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  • In this post, it says (as option #2) that you can custom flag for a mod to lock or delete the question to prevent the discussion from continuing in the comments, so I'd say that the guidance in the answers to that post is sufficient. I'm not sure about any other "official" posts, but the guidance outline in Charcoal's "suicidal intent" section is also pretty good.
    – Ollie
    Commented Feb 21, 2022 at 18:04
  • 2
    @Ollie if only option #2 should be taken, then the guidance isn't sufficient and up to date at all anymore. Hence the question... I'm personally of the opinion that if I link someone to it now, they will probably start by copy pasting a comment before arriving at option #2, something that the other answer vehemently argues against doing. Also it's weird linking users to a question that's closed as a duplicate but say "here's your official guidance on what to do". But I'm not in a place to make an official ruling either ;)
    – Tinkeringbell Mod
    Commented Feb 21, 2022 at 18:14
  • 1
    Admittedly, I did use a CTRL-F to find that option, so you're probably right. Being buried in a duplicate post isn't really great either...
    – Ollie
    Commented Feb 21, 2022 at 18:58
  • 2
    It astounds me that that answer (the MTL one) hasn't been deleted yet. I have always considered it to be actively harmful.
    – Nick is tired
    Commented Feb 22, 2022 at 9:40
  • @Nick stands with Ukraine: In what way is it actively harmful?
    – This_is_NOT_a_forum
    Commented Mar 5, 2022 at 11:22
  • @This_is_NOT_a_forum For the same reasons discussed in Rebecca's answer (and to some extent in animuson's). Canned comments, especially those pointing people to suicide lines, are totally hollow tokens. People who suggest them do so because it makes them feel better but they're doing something without putting any consideration into how they make the person that actually needs help feel. [1/2]
    – Nick is tired
    Commented Mar 5, 2022 at 12:45
  • By suggesting canned comments all MTL is doing is showing that they are woefully underqualified to be put in a situation where they actually need to help someone, and are passing on that bad advice to others to do the same. [2/2]
    – Nick is tired
    Commented Mar 5, 2022 at 12:45
  • 1
    @Nick well, what do you think happens once stuff is escalated? As far as I know, a standard template mail goes out, with, surprise, surprise, a link to a (suicide) hotline/chat service. So it's really not more "actively harmful" to copy paste a comment than to only flag XD
    – Tinkeringbell Mod
    Commented Mar 5, 2022 at 13:39
  • @Tinkeringbell IMO there is a difference between doing it oneself and advising others to do the same. It would disappoint me if a template email is all that is done though.
    – Nick is tired
    Commented Mar 6, 2022 at 0:20