# Internal Error 500 when creating a topic

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/internal-error-500-when-creating-a-topic/33415
**Category:** Bug
**Created:** [September 18, 2015, 12:41am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/internal-error-500-when-creating-a-topic/33415 "2015-09-18T00:41:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![jesselperry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/jesselperry/32/119501_2.png) [@jesselperry](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jesselperry)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2015, 12:41am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/internal-error-500-when-creating-a-topic/33415/1 "2015-09-18T00:41:42Z")

</div>

I’m on beta 10. When a specific user tries to create a topic in any category - it gives a Internal Error 500. It happens just for this user, and in any category they try to post. Very strange.

Below is the backtrace. Any clues?

```
/var/www/discourse/app/models/topic_user.rb:102:in `>='
/var/www/discourse/app/models/topic_user.rb:102:in `block in change'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activerecord-4.1.10/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/database_statements.rb:199:in `transaction'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activerecord-4.1.10/lib/active_record/transactions.rb:208:in `transaction'
/var/www/discourse/app/models/topic_user.rb:85:in `change'
/var/www/discourse/app/models/topic_notifier.rb:40:in `change_level'
/var/www/discourse/app/models/topic_notifier.rb:18:in `watch_topic!'
/var/www/discourse/lib/topic_creator.rb:64:in `watch_topic'
/var/www/discourse/lib/topic_creator.rb:42:in `create'
/var/www/discourse/lib/post_creator.rb:266:in `create_topic'
/var/www/discourse/lib/post_creator.rb:123:in `block in create'
/var/www/discourse/lib/post_creator.rb:215:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/lib/post_creator.rb:215:in `block in transaction'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activerecord-4.1.10/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/database_statements.rb:201:in `block in transaction'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activerecord-4.1.10/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/database_statements.rb:209:in `within_new_transaction'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activerecord-4.1.10/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/database_statements.rb:201:in `transaction'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activerecord-4.1.10/lib/active_record/transactions.rb:208:in `transaction'
/var/www/discourse/lib/post_creator.rb:213:in `transaction'
/var/www/discourse/lib/post_creator.rb:121:in `create'
/var/www/discourse/lib/new_post_manager.rb:150:in `perform_create_post'
/var/www/discourse/lib/new_post_manager.rb:123:in `perform'
/var/www/discourse/app/controllers/posts_controller.rb:114:in `create'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_controller/metal/implicit_render.rb:4:in `send_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/abstract_controller/base.rb:189:in `process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_controller/metal/rendering.rb:10:in `process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/abstract_controller/callbacks.rb:20:in `block in process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activesupport-4.1.10/lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:113:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activesupport-4.1.10/lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:113:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activesupport-4.1.10/lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:552:in `block (2 levels) in compile'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activesupport-4.1.10/lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:502:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activesupport-4.1.10/lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:502:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activesupport-4.1.10/lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:86:in `run_callbacks'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/abstract_controller/callbacks.rb:19:in `process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_controller/metal/rescue.rb:29:in `process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_controller/metal/instrumentation.rb:32:in `block in process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activesupport-4.1.10/lib/active_support/notifications.rb:159:in `block in instrument'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activesupport-4.1.10/lib/active_support/notifications/instrumenter.rb:20:in `instrument'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activesupport-4.1.10/lib/active_support/notifications.rb:159:in `instrument'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_controller/metal/instrumentation.rb:30:in `process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_controller/metal/params_wrapper.rb:250:in `process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activerecord-4.1.10/lib/active_record/railties/controller_runtime.rb:18:in `process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/abstract_controller/base.rb:136:in `process'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionview-4.1.10/lib/action_view/rendering.rb:30:in `process'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/rack-mini-profiler-0.9.6/lib/mini_profiler/profiling_methods.rb:77:in `block in profile_method'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_controller/metal.rb:196:in `dispatch'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_controller/metal/rack_delegation.rb:13:in `dispatch'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_controller/metal.rb:232:in `block in action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:82:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:82:in `dispatch'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:50:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:73:in `block in call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:59:in `each'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:59:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:692:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/rack-protection-1.5.3/lib/rack/protection/frame_options.rb:31:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/omniauth-1.2.2/lib/omniauth/strategy.rb:186:in `call!'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/omniauth-1.2.2/lib/omniauth/strategy.rb:164:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/omniauth-1.2.2/lib/omniauth/strategy.rb:186:in `call!'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/omniauth-1.2.2/lib/omniauth/strategy.rb:164:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/omniauth-1.2.2/lib/omniauth/strategy.rb:186:in `call!'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/omniauth-1.2.2/lib/omniauth/strategy.rb:164:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/omniauth-1.2.2/lib/omniauth/strategy.rb:186:in `call!'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/omniauth-1.2.2/lib/omniauth/strategy.rb:164:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/omniauth-1.2.2/lib/omniauth/strategy.rb:186:in `call!'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/omniauth-1.2.2/lib/omniauth/strategy.rb:164:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/omniauth-1.2.2/lib/omniauth/builder.rb:59:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/rack-1.5.5/lib/rack/conditionalget.rb:35:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/rack-1.5.5/lib/rack/head.rb:11:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/lib/middleware/anonymous_cache.rb:124:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/params_parser.rb:27:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/flash.rb:254:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/message_bus-1.0.16/lib/message_bus/rack/middleware.rb:60:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/rack-1.5.5/lib/rack/session/abstract/id.rb:225:in `context'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/rack-1.5.5/lib/rack/session/abstract/id.rb:220:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/cookies.rb:562:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activerecord-4.1.10/lib/active_record/query_cache.rb:36:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activerecord-4.1.10/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:621:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/callbacks.rb:29:in `block in call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/activesupport-4.1.10/lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:82:in `run_callbacks'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/callbacks.rb:27:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/remote_ip.rb:76:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/debug_exceptions.rb:17:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/show_exceptions.rb:30:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/logster-1.0.0.3.pre/lib/logster/middleware/reporter.rb:31:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/railties-4.1.10/lib/rails/rack/logger.rb:38:in `call_app'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/railties-4.1.10/lib/rails/rack/logger.rb:22:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/config/initializers/quiet_logger.rb:10:in `call_with_quiet_assets'
/var/www/discourse/config/initializers/silence_logger.rb:26:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/actionpack-4.1.10/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/request_id.rb:21:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/rack-1.5.5/lib/rack/methodoverride.rb:21:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/rack-1.5.5/lib/rack/runtime.rb:17:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/rack-1.5.5/lib/rack/sendfile.rb:112:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/rack-mini-profiler-0.9.6/lib/mini_profiler/profiler.rb:170:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/lib/middleware/request_tracker.rb:72:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/railties-4.1.10/lib/rails/engine.rb:514:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/railties-4.1.10/lib/rails/application.rb:144:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/railties-4.1.10/lib/rails/railtie.rb:194:in `public_send'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/railties-4.1.10/lib/rails/railtie.rb:194:in `method_missing'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/rack-1.5.5/lib/rack/builder.rb:138:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/rack-1.5.5/lib/rack/urlmap.rb:65:in `block in call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/rack-1.5.5/lib/rack/urlmap.rb:50:in `each'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/rack-1.5.5/lib/rack/urlmap.rb:50:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/unicorn-4.8.3/lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:576:in `process_client'
/var/www/discourse/lib/scheduler/defer.rb:85:in `process_client'
/var/www/discourse/lib/middleware/unicorn_oobgc.rb:95:in `process_client'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/unicorn-4.8.3/lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:670:in `worker_loop'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/unicorn-4.8.3/lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:525:in `spawn_missing_workers'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/unicorn-4.8.3/lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:140:in `start'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/gems/unicorn-4.8.3/bin/unicorn:126:in `<top (required)>'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/bin/unicorn:23:in `load'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.0.0/bin/unicorn:23:in `<main>'

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![jesselperry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/jesselperry/32/119501_2.png) [@jesselperry](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jesselperry)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2015, 12:42am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/internal-error-500-when-creating-a-topic/33415/2 "2015-09-18T00:42:37Z")

</div>

Info tab:

