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35

I like the idea of adding comment moderation but some of the items listed, I'd be worried about including: access to deleted comments, undeleting comments, editing comments. I'd think that we'd want these privileges restricted to a small # of users and on SO 30k user base is pretty large. Would users have access to all comments in the flag queue? There are things that moderators need to be aware of and if we no longer see these flags, then we lose the ability to step in. There might be repeated not-constructive/rude comments that needs messaging - that'd be lost if handled elsewhere.
– Taryn
Commented Apr 3, 2015 at 18:06
22

If editing comments past 5 min is allowed, it definitely should be disabled on metas. And even so, there are enough bitter 30K users around willing to use this feature to make others look stupid. I imagine these new powers being used for harm more often than for good.
– user259867
Commented Apr 3, 2015 at 18:28
6

@JonEricson Creating even a comment flag queue would be a step in the right direction IMO. It's really easy to throw too chatty flags at a flag queue for users to review - we get tons of those and they are a waste of time for moderators, even obsolete comment flags. But I'd hesitate to send in rude/offensive or not-constructive flags.
– Taryn
Commented Apr 3, 2015 at 18:37
5

@AdamDavis There are comments that are posted that no-one should see...ever! I personally wouldn't want to have a large # of users have the ability to see those.
– Taryn
Commented Apr 3, 2015 at 18:38
2

@bluefeet I see how it is; you're currently constructing a new horror movie/website/game/something based on deleted SO comments and you don't want anyone to scoop you.
– Servy
Commented Apr 3, 2015 at 18:53
2

@ bluefeet: Separating out chatty and obsolete comment flags and letting the community (whether 30k or some other level) clear them is a great idea. If you have a moment, would you mind writing that suggestion up?
– Jon Ericson
Commented Apr 3, 2015 at 18:59
7

I could get behind 30k+ users having the ability to moderate comments, but I'd limit the comments they can review to those flagged as "not constructive" or "obsolete". I would prefer to have only moderators handle the "rude or offensive" or "other" comment flags, because these tend to show more severe patterns of behavior and may require moderator intervention. The latter two categories are also far less common than the former.
– Brad Larson
Commented Apr 3, 2015 at 19:03
3

@Servy perhaps, but the current system just ensures abuse the opposite direction. By keeping comments a protected form of communication which requires moderator intervention we find that it's easy for everyone to heap abuse on people. It doesn't even have to be big forms of abuse, but the type of minor sniping that drives new users away. Comments should not be held in such high regard, nor be closed to normal user moderation systems. They should be ephemeral, easily deleted minor bits of clarification. If a user has something important to say, they should be encouraged to add an answer.
– Pollyanna
Commented Apr 3, 2015 at 20:19
4

While I like the idea of more people helping get rid of unnecessary comments I don't think 30k rep privs is the right thing for it for reasons you stated including "we want these users to be answering not doing easy, unfulfilling comment moderation". A comment review queue should be created, and anyone should be able to flag comments that will end up going into this new queue, and people with > 500 rep (or maybe even 5000 rep) will be able to review the comments and take actions from there. This will take the majority of comment moderation away from mods, except the "requires mod attention".
– CRABOLO
Commented Apr 3, 2015 at 20:19
2

@BradLarson the rude and offensive flags are already more likely to be handled by the community than the other comment flags. They tend to get a stronger reaction and are more likely to contain any of the single-vote delete trigger words. What we need is a tool that makes mods aware of users that get unusually many comments removed because they're offensive. The community should be able to remove those, it just shouldn't leave mods in the dark.
– Mad Scientist
Commented Apr 3, 2015 at 20:54
13

The ability to delete comments unilaterally feels a little creepy. It seems like certain users would be able to silently censor others. If deletion and undeletion were removed from this, I think it would greatly reduce the ability for it to be abused.
– Travis J
Commented Apr 4, 2015 at 7:22
3

@TravisJ So maybe instead of a unilateral delete, there should be a voting system for comment deletes like there is for trusted users deleting questions and answers.
– pacoverflow
Commented Apr 5, 2015 at 6:15
3

I apologize if I'm repeating stuff here but I don't really have time to read all these comments. I would love a better comment moderation system and I really like what shog outlined here but I think a lot of the ideas outlined in this post are really bad. I can only imagine the chaos that would ensue if users could unilaterally delete or undelete comments. I certainly don't want to be here when that happens. It's been said many many times that comments are supposed to be ephemeral and require little moderation.
– ɥʇǝS
Commented Apr 5, 2015 at 23:33
19

Editing comments is one of the sneakiest things you can do on the site, because there's no accountability and no notification. It's good that only moderators can do that -- and I've seen even that cause problems, so I sure don't want to increase the number of people who can do that. I also don't think we want non-mods to be able to undelete comments. You once argued that comments are kipple and people shouldn't get attached to them; bringing them back from the dead by anything other than mod action seems inconsistent with that.
– Monica Cellio
Commented Apr 6, 2015 at 1:57
2

I'll take "see deleted comments"; anything more is gravy. It's kinda handy to have when you participate in Metas, you might also see something that should be brought to mods attentions, and ... well, damnit, there's often so much juicy drama in deleted comments. Its so hard to find good stuff to read while eating popcorn...
– user1228
Commented Apr 6, 2015 at 17:55

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