Clarification sought on reporting posts

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Spam zapped. It's more helpful to the moderators to report spam using the [!] report button, rather than commenting on it in-thread.

Originally Posted by j.p.s

Sometimes it is difficult to be certain that a line has been crossed.

Originally Posted by issybird

In those cases, the moderators would still prefer that suspect posts be reported so that they can make the call. No harm has been done if they decide a post can be left to stand, but engaging with spammers bumps their posts and draws more attention to them as well as requiring more clean up in the thread when a mod becomes aware of it.

I have always been conflicted about how to report posts that might be spam. In such cases, is it OK use the Message box and Send Message button instead of the Report Spam button? Or should one presume that the Report Spam button means "reasonable cause to suspect spam" rather than "certified spam"?

[HarryT]

Yes, use the report spam button for any suspicious post.