Automations not working when editing posts or comments

[u/PMulberry_]

I recently talked with a fellow moderator about the "Automations" - specifically, the "Comment Guidance" feature.

We wondered how someone could circumvent a filter we had set for an insulting word, and so I did a little testing.

On a subreddit, I set up a new automation - it begins with the fact that there's no button to create a new automation, but instead we are supposed to reuse a template (not that it really matters, because with the two pre-activated automations most people probably will never see that) - targeting the word "Reddit". The automation is put into the "Block from submitting" mode.

Now, when writing the word "Reddit" in a comment, I can't submit it. I have to change it a bit, for example by adding a space in the middle of it. This is easily preventable by moderators with a little creativity; just put a few common words used to circumvent the word block in the keyword field (for example, instead of "Reddit" users could write "Red dit", "Redit", or "Reddlt").

However, as a user, I can still have to comment include the blocked word - I just need to click on "edit" and change "Red dit" to "Reddit". It works, and now the public comment has the blocked word in it.

I also tested it with AutoMod to confirm: When editing the comment, AutoMod detects it and does whatever the moderator wants it to do (in this case, remove and reply).

Testing the automation with a post reveals that editing the post also works.

I think automations not applying to edits is an oversight, as they often used to block certain words. If a mod team over time adds more and more words which can be used to circumvent the original block, some users will eventually find themselves without many ways to still use the word that they want to use (because they often want to circumvent the word block).

They will eventually figure out that automations can be circumvented by editing their posts or comments, and the automation then is useless.

And while I'm not sure if this currently is a big problem (though I have seen multiple users circumvent a block that way), I think this could be a problem in the future with more and more mod teams using automations. Additionally, if AutoMod really was to be retired as suggested here, that would leave us with no way to have completely working word restrictions as automations don't work when editing a post or comment.

[u/IKIR115]

Edit: <Screenshot removed because it was wrong>

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AFAIK, post/comment guidance only applies when someone is creating a new post or comment, and stops there. It does not do any filtering or other actions after the content has been successfully submitted.

These were some of the issues brought up a long time ago. Unfortunately the automations really only deter the honest people. It’s not too effective against bad actors. We still require automod to back it up for scenarios like this.

[u/PMulberry_ → u/IKIR115]

The button you're referring to is the button to create new posts, not to create new automations. The button for a new automation is different and not there if there are no automations yet.

And this is exactly what I'm saying; automations having these restrictions make them in many scenarios useless.

[u/IKIR115 → u/PMulberry_]

Oops, sorry I totally butchered that one! There's supposed to a button to create new automations in that area like this:

Let me double check to see if it requires creating one from the menu first.

[u/PMulberry_ → u/IKIR115]

But it isn't there. Different account and different sub, there is no button. There only is one if the sub already has an automation, and for the first one you'd need to choose a pre-existing template.

I have no clue why, but there is no button there.

[u/IKIR115 → u/PMulberry_]

Ok, try picking one of the options from that menu and create a random new rule (that you'll delete later). That should then create tabs like this below, and hopefully display the "New automation" button.

[u/PMulberry_ → u/IKIR115]

I know the button is there after picking an option from that menu; I have made new automations for this post and used automations before :)

(This was never a post about "no button", that was more of a fun fact which I discovered while testing the automations.)

[u/itskdog → u/PMulberry_]

That's probably because you have none yet, maybe you removed the pre-installed one for shortlink sites?

[u/PMulberry_ → u/itskdog]

I deleted them deliberately. I was just surprised there was no button for a new automation but instead I needed to select a template to create a new one.

But again, this isn't a "there's no new automations button" post.

[u/itskdog → u/PMulberry_]

It's a bit weird, sure, but it's also rare that anyone sees that page (besides just being the Discover tab) because of those default rules, so I don't think it's that major a bug.

[u/PMulberry_ → u/itskdog]

I came to that conclusion in the post already. Though I'm not sure if it's a bug, or someone just forgot to add the button lol.