And looks like a thread or two have gone poof.

I suppose I missed a lot today?

They disappear and re-appear so people are re-flagging. It's sad. Why can't people just scroll by if they aren't interested in the topic? Why ruin it for those participating? It's such a passive-aggressive way to show displeasure at people's opinions. I really hate that people have the power to pull threads.

I wish there was a flagging threshold where it would take X number of flags to remove a thread temporarily. That would keep individuals looking to make trouble from doing so, and truly bad and spam threads should have enough flags to remove them.

I missed it to! Kind of glad!

It was just a mild political thread, no name calling, no personal attacks, at least not that I saw.

Let's hold Emily to her commitment to oust people who abuse the flagging system. I copied and posted this from an earlier thread of Elmer's.

Emily H

Hi All, Houzz does have a moderation system, but we also try to strike a balance in how heavy handed that moderation is on the site. For the most part, we rely on the flagging system to alert our team if there are areas that need to be checked out. Please do use that system if there are posts you feel are vulgar, profane, threatening, personal attacks, spam, or similar.

If you simply disagree with someone, that is not a problem. Please don't flag that. Differences of opinion are welcome, as long as they can be expressed maturely and without name-calling or personal attacks.

14 Likes Save on Wednesday at 11:43AMThanked by Elmer J Fudd

A long time ago before the "kitchen table" was hosted by Houzz, I seem to remember there were a set of rules for this forum. One of those rules was "no policing". Could that rule still be in effect? Also, it is very subjective and dependent of the view of the watchdog.

..... don't remember the "no policing" period, but remember when things got out of hand, the "boss" would whisk away the poster and sent him/her to "Disneyland" for awhile....lesson soon learned. I know there are a few here that still remember that. LOL.

Do the monitors check if it's only one person that flags? Maybe there should be a three person minimum?

If three people are offended it might be something to look at.

The other day Emily chimed in on Elmer’s “do we need moderators” thread with this so I suspect who ever the culprit is will eventually be asked to knock it off:

“Hi All, Houzz does have a moderation system, but we also try to strike a balance in how heavy handed that moderation is on the site. For the most part, we rely on the flagging system to alert our team if there are areas that need to be checked out. Please do use that system if there are posts you feel are vulgar, profane, threatening, personal attacks, spam, or similar.”

If you simply disagree with someone, that is not a problem. Please don't flag that. Differences of opinion are welcome, as long as they can be expressed maturely and without name-calling or personal attacks.

I do wish Emily would outline how flagging works--does it only take one person to get rid of a post, or even to have it "checked"?

My sentiments exactly blfenton.

The flagging is worse over the weekend because the moderators aren't around to review, so they disappear until Monday or Tuesday.

I think some people don't want to see views that oppose theirs. Or their beliefs.

If someone doesn’t like the subject matter or a response in the thread, close the thread. This is kind of like tv. You don’t like the show? Change channels. Just don’t stop me from watching that channel.

Agree that the flagging needs to stop or be controlled. I flag movie spam almost every day, as do others. If it takes 3 to flag, I think we would manage just fine.

Didn't Emily post recently that they are looking into folks who flag too often without cause? There was going to be some sort of consequence? I hope they follow through 'cause this is ridiculous.

To the person flagging all these posts: Scroll on by and leave posters alone. And stop hiding behind the flags.

Amen Olychick! I can think of one poster that frequently posts just to argue and belittle others. I'm glad to see other posters are calling him out on this behavior.

I've only once flagged a post and it was a threat to physically harm an elected official!

Hey, I do 2 posts in one day and everyone gets a flag but me! Should my feeling be hurt or does the flagger like me?

If I am not mistaken, ALL posts that get flagged are reviewed by a moderator before being deleted. So it is not like one can arbitrarily flag to delete any post they don't care for or agree with and it is automatically gone. It may disappear until the moderators have had time to review and make a decision but I don't think any individual member has the ability to officially delete anything but their own comments.

"I can think of one poster that frequently posts just to argue"

What an ironic thing for YOU to say.

I can think of one poster that frequently posts just to argue and belittle others. I'm glad to see other posters are calling him out on this behavior.

First of all, I don't think you have to worry about anyone in this forum getting walked on. Most of us are 'all ladies' in the best sense of the word, but intellectually quite prepared to respond firmly and appropriately.

Second of all, if you have a beef about a particular post, say something about it. But just to refer to a member and gossip about him when he hasn't done anything wrong, that's not right. That's like kicking the dog every time you pass by and all he's doing is snoozing on his mat, of course he is going to bite (you) sooner or later and who could blame him?

My problem rather than having one of the few threads I post is typing a reply then when I click on submit it simply disappears. I just tried to post on Buying and Selling homes and after the third time gave up. Was happening all day yesterday. My first thought was I was being monitored but none of the postings have shown up today.

Well Elmer, since I posted a generalization (no names or identities revealed) directly related to the topic of discussion in support of an earlier post, the topic being about posts needing moderation. I mention an activity that could be flagged in those that prefer to argue not discuss, isn't it interesting that you are the only poster writing a direct personal attack against another poster?!?!?!? Thank you for confirming mine and others viewpoint.

Clarification, I used the proper pronoun of "him & his" because I don't know if the several argumentative posters I was thinking of are male or female.

Raye I have been cautioned to use they, them, their rather than the other personal pronouns by several. Hard to get used to and even harder to decide which one goes where. I normally just use them and their.

That's a new one one me! I've found that some grammar rules change by region.

I did well in grammar and remember being taught not to use "it" for people and that him/his (3rd person singular) is the correct pronoun for any situation where you don't know if the person is male or female. Isn't they/them/their 3rd person plural? I'd find that too confusing with the mixing of subject-verb agreements.

An example of regional grammar I've encountered is the Oxford comma.. I was talking with a group from a variety of locations and some had been it taught as children and there were some of us that had not been taught it. The other interesting difference was how to pronounce the flower Peony. Another one is you'all vs. ya'll.

My words related to your comment, not you personally. Unlike yours. Nice try, I won't be baited.