I saw a comment on an answer on SO that was made by the answerer. The comment was "if useful +1". I flagged it for removal and it got removed about a minute later. Can we prevent such useless comments by blacklisting short "+1" comments?
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5Sometimes it's useful to explain -1 in comments. (If this comment would be auto blocked, I wouldn't be able to explain, and would be discouraged from even trying further)– Shadow WizardCommented Nov 23, 2020 at 13:17
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1Similar goals: meta.stackexchange.com/q/257769/282094 meta.stackexchange.com/q/139795/282094– RobCommented Nov 23, 2020 at 16:23
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An alternative: each user that finds those comments, flag them to be deleted. I can't remember where I read this, but, when a comment "and this applies to questions" has more than 5 downvotes/flags, the comment is deleted (or, in the case of questions, the question itself is closed as off-topic).– Mauricio Arias OlaveCommented Dec 17, 2020 at 14:09
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This has actually been implemented! I tried to send a comment starting with "-1" on SO but it wouldn't let me.– AnonymousCommented Apr 15, 2021 at 15:56
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1 Answer
Plus one!
Blacklisting specific words from posts or comments to a point where they can not be posted or will be automatically deleted after posting will only 'move the problem', people will only get more creative in their ways to still post their one-up comments.*
A system-level blacklist will only make people write more creative comments trying to circumvent it. There's no easy fix for this, people will also abuse comments to make remarks like 'good answer', 'I agree'...
Any comment that's not doing what comments are for (request clarification, leave constructive criticism for improving the post, add relevant but minor/transient information) can be flagged as 'no longer needed'. It is suspected that short +1 comments already require less of those flags to be deleted, which will help a little in keeping at least those comments under control.
Blacklisting '+1' entirely will probably get a few false positives, e.g. when mathematical formulas are involved, and some creative (but barely legible) ways to still circumvent not being able to post 'pl0s 0n3'. So, it's probably better to not let the system prevent or automatically delete them, but have some human oversight. Just enjoy your helpful comment flag count going up :)
* I seem to remember a meta post on how people would replace characters when words are blacklisted somewhere already but I can't find it
answered Nov 23, 2020 at 13:38
