • It’s Illegal: This post requires staff attention because I believe it contains content that is illegal.
  • Something Else: This message requires staff attention for another reason not listed above.