# Closed by moderator **URL:** \ **Category:** Forum Feedback\ **Created:** [March 29, 2021, 1:33pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592 "2021-03-29T13:33:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![becksnyc](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/becksnyc/32/12940_2.png) [@becksnyc](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/becksnyc)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 1:33pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/1 "2021-03-29T13:33:35Z")
I’m sorry, I’m new to using the forum. When a query I posted was closed by a moderator, but I had further questions, do I have to start all over again? I’ve never had a query closed 12 minutes after posting. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![bouteloua](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/bouteloua/32/1180_2.png) [@bouteloua](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/bouteloua)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 1:35pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/2 "2021-03-29T13:35:29Z")
Feel free to send a direct message to [@forum\_moderators](https://forum.inaturalist.org/groups/forum_moderators) (which goes to all of us) or a specific moderator ([see list](https://forum.inaturalist.org/about)) if there’s ever a question or concern about a closed topic. ---
**Author:** ![becksnyc](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/becksnyc/32/12940_2.png) [@becksnyc](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/becksnyc)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 1:38pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/3 "2021-03-29T13:38:09Z")
Thank you for your prompt reply. I feel bad, I posted links to the observations I had a question about after being told to do so by someone who replied to my original query. Then the moderator said I should not have done so and closed the query. I deleted the links but feel like I’ve been chastised and shut out. Perhaps I don’t understand the protocols here, or perhaps I asked an inappropriate question? confused. ---
**Author:** ![bouteloua](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/bouteloua/32/1180_2.png) [@bouteloua](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/bouteloua)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 1:45pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/4 "2021-03-29T13:45:32Z")
To help explain a bit, we try not to call out specific people’s unwanted/undesirable or inappropriate behavior here on the forum. We wouldn’t want someone to visit the forum and see themselves used as an example of something bad or as a talking point. This forum platform (Discourse) is a bit quirky - when you edit or delete a post, the content is actually still visible by everyone for 24 hours (unless a moderator/staff goes in and hides the revision). Depending on the situation, we may also unlist a topic or turn it into a direct message instead. ---
**Author:** ![becksnyc](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/becksnyc/32/12940_2.png) [@becksnyc](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/becksnyc)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 1:47pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/5 "2021-03-29T13:47:52Z")
I agree, that is the kindest way to handle it. I prefer to handle matters directly without causing embarrassment to others. I just needed advice and appreciate that it was given in the moderators concluding comments. I will deal with my remaining question in another post or searching this forum. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![robertarcher397](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/robertarcher397/32/57_2.png) [@robertarcher397](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/robertarcher397)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 2:01pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/6 "2021-03-29T14:01:14Z")
I agree, this was completely unnecessary to close AND unlist so soon. ---
**Author:** ![mamestraconfigurata](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/mamestraconfigurata/32/10149_2.png) [@mamestraconfigurata](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/mamestraconfigurata)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 2:03pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/7 "2021-03-29T14:03:00Z")
I saw your original post, and from my perspective, there was nothing wrong with it. It was a legitimate question. I don’t know who the moderator was, but the information @bouteloua gave should have been made known to you. I know it is tough, but try not to feel shut out or silenced. Mistakes do happen, and the Forum is a decent place. ---
**Author:** ![marina\_gorbunova](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/marina_gorbunova/32/31454_2.png) [@marina\_gorbunova](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/marina_gorbunova)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 2:06pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/8 "2021-03-29T14:06:16Z")
I think the moderator answer was normal, you can follow those words really, it was a pretty fast closing of a topic though, but in the end you got the answer, I’m sure it wasn’t a personal thing, probably links did trigger that responce. ---
**Author:** ![becksnyc](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/becksnyc/32/12940_2.png) [@becksnyc](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/becksnyc)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 2:13pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/9 "2021-03-29T14:13:51Z")
I agree, the very nicest people are here on iNat! ---
**Author:** ![becksnyc](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/becksnyc/32/12940_2.png) [@becksnyc](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/becksnyc)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 2:15pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/10 "2021-03-29T14:15:24Z")
Thanks, I’m probably just overtired today, now that moth season has begun (:-) Now to research how to flag duplicates when a the user doesn’t respond to comments after time passes. ---
**Author:** ![marina\_gorbunova](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/marina_gorbunova/32/31454_2.png) [@marina\_gorbunova](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/marina_gorbunova)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/12 "2021-03-29T14:27:09Z")
There’s no specific flag for duplicates (though I vote for adding it with all my heart), usually you check those as evidence of organism \> no, some people add flags (you can find an icon under the photo), though I saw negative commentaries about that, so I stick to DQA. ---
**Author:** ![becksnyc](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/becksnyc/32/12940_2.png) [@becksnyc](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/becksnyc)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 2:32pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/13 "2021-03-29T14:32:00Z")
DQA means? ---
**Author:** ![marina\_gorbunova](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/marina_gorbunova/32/31454_2.png) [@marina\_gorbunova](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/marina_gorbunova)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 2:33pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/14 "2021-03-29T14:33:07Z")
Data Quality A something, m, assignment? Well, lower part of observation, in English version it’s written there. ---
**Author:** ![becksnyc](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/becksnyc/32/12940_2.png) [@becksnyc](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/becksnyc)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 2:38pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/15 "2021-03-29T14:38:34Z")
Thanks, I’ve not used that section, and probably need to read up on it before I do. ---
**Author:** ![fluffyinca](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/fluffyinca/32/10786_2.png) [@fluffyinca](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/fluffyinca)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 2:39pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/16 "2021-03-29T14:39:48Z")
> [@marina\_gorbunova](#): > > Data Quality A something, m, assignment? Assessment. ---
**Author:** ![thebeachcomber](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/thebeachcomber/32/12748_2.png) [@thebeachcomber](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/thebeachcomber)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 11:04pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/20 "2021-03-29T23:04:01Z")
It was me that closed and unlisted; I had no intention of chastising or shutting you out, so I sincerely apologise if that’s how you felt. I thought that I had given a straightforward answer to what I interpreted as a simple question that wouldn’t need any follow up, but I obviously should have provided more of an explanation. The only reason that I closed and unlisted your thread was because of the links you posted (which wasn’t your fault, you were asked to). I anticipated that the user shown in the links would end up getting flooded with a barrage of (well-meaning) comments/requests to delete one of their duplicate observations, and/or flags on their observations, and that would have been unfair to them. It was also past midnight my time when I closed the thread, so I didn’t have the time to hang around and continue to moderate (which is entirely on me, and nothing you did wrong). Again, sorry I caused you any stress, I’ll make sure to explain things more clearly in future. ---
**Author:** ![becksnyc](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/becksnyc/32/12940_2.png) [@becksnyc](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/becksnyc)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2021, 12:07am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/21 "2021-03-30T00:07:08Z")
Thank you for explaining. I understand better now your decision. No hard feelings and thank you for your hard work moderating this fine forum. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/2X/7/7831452cf7f0d653ff1ffd34176334b7ef1b6a17.png) [@system](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 12:07am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/closed-by-moderator/21592/22 "2021-05-29T00:07:45Z")
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