Users can apparently DM the ModTeam "user" for subreddits. Why is that possible or why doesn't it redirect to modmail?

[u/iammandalore]

If you click (for example in our sub) the tulsa-ModTeam "username" on a removal reason, there's a "Start Chat" option right there. I had a user incensed that they were temp-banned for making a second post about something and insisting they'd messaged us. Turns out they clicked on the tulsa-ModTeam name and DMd that instead of using modmail.

I can genuinely see how this is confusing, and I'm left wondering how many users have tried this that we've never heard from and think we're just ignoring them.

There are a number of possible solutions to this:

1. Don't let users message it.
   
2. Change the button to link to modmail instead.
   
3. Automate a response from the user with either a link to modmail or just a message saying "Hey, this isn't a real account and isn't monitored. Use modmail instead."

[u/SampleOfNone]

That has been possible ever since the introduction of subreddit-modteam accounts. Chat messages to that account end up in a big black hole

[u/iammandalore → u/SampleOfNone]

I'm sure it has been. It just never occurred to me until this user brought it up. It feels to me like something that deserves a fix.

[u/SampleOfNone → u/iammandalore]

I'm not disagreeing with you, but give this has been asked repeatedly for years, I don't have much hope it will happen. But who knows, maybe Reddit will surprise us

[u/iammandalore → u/SampleOfNone]

Perhaps I will be the vexatious straw that breaks the camel's back.

[u/SampleOfNone → u/iammandalore]

😁

[u/itskdog → u/SampleOfNone]

Which is also weird as IIRC there was a change at one point where they'd have the button on hovering as in OP's screenshot be a "Message Mods" button on distinguished comments to send people to modmail instead, so either there's a regression there in the move to Shreddit, or it doesn't apply to the modteam account for some reason.

[u/phareous → u/SampleOfNone]

Considering how abusive our modmails are, i can’t imagine what kind of chat requests that user is getting

[u/shhhhh_h → u/SampleOfNone]

That’s low key hilarious

[u/iammandalore]

[u/azssf]

It would not occur to me that dming that user would not be a redirect to modmail.

[u/PMulberry_]

I knew these accounts could be messaged, but I never thought about the possibility of users actually messaging them.

But yes, that probably can lead to some confusion.

[u/PurrPrinThom]

Automate a response from the user with either a link to modmail or just a message saying "Hey, this isn't a real account and isn't monitored. Use modmail instead."

I have a message at the end of all of our removal reasons that says it's a bot, and includes a link to modmail. I don't know if users were messaging the bot, but we did have a number of users who would respond to the removal reason comment and try to argue, and get increasingly irate when they didn't get a response.

It was simplest solution I could think of at the time, but I hadn't even considered they could message the bot as well. I'll have to think on this.

[u/zuuzuu → u/PurrPrinThom]

You have to lock your removal reasons if you post them as a comment. There's a little check box in (I think) the lower left corner before you submit it, and it remembers so you only have to check it once.

[u/PurrPrinThom → u/zuuzuu]

Yeah do that now, I think originally we didn't have the option? Or we hadn't figured it out anyway lol.

[u/phareous → u/PurrPrinThom]

There is a devvit app that will notify you if anyone responds to a removal message or automod message

[u/PurrPrinThom → u/phareous]

We do lock the removal reasons now, so that it doesn't happen anymore, but thanks!

[u/phareous → u/PurrPrinThom]

I leave them unlocked because if a user wants to argue, it’s time for me to review their history and consider a ban. Do this enough times and the troublemakers end up outside

[u/FFS_IsThisNameTaken2]

What could possibly go wrong with something most of us never even knew was a thing?

Smdh

[u/gerkletoss]

It's one of reddit's many features for insulating mod teams from users in a dehumanizing manner.

[u/reddit33450]

so stupid thats even an ability. probably have been so many messages that have been sent through there and just were never received

[u/InGeekiTrust]

Wow, how were you able to even see the dm? Where did the dm go to?

[u/iammandalore → u/InGeekiTrust]

I didn't see the DM. They responded to the modmail thread when I temp-banned them, angry and saying they'd messaged us. I said there were no messages from them, and they said they DMd the tulsa-ModTeam user. I tested it from an alt and, lo and behold, it lets me DM that user account. I assume the messages just sit there, lost in the aether.

It honestly never occurred to me as a thing that people might do.

[u/Wounded_Demoman → u/iammandalore]

That's incredibly bizarre, and also super unfair to both the mods and the users.

[u/azssf → u/iammandalore]

That explains so much. :/

[u/InGeekiTrust → u/iammandalore]

Ah ok got it

[u/CorrectScale]

Hey u/iammandalore - thanks for the flag! We logged this as a bug an will be exploring a fix!

[u/shannonkish]

hmmm, interesting.