I frequently am tagged for identification help on observations for which I have no expertise (geographically or taxonomically), or may have previously been interested in, but no longer. I am a heavy identifier with over 50,000 ids, so I end up at or near the top of many higher level taxas for numbe…

This addresses the issue for you, but not if they are doing it with large numbers of other users, as it sounds like the OP is describing. I would want someone admonished more generally about this, ideally by a curator, with some sort of policy to point to. If the policy doesn’t exist, we could crea…

I don’t know the scale of what you are describing, but it sounds excessive. I don’t mind being tagged, I often like it, but I’m not tagged repeatedly. I would not want to be tagged casually or repeatedly. I think it’s fine to reach out to individuals who you think could help with ID’s, if you’ve tri…

[image] cazort: it fails the test of: “Would it be okay if everyone did this?” There are a lot of things on iNat that would fail that test, including things that people in this forum have asked for advice on how to do (e.g., bulk upload more observations than the system allows at one time).

I can think of 3 users I’ve interacted with recently who tag in an uncouth manner, which isn’t bad overall. I’m more annoyed with users who don’t provide an initial ID, don’t follow up on identifications, and those out of range species suggestions from the Seek app.

[image] tchakamaura: There could be an opt-out for the leaderboards. Perhaps individually, for a node in the tree, if you identify a lot and don’t want to be tagged. i have been desperately wanting this forever i accidentally became the #1 millipede identifier in the world after i had a phas…

[image] kuchipatchis: i just want off the millipede leaderboard that should be something iNat staff can do for you - on a one off basis? Hidden from the World, but still visible for your location?

I’m on the leaderboard for Microgastrinae wasps because I ID a lot of the distinctive cocoons, but unfortunately I am not expert in the adult form. When I’m tagged I have to leave a comment about my lack of expertise. I used to forward the tag to someone else (a busy researcher). Now, instead I add …

Unfortunately, I caused my experience with excessive tagging by myself; I can’t blame it on leaderboards. “Sedgequeen” seemed like a good choice since the name wasn’t used on iNaturalist and I occasionally get mail addressed to sedgequeen. However, it’s an exaggeration. I know Carex well in my ar…

That’s why I declined to use the pseudonym “master_IDer” for myself. Joking of course…

I can recognise the 3 I have grown in my garden. But then the restio family, come in male and female plants - three times as difficult - I can’t.

Excessive use of tagging?

General

Topic		Replies	Views
Tagging etiquette and ID Responsibility General question	61	2433	September 13, 2025
Making tagging relevant users simpler and easier Feature Requests web	21	977	March 6, 2024
Easier way to tag everyone in an observation Feature Requests	20	1440	August 6, 2021
General consensus on etiquette regarding recruiting IDs from specific identifiers? General identification , etiquette	47	7346	February 3, 2021
Create searchable expertise and interest tags for identifiers and curators Feature Requests web	17	672	December 8, 2025

Excessive use of tagging?

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