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When a user currently wants to flag a comment, there is this tooltip:

Flag this comment for serious problems or moderator attention

The use of the word "serious" makes the process of flagging comments sounds like something really terrible has happened and it must be dealt with right now by a moderator.

However, after you click the flag button, the given default options do not seem to qualify as being serious problems. Among them, "not constructive", "obsolete" or "too chatty" are, in my view, not serious problems but simply problems. This would be true for "rude or offensive" but that is not the only default choice.

Feature request: I suggest the removal of the word "serious" from that sentence, making the tooltip:

Flag this comment for problems or moderator attention

I feel it gives a wrong impression and could let users to believe wrong assumptions about when they should flag comments. It could actually prevent them from flagging, when in fact they should, only because it isn't "serious" enough for them, leaving behind a pile of unconstructive comments.

Do note that, from the official guidance of when to flag comments, you can flag "anything that's not really relevant" as "chatty". Is that a serious problem?

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    There is the issue of users flagging because they think the comment is technically wrong, showing "serious problem" might refrain some (hopefully) to do so. – Kyll Nov 5 '15 at 14:43
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    I think the word "serious" is in there because for whatever reason you flag the comment, what you're really doing is saying it needs to be removed. I think they just want it clear that if you don't think whatever the problem is warrants deletion then you shouldn't flag it. – BSMP Nov 5 '15 at 16:21
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I disagree with this suggestion.

Moderator flags should only be used as last resort:
Issues that can't be solved with actions normally available to users. Issues that have to be handled.

A single chatty comment could be considered "Not constructive", but doesn't necessarily warrant a mod flag, for example.

"Serious" is in there to dissuade users from flagging comments that are kinda, sorta, maybe, possibly off-topic.


My reasoning behind this is as follows:

For the pre-defined flags, flagging a comment means:
"This comment should be deleted because <reason>"
Flagging a comment has two possible outcomes:

  • The comment gets deleted.
  • The flag gets declined / disputed.

If the issue with the comment isn't serious enough to warrant deletion, the comment shouldn't be flagged.
(With a possible exception for a mod flag for cases not covered by the default flags)

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  • Is this comment not constructive enough? – ryanyuyu Nov 5 '15 at 14:38
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    @ryanyuyu: It may not be, but it doesn't require moderator intervention. In other words: Not a serious problem ;-) – Cerbrus Nov 5 '15 at 14:39
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    This is not what this answer suggests. Chatty is "anything that's not really relevant". Is that serious? – Tunaki Nov 5 '15 at 14:40
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    The OP is pointing out that the tooltip that comes up when the mouse hovers over the flag icon is saying "Flag this comment for serious problems or moderator attention". This tooltip does not make the distinction between using the canned flags, which we are quite fine to use for routine things like "not constructive" comments vs using a custom flag (which you seem to refer to as a "mod flag"), which should be reserved for serious problems. – Louis Nov 5 '15 at 14:42
  • I was always under the impression that all comment flags went through a moderator queue. That isn't the case? – Cerbrus Nov 5 '15 at 14:44
  • @Cerbrus That's the case. – Louis Nov 5 '15 at 14:45
  • So, if all of those flags go through a moderator queue, shouldn't they all be used sparingly for serious issues that require moderator intervention? – Cerbrus Nov 5 '15 at 14:46
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    Only moderators can delete comments made by others. There's no guideline anywhere, and I've never seen a moderator say "You know. If there is only one chatty comment under a post. You should not flag it because that's a bad use of our time." I've routinely flagged such comments (the biggest offender being "thanks") and routinely have had such flags found helpful. (The advice I've seen from moderators is when there is a whole slew of comments that should be removed, flag the post with a custom flag rather than flag each comment individually.) – Louis Nov 5 '15 at 14:49
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    I see. You're reading too much into a simple example, taking that example literally. What I'm trying to say there: Consider whether the case is serious enough to require a moderator to step in, or whether it's just a (single?) harmless comment. – Cerbrus Nov 5 '15 at 14:51
  • There are currently no actions available to users to handle comments. Except adding another comment, which kind of defeats the purpose. – Tunaki Nov 5 '15 at 14:52
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    Or ignoring the comment chain. Letting it die out is an option too. – Cerbrus Nov 5 '15 at 14:52
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    @Cerbrus i think there are exceptions, where multiples of some of the flags may result in the comment getting deleted immediately rather than going through the queue. Here's another case: meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/266161/… – Kevin B Nov 5 '15 at 19:32
  • Guys, once again, what I'm saying is: Don't flag comments that aren't clearly off-topic, offensive, spam, etc. If it's not that big of a problem, if it's not a serious issue, if it doesn't absolutely have to be removed, don't flag it. Technically, "Thanks, this solved my problem, I'm accepting this answer!" is chatty, but not a serious problem, for example. – Cerbrus Nov 6 '15 at 7:29
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    @Cerbrus The difference is theoretical. In practice, I've always treated both comments as worthy of being flagged and never had a moderator decline such flag. – Louis Nov 6 '15 at 12:41
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    The "Can a machine be taught to flag?" question actually has some pretty good statements to make on comment flagging value, especially Brad Larson's answer. meta.stackoverflow.com/a/280554/424903 – Gimby Nov 6 '15 at 13:24

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