I believe flags from trusted users should have more weight than flags from new users. Trusted users should have better judgement and knowledge of the forum rules than new users and the system should reflect that. For example, flags could have double weight for TL3 users and immediately hide inappropriate/spam posts for TL4 users.
AI-generated summary
The discussion centers on whether flags from trusted users (TL3/TL4) should carry more weight than those from new or low-trust users (TL0/TL1). probus argues that trusted users have better judgment and knowledge of forum rules, suggesting their flags should be weighted more heavily—especially since current systems already allow TL3/TL4 flags to automatically hide spam cpradio. probus clarifies that only one forum setting defaults to requiring 3 flags to hide a post, and questions why spam flags are treated specially while other types of flags (like those for rule-breaking or inappropriate content) aren’t. TechnoBear notes that the system can be adjusted, and codinghorror confirms that such a feature has been considered. probus reiterates the need for balanced flagging thresholds—too low invites abuse from TL1 users, too high renders flags ineffective—and finds it puzzling that likes have multipliers but flag weights don’t. He also argues that moderation tools should treat all users equally, regardless of trust level, when it comes to hiding posts or blocking accounts, especially since new users can also identify rule violations.
1 Curtiu
TL3/TL4 flags already hide spam automatically… (I know because we have TL 3 users who LOVE this feature)
I think it may still take 2 flags to hide inappropriate (but I haven’t specifically tested that).
4 Curtiram
I believe that is true only for TL0 users spam, but yes. Other than that, there is only one forum setting that defaults to 3 flags to hide a post.
1 Curtiu
As @cpradio said, we reduced that to two on our forum.
It’s possible, we have flirted with this as @cpradio noted, spam flags from TL3 users applied to TL0 user posts take effect immediately.
I would still like to see some improvements in this regard. Setting the flagging threshold too low invites flag spam from TL1 users and too high makes it ineffective. Having multipliers for likes and not something like this is puzzling.
Also, I don’t understand why spam flags get special treatment. Only spam flags hide TL0 users posts and result in blocking new users. Inappropriateness should equally result in hiding messages and blocking accounts. I’d even raise that to cover TL1 users as well. If someone joins the forum and breaks the rules, they should be blocked until and an admin or a moderator can find out what’s going on.
1 Curtiu