How do you decide to reply to reports?

[BIWI]

I know TSSNCOP, but I'd like some clarification about how you decide to reply to reports.

First, is there some kind of priority? Do some reports get a reply sooner than others? If so, why is this? (Notwithstanding the very obvious poster in real danger/distress, obviously)

Second, some reports just get the generic 'we're looking into it' - which often or not doesn't generate any follow-up as to why a post/thread has or hasn't been deleted.

And third, how do you decide whether or not to reply to a report to give your reasons for deletion or allowing it to stand?

I ask as it can be very frustrating when you report to get no reply, or rather it's a very long wait until you get a reply and then, when all you get is an acknowledgement rather than anything further.

Perhaps I should add another question: how long do you expect to reply to posts on Site Stuff?!

Hi BIWI,

There are a number of factors involved in managing reports. While we can’t go into too much detail, we aim to respond to every report we receive. This is a time-consuming process for the team, but we believe it sets us apart from other discussion forums.

When a report comes in, we may send an initial "taking a look" reply to acknowledge it. From there, we actively investigate the issue raised. If a reporter follows up or seeks clarification on a decision, we're always happy to provide as much detail as we can. That said, we can’t engage in prolonged back-and-forth discussions about individual reports. Moderation naturally comes with a lot of feedback, and once a decision is made, we need to move on as reports can pile up quickly.

It’s also worth noting that we may not always have an immediate answer when we first look at a report. In these cases, we ask for patience while we check behind the scenes. Sometimes, we may need to discuss with the team, and ensure we're making the right call. Again, while we can’t go into too much detail here, but you're always welcome to ask for clarification on a moderation decision we've made.

Just posting to acknowledge that you've replied! Thank you @LilyMumsnet