# Trigger Moderator Attention Instead of Auto-hiding Flag
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/trigger-moderator-attention-instead-of-auto-hiding-flag/330128
**Category:** Feature
**Tags:** moderation
**Created:** [October 9, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/trigger-moderator-attention-instead-of-auto-hiding-flag/330128 "2024-10-09T17:25:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@hellekin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/hellekin)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/trigger-moderator-attention-instead-of-auto-hiding-flag/330128/1 "2024-10-09T17:25:40Z")
> [@Moderation flags](https://meta.discourse.org/t/moderation-flags/325589/1):
>
> Flags are essential for maintaining community standards and managing content within Discourse.
However, sometimes the goal of flagging a message is not to silence a post or topic, but simply to trigger moderators attention. Yet, if the flagger is TL3+, if the setting says so, _any flag that user makes_ will auto-hide the flagged content.
Sometimes, it may be useful to simply call for the attention of moderators: e.g., you read a post which _feels wrong_, or you suspect the poster to be a sockpuppet, an AI, a troll or some other unwanted character. In this case, you do not want to trigger the poster’s attention, but simply to tell moderators to look into it.
Such an addition to the Flag functionality would enable softer flag behavior. I would suggest such a flag to _require_ an explanation by the person flagging.
* * *
On another topic, the flag metaphor may feel aggressive to some people: e.g., in soccer, the referee would raise a flag when a foul is committed – i.e., when someone does not respect the rules. This metaphor may feel like exerting _power over_ the flagged person, especially when the immediate result is that the post is hidden. Maybe a 🤔 metaphor would be more neutral: _I feel something is wrong, and I’d like the moderators to look into it and tell me._
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### Author:  [@lindsey](https://meta.discourse.org/u/lindsey)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2024, 5:51pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/trigger-moderator-attention-instead-of-auto-hiding-flag/330128/2 "2024-10-09T17:51:43Z")
> [@hellekin](#):
>
> Yet, if the flagger is TL3+, if the setting says so, _any flag that user makes_ will auto-hide the flagged content.
It sounds like you’re referring to the `high trust flaggers auto hide posts` setting — is that correct?
Have you experimented with disabling this setting? If so, can you share how that went? If not, why not? It’s helpful for us to understand how you’ve tried to handle this so far and what those workarounds have been missing.
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### Author:  [@Jagster](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jagster)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/trigger-moderator-attention-instead-of-auto-hiding-flag/330128/3 "2024-10-09T17:56:59Z")
That hiding is true when flagged because of spam. I would guess nowadays same happens with unlegal too. I’ve used other reason quite many times here and it has hided nothing. Must say… I don’t remember my TL here, because it just doesn’t matter 🤷♂️
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### Author:  [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/trigger-moderator-attention-instead-of-auto-hiding-flag/330128/4 "2024-10-09T18:08:04Z")
I think it’s not just that setting. `hide post sensitivity` also takes the trust level into account
> [@Managing user reputation and flag priorities](https://meta.discourse.org/t/managing-user-reputation-and-flag-priorities/123464/1):
>
> When a flag is submitted, Discourse prioritizes it based on several factors:
>
> - Flag type and any extra priorities set
> - Number of flags on the content
> - Flagging accuracy of the user(s) who flagged the post
> - Trust levels of the user(s) who flagged the post
> - Whether staff members flagged the post
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### Author:  [@natacha](https://meta.discourse.org/u/natacha)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2024, 6:09pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/trigger-moderator-attention-instead-of-auto-hiding-flag/330128/5 "2024-10-09T18:09:00Z")
The issue is that triggering a flag implies a strong reaction to something that has some level of gravity.
Sometimes people do actions that are inappropriate but not grave, and sometimes they do it because they do not see the implications (lack of online social skills), or do not understand the technical scope, and it bothers the conversation.
Triggering a flag on such a post can be received as aggressive and be perceived as a tentative to denounce the content of the post itself (particularly if the conversation is a little tense). There should be a way to say please moderator make sure this user respects a better behavior, without making to much of a strong intervention in the conversation.
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### Author:  [@hellekin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/hellekin)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/trigger-moderator-attention-instead-of-auto-hiding-flag/330128/6 "2024-10-09T18:10:52Z")
> [@lindsey](#):
>
> Have you experimented with disabling this setting? If so, can you share how that went? If not, why not?
I’m an admin on most of these sites, so any flag I make is a hammer. But I also like that other people in the community can hide spam right away, or trigger the poster to edit an offensive post rather than letting the conversation inflame.
Having a default option to just trigger moderators attention would be very helpful in many cases. Sometimes, trolls are very happy to trigger an auto-hide flag and it only motivates them to do more harm. Other times, moderators are very happy to trigger other moderators attention to discuss something. Whispers could be used, but it’s a different feature, not necessarily available to a dedicated moderator group that has no “moderator” status in Discourse.
> [@natacha](#):
>
> The issue is that triggering a flag implies a strong reaction to something that has some level of gravity.
And this.
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### Author:  [@Heliosurge](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Heliosurge)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2024, 6:57pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/trigger-moderator-attention-instead-of-auto-hiding-flag/330128/7 "2024-10-09T18:57:35Z")
This #Customization > Theme component may help provide an extra option as it was made for what you describe
> [@Report Content to Group](https://meta.discourse.org/t/report-content-to-group/249323):
>
> information_sourceSummary A button for you to report content to grouphammer_and_wrenchRepository [discourse-contact-staff-button (github.com)](https://github.com/Lemon-planting-light/discourse-contact-staff-button)questionInstall Guide [How to install a theme or theme component](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-do-i-install-a-theme-or-theme-component/63682)open_bookNew to Discourse Themes? [Beginner’s guide to using Discourse Themes](https://meta.discourse.org/t/beginners-guide-to-using-discourse-themes/91966) Sometimes, in large forums, you can have many TL4s but few moderators. The “Flag” feature is always dependent on the moderator, is there any other way for TL4, or other groups, to also…
Took me a bit to find it. I have also added a vote for your Feature. Imho Flags should also be customizable to default behavior level. Ie illegal should hide and poke Moderators as should a custom flag posting private details
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### Author:  [@lindsey](https://meta.discourse.org/u/lindsey)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2024, 8:34pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/trigger-moderator-attention-instead-of-auto-hiding-flag/330128/8 "2024-10-09T20:34:43Z")
> [@hellekin](#):
>
> Having a default option to just trigger moderators attention would be very helpful in many cases.
Ah okay, sounds like you’re thinking of a specific flag type (e.g. “Tell a moderator about this”) that notifies moderators as a typical flag would, but doesn’t follow the auto-hide process associated with other flags. Does that sound right?
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### Author:  [@hellekin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/hellekin)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2024, 4:40am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/trigger-moderator-attention-instead-of-auto-hiding-flag/330128/9 "2024-10-10T04:40:55Z")
I think @Heliosurge nailed it. But indeed @lindsey a “special flag type that notifies [one or more groups] as a typical flag would, but doesn’t follow the auto-hide process associated with other flags” is a great description. Since we now have the possibility to assign features to pipe|separated|entities, it would be great to turn @Lhc_fl’s theme component into a first class flag feature (and BTW, the 💔 icon looks much better than the 🚩 metaphor), should it be applicable to pipe|separated|groups (the reason is: you could have a “floaters” group that does intervention when needed, but does not have moderator status, e.g., when using category mods).