# Moderation Tools
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/moderation-tools/41660
**Category:** Feature
**Created:** [March 28, 2016, 5:15pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/moderation-tools/41660 "2016-03-28T17:15:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@sarafina](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sarafina)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/moderation-tools/41660/1 "2016-03-28T17:16:00Z")
Hi,
For user interface i really love discourse.
There are a few situations where I would appreciate a more robust set of modding tools.
When a user flags a post it would be handy as a mod to have a reply option to the flagger that would reference the flag so they know what I am talking about. As an example I sent this message out this am. It would be handy to have been able to generate a response to the flag straight from the flag notification page. I would also love to see a bcc option so that when I am generating a pm to a user and want my team to be in on the communication I could bcc it or generate a post in the moderation area that would keep the team appraised of activity. Other wise I am cutting and pasting to get the info spread around.
Hi,
Thank you for flagging this post. We count on members helping us stay on top of forum activity!
In this case we were aware of the hard sell post he left.
Forum policy is that so long as a commercial post such as this
relates directly and legitimately to the thread topic, it may stand.
After all anyone who doesn’t like his stands can also post about it and
that sort of conversation is valuable to those considering stand
purchases.
Overuse or abuse will be dealt with differently in the case of any
commercial account, so your instinct to make sure we knew about this was
a good one. We don’t want the forums to be spammed by commercial
vultures!
Regards,
Sara
---
### Author:  [@fantasticfears](https://meta.discourse.org/u/fantasticfears)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/moderation-tools/41660/2 "2016-03-28T18:44:21Z")
> [@sarafina](#):
>
> When a user flags a post it would be handy as a mod to have a reply option to the flagger that would reference the flag so they know what I am talking about. As an example I sent this message out this am. It would be handy to have been able to generate a response to the flag straight from the flag notification page.
It’s already in place. If a user flag a post as “Something Else”, you can reply to him in the flag admin panel.
> [@sarafina](#):
>
> I would also love to see a bcc option so that when I am generating a pm to a user and want my team to be in on the communication I could bcc it or generate a post in the moderation area that would keep the team appraised of activity.
I assume you want this: [Discourse User Notes](https://meta.discourse.org/t/introducing-the-staff-notes-plugin/41026)
> [@sarafina](#):
>
> Hi,
>
> Thank you for flagging this post. We count on members helping us stay on top of forum activity!
Discourse have a badge to deliver this kind of message: [Discourse Meta](https://meta.discourse.org/badges/13/first-flag)
---
### Author:  [@sarafina](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sarafina)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2016, 2:44pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/moderation-tools/41660/3 "2016-04-08T14:44:51Z")
Hi Erick,
Please check out this discussion on the topic. I think they described the issue better than I did.
> [@Moderator discussion of spam, etc. flags](https://meta.discourse.org/t/moderator-discussion-of-spam-etc-flags/29651/7):
>
> A little late to the party, but I just became a mod on [safenetwork.io](http://safenetwork.io), which uses discourse. Another drawback to the workaround is that there is no way to link to the flag, or otherwise directly reference it in a PM. This can become problematic when old flags need to be referenced, as they are not able to be linked to. Also, if one of my fellow mods closes a flag, I have no indication what was done - the flag itself does not specify. Adding the PM option would allow resolution descriptions to …
Is there a sandbox forum where I could play with a couple of user profiles to test how your suggestions work?
Thanks
Sara
---
### Author:  [@fantasticfears](https://meta.discourse.org/u/fantasticfears)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2016, 7:30am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/moderation-tools/41660/4 "2016-04-09T07:30:48Z")
> [@sarafina](#):
>
> Moderator discussion of spam, etc. flags
I replied there 🙂
> [@sarafina](#):
>
> Is there a sandbox forum where I could play with a couple of user profiles to test how your suggestions work?
Setting up a dev environment:
> [@Install Discourse on macOS for development](https://meta.discourse.org/t/beginners-guide-to-install-discourse-on-mac-os-x-for-development/15772):
>
> warning This guide covers installation instructions for a macOS development environment, for production guides see: [Install Discourse in production with the official supported instructions](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-install-discourse-in-production/142537) So you want to set up Discourse on macOS to hack on and develop with? We’ll assume that you don’t have Ruby/Rails/Postgres/Redis installed on your Mac. Let’s begin rocket ! Install Discourse Dependencies You will need the following packages on your system: [Git](http://git-scm.com/)[rbenv](https://github.com/sstephenson/rbenv) or [asdf](https://asdf-vm.com/guide/getting-started.html)[ruby-build](https://github.com/sstephenson/ruby-build)[Ruby](https://www.ruby-lang.org/) (latest s…
> [@Install Discourse on Ubuntu or Debian for Development](https://meta.discourse.org/t/beginners-guide-to-install-discourse-on-ubuntu-for-development/14727):
>
> warning This guide covers installation instructions in a development environment. For a production guide see: [Install Discourse in production with the official supported instructions](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-install-discourse-in-production/142537) So you want to set up Discourse on Ubuntu or Debian to hack on and develop with? We’ll assume that you work locally and don’t have Ruby/Rails/Postgres/Redis installed on your Ubuntu or Debian system. Let’s begin! Requirements We suggest having at least 4 GB RAM and 2 CPU cores. Current compatibility: O…
I believe you can find more guides for setting up docker container in your desktop.
Or open a droplet on DigitalOcean, when you want to test something, started it.
I know many set up a dev instance for testing before putting customization and plugins to production. But I don’t really know which is best for you ☹