Abuse of the alert system

It appears that it is possible for a single poster to multiple alert one post by selecting a different alert topic from the drop down menu. This loophole is beginning to be abused allowing threads to be targeted for dozens of alerts and making it impossible for the mod team to discern what, forum guidelines, if any are being transgressed, resulting in an entire thread being removed which may not have needed to be.

Can the alert function be modified so that a poster can only alert a post once?

Also, is it worth only permitting subscribers to alert posts?

Thanks.

The moderators were probably not chosen for their lack of discernment.

A lot depends on whether the moderators can see who alerted a post. If so, it would be obvious that one member had triggered multiple alerts to a single post.

@divegeester said
Can the alert function be modified so that a poster can only alert a post once?

First fix - this has been changed. One alert only.

And now reverting back to subscriber alerts only.

And a limit of 3 alerts a day has been reimposed.

Thank you Russ.

Despite accusations against me, and to be fair my combative posting style, I remain a firm supporter of this excellent site.

Edit; 7 thumbs down for my OP. I rest my case. LOL

@divegeester said
Thank you Russ.

Despite accusations against me, and to be fair my combative posting style, I remain a firm supporter of this excellent site.

Edit; 7 thumbs down for my OP. I rest my case. LOL

kiss ass

@lemondrop said
kiss ass

I’m very comfortable in acknowledging good site management while simultaneously palming off low-brow detractors.

@divegeester said
I’m very comfortable in acknowledging good site management while simultaneously palming off low-brow detractors.

does Russ fill your food bowl?

@lemondrop said
does Russ fill your food bowl?

We will possibly share beers one day, I’ll buy the first two and the pork scratchings.

@russ said
And now reverting back to subscriber alerts only.

Is there no way you can have alerts for non subs who have been members for say, a year plus?

@Russ

Thanks for your prompt response to this issue of ‘ alert rigging’.

@russ said
And now reverting back to subscriber alerts only.

Hi Russ,

There was a situation a while ago where a certain RHP personality was not only breaking RHP guidelines but breaking the law in multiple countries (as discrimination is against the law in most countries). The only way to make site admin aware was to email the admin however the discriminatory posts are left for days on end.

Is this what RHP is about?

I haven't been on the site for months and tried to alert an abusive post recently by someone who is now banned but I couldn't. The moderators are probably volunteers so we can't blame them if insults/discriminatory posts are left for days on end but can you please reconsider?

Regards,
Congruent.

I imagine one reason for reverting to subscriber-only alerts had to do with the possibility (or actual occurrences) of a single person with several non-sub accounts alerting posts multiple times.

One solution to not being able to alert posts: Subscribe.

Alternate solution for people who really can't afford to subscribe: PM a subscriber and ask them to alert the offending post.

Technical solutions to social problems have their limits. Gamers gonna game.