Getting award notifications via chat is confusing, and feels really awkward (Part 3: Even ANONYMOUS mod awards are being sent via chat now)

https://www.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/r0m9jx/getting_award_notifications_via_chat_is_confusing/

created by Kvothealar on 23/11/2021 at 20:21 UTC*

65 upvotes, 8 top-level comments (showing 8)

This is a follow-up to my first two posts on the subject:

Part 1: Getting award notifications via chat is confusing, and feels really awkward

Part 2: Not even getting award notifications 70% of the time

I just sent a mod award to a user, which is supposed to be from the moderation team of my subreddit and not from a particular user.

It sent the notification by adding myself (who should have remained anonymous) and the user into a chat together. Also, another ongoing problem I've had over the last 2 weeks is when the notification sends via chat, it sends the notification twice.

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The current state of reddit award notifications is disruptive to our subreddit's (/r/GoForGold) functionality.

/r/GoForGold is currently having a community query and since starting it a number of users have expressed discontent with chat-based awarding messages (on the community query, in our discord, and via personal conversations). The current state of award notifications is likely going to prevent us from introducing a new feature to the subreddit. This feature has been requested by a number of users, and would likely result in an increase of awards given out on our subreddit. For relevant conversations, see: 1[1], 2[2], 3[3], and 4[4]

1: https://www.reddit.com/r/GoForGold/comments/qxoecs/deep_breath_were_going_to_pull_on_3_everybody/hlbx9ii/

2: https://www.reddit.com/r/GoForGold/comments/qxoecs/deep_breath_were_going_to_pull_on_3_everybody/hlckkyu/

3: https://www.reddit.com/r/GoForGold/comments/qxoecs/deep_breath_were_going_to_pull_on_3_everybody/hlcj0t7/

4: https://www.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/qtuppq/getting_award_notifications_via_chat_is_confusing/hlbynsb/

A number of users have sent me anonymous award messages in the last few weeks but included their name in them, specifically to avoid starting a chat with me and wanting to keep it via PM.

Comments

Comment by 1-760-706-7425 at 23/11/2021 at 21:59 UTC

23 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Even better?

Chat’s only supported on 1P platforms since Reddit hasn’t exposed it through the API. That means a large portion of users, myself included, never see the notifications. Whoever is in charge of the platform direction needs to take a class in making, wait for it, platforms.

Comment by mizmoose at 23/11/2021 at 22:15 UTC

23 upvotes, 3 direct replies

That explains why I never get notified of awards - I have chat turned off, because 99% of what I get is abuse for being a mod.

Comment by Petrarch1603 at 24/11/2021 at 10:22 UTC

5 upvotes, 3 direct replies

I've asked before but are there any 'success cases' where users have found a practical use for the chat function? This seems like one of those features that nobody asked for that was crammed down our throats.

Comment by Kryomaani at 24/11/2021 at 14:31 UTC

3 upvotes, 1 direct replies

It sent the notification by adding myself (who should have remained anonymous) and the user into a chat together.

On that note, please be aware that any user can also tell who sent them modmail as the subreddit, so even that is not actually anonymous, because modmail respects blocklists. A couple of users in a sub I run have used this to reveal who banned them and the proceeded to harass them specifically making it blatantly obvious. This "bug" still exists and has existed for past three months and we've made Reddit aware of it as well, but since it only affects mods and not normal users it seems it's lowest possible priority for them to fix (or potentially a *wontfix* altogether).

If you need real anonymity, you have to make a shared account for the moderators of your sub since Reddit does nothing to maintain moderator anonymity. It's just how it is.

Comment by Why_So_Sagittarius at 29/11/2021 at 16:55 UTC

3 upvotes, 1 direct replies

hey there - we are passing this on to the team who works on this. Thanks!

Comment by llamageddon01 at 24/11/2021 at 15:05 UTC*

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I have a similar issue. On r/NewToReddit I used to use the chat as a way of checking up on new Redditors after a certain time. Now it’s clogged up with “thanks” (that aren’t even real thanks but just someone choosing an option from a menu) that��s become unworkable.

Plus last week during a celebration event, I gave out around 30 awards of which I subsequently discovered many of the receivers had no idea where they came from. Blergh. Likewise, looking back at comments at times I’ve discovered I’ve been given awards and have no idea when or who they were from.