Re:Ask HN: Why can't post authors see the reason a post was ...
by wmf on Monday October 10, 2016 @03:29PM
(#12679259)
In general, posts are flagged because someone clicked the "flag" link so HN doesn't know any more specific reason.
Telling spammers why they were blocked just makes it easier for them to change their behavior just enough to not be blocked in the future. Telling crackpots why they were blocked just causes them to post multiple responses complaining about groupthink, free speech, and conspiracies. This has led basically all user generated content sites to have a policy of never explaining their moderation decisions. Of course this occasionally goes wrong.
Telling spammers why they were blocked just makes it easier for them to change their behavior just enough to not be blocked in the future. Telling crackpots why they were blocked just causes them to post multiple responses complaining about groupthink, free speech, and conspiracies. This has led basically all user generated content sites to have a policy of never explaining their moderation decisions. Of course this occasionally goes wrong.