What do people flag for? What really is flagging?

Question

I've found I've been flagged. I'm flabbergasted. What exactly did I do? What am I doing wrong? Below is two of my flagging posts.

Question: What is your favorite Christmas movie?

I like listening We R Who We R while watching Saw. Just Kidding. IDK.

Next one is my question,

This is a post for club formation, like International Cafe. I want everyone to make clubs, like writing club, teen club, etc.

Next one I randomly got flagged for asking, "I don't know what my username should be Can anyone offer suggestions?

Here's a vote to recoup your losses. It was probably just a mistake. - Yeser007, Jan 4, 2011

Good question Valient I was wrongly flagged at least once here and Heidi kindly removed it :) - FELIZ77, Jan 4, 2011

hi valiente, sorry you got flagged, correct spelling is mandatory, but flagging that is nor reasonable and not usually done, flags were removed, so I can't see what happened. - 00494d19, Jan 5, 2011

Answer 1

Valiente,

Unfortunately, flagging is more often than not misdirected, and an innocent person loses points for no good reason. This seems to be true in your case. And while moderators can remove the flags, they can't restore the points you lost.

I think flagging serves no good purpose, and the ability to do so should be removed from this site.

Answer 2

The first one was probably for using IDK instead of writing the words. This is a site where people come to learn English as well as Spanish, and correct word usage is required.

The third example has incorrect punctuation but I think that is a pretty small offense.

I'd have thought a helpful comment would have been more appropriate in these cases.

I agree helpful comments are more useful in most cases unless the post is abusve or potentially offensive - FELIZ77, Jan 4, 2011

Answer 3

Flagging, like anything else, can be abused or just simply misdireacted as Goyo rightly said

Valient, It seems like you have been the innocent victim of someone who has been a bit too zealous with its use.

I would not support its removal but rather suggest that it could and should be limited to certain/specific people who perhaps are given that privelege and responsibility by Admin staff on account of their knowledge of Spanish, mature attitude and understanding of the correct uses of flagging justify/warrant its occasional discretionary use.

I am thinking of people such as Lazarus, Gekko, Samdie, Gfreed Nicole Bailey and others who are long-standing members with a good reputation in the eyes of this community who could be entrusted with such a responsibility to use it wisely and fairly

Of course these people would need to be willing to take on that responsibilty and not everyone would agree with my suggestion. It is only an idea...nothing more! It is really to promote /stimulate/provoke lively but respectful debate on the subject

What does anyone else think?

Answer 4

I've flagged a couple of people for extreme swearing, or just posting gibberish nonsense. I also edit their posts to remove the offending language, and ask for moderator attention. It would have to be pretty extreme for me to flag someone. I don't see anything flag-able in what you've posted.

Answer 5

2,000 points to edit, which doesn't affect anything but the post, and then just anyone can flag. Makes no sense, and unvoting loses point too I think. I say you shouldn't be able to unvote, unless the mod OK's it, and you should need 5K or maybe 10K to flag. Gracias.

Unvoting loses points? I didn't know that, I wonder if an admin can verify? - amykay, Jan 4, 2011

If unvoting didn't lose points, you can vote, unvote, vote, unvote, etc. and cause huge point gains for someone. That wouldn't make sense. - pesta, Jan 4, 2011

Well voting gives points, so unvoting puts 'em right back where they started. ;-) - webdunce, Jan 6, 2011

Answer 6

The purpose of flagging is to tag objectionable posts so they can be deleted by admins without forcing a small group of people to review all posts in a timely manner. Greatly restricting the ability to flag will negatively impact that function.

Unvoting and editing allow people to correct mistakes, real or perceived. I think that's a good thing and don't think either one should be eliminated. Obviously, allowing people to edit other people's posts needs to be controlled.

What one person finds amusing, another may find offensive enough to flag. That's life and you shouldn't let it upset you.

Answer 7

I was writing my entry late at night. I really did write out "I don't know." I did write We R Who We R like that only because that's the official song title. Thank you for your comments.

Well I can understand that but it is important to make that clear by mentioning that it is the title of a song and perhaps putting it iin "quotation (speech) marks" too - FELIZ77, Jan 6, 2011

Answer 8

Unvoting loses points? I didn't know that, I wonder if an admin can verify? - amykay 6

I can verify...that I had no idea either, jeje, amy, I do that all the time, lol

Answer 9

HI Valiente, correct spelling is mandatory on this site, though a post, unless it is done on purpose, should not be flagged.

The flags were removed. We can see who flagged you and any undue flagging will be investigated.

In any case, flagging helps us to control keep this forum family oriented.