Moderation Actions

This guide covers all moderation actions available in Multiforum, including when and how to use them.

Action Menu Access

Moderation actions are accessed through the action menu:

1. Discussions: Click the three-dot menu in the discussion header
2. Comments: Hover over the comment and click the action menu
3. Events: Click the three-dot menu on the event page
4. Images: Click the action menu on image thumbnails

Available Actions

Report

Permission: canReport (all authenticated users)

Report content for moderator review:

1. Click Report in the action menu
2. Select a reason:
   • Rule violation
   • Spam
   • Harassment
   • Misinformation
   • Other (custom reason)
3. Add optional details
4. Submit

What happens: A moderation issue is created and assigned to channel moderators.

Give Feedback

Permission: canGiveFeedback

Provide constructive feedback to content authors. See Giving Feedback for details.

Archive

Permission: canHideComment, canHideDiscussion, or canHideEvent

Hide content from public view without deleting it:

1. Click Archive in the action menu
2. Confirm the action
3. Content is hidden

Effects:

• Content hidden from feeds and searches
• Author can still see their own archived content
• Content can be unarchived later
• A moderation issue is created

Unarchive

Permission: Same as archive

Restore previously archived content:

1. Navigate to the archived content
2. Click Unarchive in the action menu
3. Confirm
4. Content is restored to public view

Archive and Suspend

Permission: canHideComment/canHideDiscussion/canHideEvent AND canSuspendUser

Archive content and suspend the author in a single action:

1. Click Archive and Suspend in the action menu
2. Choose suspension duration:
   • 1 day
   • 3 days
   • 7 days
   • 30 days
   • Indefinite
3. Confirm

Effects:

• Content is archived
• User is suspended from the channel
• Both actions linked to the same issue
• User receives notification explaining the suspension

Edit

Permission: canEditComments, canEditDiscussions, or canEditEvents

Modify others' content (use sparingly):

1. Click Edit in the action menu
2. Make necessary changes
3. Add an edit reason
4. Save

Guidelines:

• Only edit to fix policy violations
• Preserve the author's intent when possible
• Document changes in the edit reason
• Consider feedback before editing

Suspend User

Permission: canSuspendUser

Suspend a user from a channel:

1. Navigate to the user's content or profile
2. Click Suspend User
3. Choose duration or indefinite
4. Link to a related issue
5. Confirm

Unsuspend User

Permission: canSuspendUser

Remove a user suspension:

1. Go to Channel Settings → Suspended Users
2. Find the user
3. Click Unsuspend
4. Confirm

Lock Channel

Permission: canLockChannel

Prevent new content in a channel:

1. Go to Channel Settings
2. Click Lock Channel
3. Enter a lock reason
4. Confirm

Effects:

• No new discussions, events, or comments allowed
• Existing content remains visible
• Moderators can still take actions
• Can be unlocked by owners

Unlock Channel

Permission: canLockChannel

Remove a channel lock:

1. Go to Channel Settings
2. Click Unlock Channel
3. Confirm

Image-Specific Actions

Archive Image

Permission: canArchiveImage

Hide an image from public view:

1. Click the action menu on the image
2. Select Archive
3. Confirm

Permanently Remove Image

Permission: canPermanentlyRemoveImage

Permanently delete an image and its file:

1. Click the action menu on the image
2. Select Permanently Remove
3. Confirm twice (destructive action)

Warning: This action cannot be undone.

Wiki-Specific Actions

Edit Wiki

Permission: canEditWiki

Modify wiki pages:

1. Navigate to the wiki page
2. Click Edit
3. Make changes
4. Add an edit reason
5. Save

Delete Wiki Page

Permission: canDeleteWiki

Remove a wiki page:

1. Navigate to the wiki page
2. Click Delete
3. Confirm

Issue-Specific Actions

Lock Issue

Prevent further comments on an issue:

1. Open the issue
2. Click Lock Issue
3. Enter a lock reason
4. Confirm

Close Issue

Mark an issue as resolved:

1. Open the issue
2. Click Close Issue
3. Optionally add a resolution note
4. Confirm

Reopen Issue

Reopen a closed issue:

1. Open the closed issue
2. Click Reopen Issue
3. Add a reason
4. Confirm

Action Decision Guide

Situation	Recommended Action
Minor guideline issue	Give Feedback
First-time rule violation	Archive + Give Feedback
Repeated violations	Archive and Suspend
Spam or obvious trolling	Archive (no feedback needed)
Illegal content	Archive + Report to admin
User harassment	Archive and Suspend (longer duration)
Factual error	Give Feedback
Off-topic content	Give Feedback (redirect suggestion)

Best Practices

Escalation Path

1. Feedback - For minor issues
2. Archive - For clear rule violations
3. Archive + Short Suspension - For repeated issues
4. Archive + Long Suspension - For serious violations
5. Indefinite Suspension - For extreme cases

Documentation

Always ensure:

• Actions are linked to issues
• Reasons are clear and specific
• Evidence is preserved
• Similar cases are handled consistently

Communication

• Notify users of significant actions
• Respond to appeals through issues
• Coordinate with other moderators
• Escalate to channel owners when uncertain

Reversibility

Consider reversibility when taking actions:

Action	Reversible?
Feedback	Yes (can be edited)
Archive	Yes (can unarchive)
Suspend	Yes (can unsuspend)
Edit	Partially (version history preserved)
Permanent Image Removal	No
Wiki Delete	No