```
ArgumentError (comparison of String with 0 failed)
/var/www/discourse/app/models/topic_user.rb:102:in `>='

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![sam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/sam/32/102149_2.png) [@sam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sam)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2015, 12:51am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/internal-error-500-when-creating-a-topic/33415/3 "2015-09-18T00:51:58Z")

</div>

Yeah I know what that is, provided you are on latest go to site settings and jiggle your default user watching settings

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![jesselperry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/jesselperry/32/119501_2.png) [@jesselperry](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jesselperry)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/internal-error-500-when-creating-a-topic/33415/4 "2015-09-18T01:03:53Z")

</div>

Latest beta or latest tests-passed? What do I jiggle?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![sam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/sam/32/102149_2.png) [@sam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sam)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/internal-error-500-when-creating-a-topic/33415/5 "2015-09-18T01:05:39Z")

</div>

what changes have you made in `/admin/site_settings/category/user_preferences`

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![jesselperry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/jesselperry/32/119501_2.png) [@jesselperry](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jesselperry)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/internal-error-500-when-creating-a-topic/33415/6 "2015-09-18T01:13:57Z")

</div>

email digest \> 3 days  
new topic duration \> haven’t viewed them  
auto track \> immediately  
external links in new tabs \> TRUE

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![sam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/sam/32/102149_2.png) [@sam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sam)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2015, 1:15am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/internal-error-500-when-creating-a-topic/33415/7 "2015-09-18T01:15:42Z")

</div>

> [@jesselperry](#):
>
> new topic duration \> haven’t viewed them  
> auto track \> immediately

Jiggle both of those, change them to something, save, then change back.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![jesselperry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/jesselperry/32/119501_2.png) [@jesselperry](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jesselperry)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/internal-error-500-when-creating-a-topic/33415/8 "2015-09-18T01:16:24Z")

</div>

Ok will do. Again, this is only happening to one user, which is odd.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![jesselperry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/jesselperry/32/119501_2.png) [@jesselperry](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jesselperry)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/internal-error-500-when-creating-a-topic/33415/9 "2015-09-18T01:18:49Z")

</div>

Update: Did as you said, impersonated the user, tried to post. Same error.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![sam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/sam/32/102149_2.png) [@sam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sam)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2015, 1:19am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/internal-error-500-when-creating-a-topic/33415/10 "2015-09-18T01:19:10Z")

</div>

What is “Automatically track topics I enter” setting on said users profile? Can you change it around and see if that fixes?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![jesselperry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/jesselperry/32/119501_2.png) [@jesselperry](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jesselperry)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2015, 1:22am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/internal-error-500-when-creating-a-topic/33415/11 "2015-09-18T01:22:39Z")

</div>

That fixed it. Thank you.

Oddly though it was also set as “immediately” which ever other user also has (as default) with no problems posting.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![sam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/sam/32/102149_2.png) [@sam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sam)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/internal-error-500-when-creating-a-topic/33415/12 "2015-09-18T01:27:29Z")

</div>

odd, maybe we had a version that was sending that as text at some point, I will add a to\_i which should fix it for junk data and close this.

[https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/7067d32c337f69585ff209279394f51e72fe4787](https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/7067d32c337f69585ff209279394f51e72fe4787)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![sam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/sam/32/102149_2.png) [@sam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sam)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2015, 1:28am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/internal-error-500-when-creating-a-topic/33415/13 "2015-09-18T01:28:30Z")

</div>