Feedback system for flagging so I can see that it has some result

March 11, 2006 7:24 AM

Feedback System for Flagging: Everytime someone posts a callaout to MeTa, the usual response is "flag it and move on", which is great in theory, but there's absolutely no feedback by doing that. A page that lists everything we've flagged and the respective follow-up. (Please note, these responses could be automatically generated based on the current status of the post/comment) Examples:
Comemnt #129382 - Flagged as: Offensive - Result: Flag noted by admin but ignored.
Post #129834 - Flagged as: Duplicate - Result: Post Deleted
Post #149493 - Flagged as: Excellent - Result: Added to sidebar
I think if users could see that flagging actually has some effect, they might be less liable to whine about it in MeTa Callouts.
posted by blue_beetle to Feature Requests at 7:24 AM (22 comments total)

[more outside]
posted by blue_beetle at 7:28 AM on March 11, 2006

Are you talking about a page that only individuals can see? That is, when I'm logged in, I and only I can see a page listing all the stuff I've flagged?

Still, even if such a thing were implemented, people would still whine when their flags are "ignored," which they see as evidence that the flagging system doesn't work.
posted by Gator at 7:31 AM on March 11, 2006

An RSS feed would be handier, especially if one were tracking patterns in callouts, trolling, etc.
posted by Smart Dalek at 7:44 AM on March 11, 2006

While I agree that some would find the feedback satisfying, I think others would use the fact of its public display to abuse it.

This same argument could have applied in a theoretical discussion over whether or not to add comments to the site in the first place.
posted by S.C. at 7:47 AM on March 11, 2006

The squabbling that goes on at scoop sites over who modded who a troll are fucking unbearable. Keep such opportunities away from here, please.
posted by Space Coyote at 7:48 AM on March 11, 2006

I'm not going to turn flagging into a public service where we argue about votes, reasons, and why something was/wasn't deleted already. If I exposed the data you're asking for, the nitpicking flagging fights would never, ever end.

In other words if you think it's bad now, this is a much worse option.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 7:55 AM on March 11, 2006

I was going to flag bb's request as noise but I figured the PTB had better things to do.
posted by mischief at 8:20 AM on March 11, 2006

No digg.
posted by furtive at 8:27 AM on March 11, 2006

Part of the reason I don't like flagging is that I can't elaborate at all.
posted by Captaintripps at 8:31 AM on March 11, 2006

i think the flagging log should be made public, and then people can flag the flagging as like justified or unjustified or whatever, and then we could have counter-flagging, but then like limit it to two counter-flags like feedback on ebay, and then we could have a dispute resolution service to investigate and remove bogus flagging...i can't believe this idea isn't already implemented...matt must be asleep...
posted by troybob at 9:13 AM on March 11, 2006

I'm not going to turn flagging into a public service where we argue about votes, reasons, and why something was/wasn't deleted already.

I think the idea was to keep it private, So a user wouldn't know anything that they don't already know, or were unable to discover. It would just make it more convenient for them.
posted by delmoi at 9:15 AM on March 11, 2006

Furhter to this, people just posting comments that say "flagged" without giving reasons are also very annoying. As if in most cases it wasn't obvious that _someone_ would flag whatever it was.
posted by Space Coyote at 9:50 AM on March 11, 2006

I think it would be nice to have a page with a top ten of posts or comments that were flagged as "fantastic", "offensive", "noise" or "it breaks the guidelines". Has someone asked for this before?
posted by gsb at 9:59 AM on March 11, 2006

I wouldn't mind seeing a log of posts I've flagged as "fantastic." You know, to crib as a poor man's version of a "remember this thread" feature.
posted by neda at 10:58 AM on March 11, 2006

Furhter to this, people just posting comments that say "flagged" without giving reasons are also very annoying. As if in most cases it wasn't obvious that _someone_ would flag whatever it was.
posted by Space Coyote at 11:50 AM CST on March 11 [!]

flagged
posted by JeffK at 11:05 AM on March 11, 2006

how about adding animation with flagging, like maybe a little robot walks out and plants a flag next to the comment? Depending on the flag's category, he could jump for joy, make the "crazy" sign with his finger in circles around his ear, or begin pissing a la all those wonderful Calvin stickers we see on the back of cars and trucks, pissing on Ford/Chevy/Bin Laden/Saddam/Ex...

Nah, never mind.

self-flagged
posted by thatweirdguy2 at 11:30 AM on March 11, 2006

In other words if you think it's bad now, this is a much worse option

I agree, as an administrator Matt has to draw the line somewhere, the poster's idea looks good but would end up making things worse
posted by matteo at 12:18 PM on March 11, 2006

Hey, I drive a Bin Laden!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 12:25 PM on March 11, 2006

And the point of the flags is not voting or bringing out your opinion, it's just a convenient way to bring bad and good stuff to mathowie's attention.
posted by insomnus at 12:34 PM on March 11, 2006

There is public disclosure of positive feedback in AskMe. I don't think we need to see all of the flag/sniping that might take place.
posted by geekyguy at 4:40 PM on March 11, 2006

Whatever happened to putting a meta-thread on every page on the blue?
posted by Saucy Intruder at 5:09 PM on March 11, 2006

i think matt's right ... not only that, but it sounds like too much damned work
posted by pyramid termite at 5:17 PM on March 11, 2006