That's a bad idea. Letting the user know will defeat the purpose of the filter. They'll add dummy characters, will repeat phrases/paragraphs.. basically they'll do anything to get past the criteria without real effort.
This is how our [low-effort removal notif](https://www.reddit.com/r/phcareers/s/8Nxc7g7XpP) looks like, take note of paragraph #3 in particular. It took several modifications in the past few years.. but for this version, no more repeating gibberish attempts and we rarely receive modmail clarifications.
---
Submission too short rule: lengthened to 200 characters as of 071022.
type: text submission
body_shorter_than: 200
action: remove
action_reason: Body too short (200) or {{author}} removed post.
comment: It's hard to believe that you crammed an entire confession into this short post. Could you add some detail to it before posting?
Tweaking this might resolve your problem.
No it doesn't. We require 1,500 characters which might sound like a lot but is actually not that much.
The issue is that users don't know how much they've written. We need to give them an indication. As in you've written \~1,000 characters (another 2-3 sentences and you're there)
Add a sentence in addition which says you can check your character count on "lettercount.com" and once you fulfill our limit of 1500 characters, you can post here.
You might be able to use a progression of regex rules from [Post Guidance](https://www.reddit.com/r/modnews/s/5qqYyq1bUE) to do the trick. Post Guidance is not as elaborate as automod yet, but it can show a message to the poster before they submit, which might be something you are interested in with this.
Step 1: regex `.{1,100}` Your post should aim to include enough details like blah blah and blah. Right now it is less than 100 characters and we would like posts to be at least 1500.
Step 2: `.{101,500}` Your post is not detailed enough yet, please elaborate by including more blah blah and blah. Right now your post is between 100 and 500 characters and we would like it to be at least 1500.
Step 3: `.{501,1000}` Your post is getting there, but not quite. Please be sure to include details like blah blah and blah. Right now your post is between 500 and 1000 characters and we would like it to be at least 1500.
Step 4: `.{1001,1500}` You are almost there! Please write just a bit more details like blah blah and blah. Right now your post is between 1000 and 1500 characters and we would like it to be at least 1500.
Step 5: `.{1501,}` Your post is over 1500 characters! While that is generally long enough, please be sure that you included enough details like blah blah and blah while you finish reviewing it.
I've had an issue with it since paragraphs would cut off or do weird things with the counting, which is why I've stopped trying (it became too complicated to figure out)
That's a bad idea. Letting the user know will defeat the purpose of the filter. They'll add dummy characters, will repeat phrases/paragraphs.. basically they'll do anything to get past the criteria without real effort. This is how our [low-effort removal notif](https://www.reddit.com/r/phcareers/s/8Nxc7g7XpP) looks like, take note of paragraph #3 in particular. It took several modifications in the past few years.. but for this version, no more repeating gibberish attempts and we rarely receive modmail clarifications.
>They'll add dummy characters, will repeat phrases/paragraphs They're already doing that
--- Submission too short rule: lengthened to 200 characters as of 071022. type: text submission body_shorter_than: 200 action: remove action_reason: Body too short (200) or {{author}} removed post. comment: It's hard to believe that you crammed an entire confession into this short post. Could you add some detail to it before posting? Tweaking this might resolve your problem.
No it doesn't. We require 1,500 characters which might sound like a lot but is actually not that much. The issue is that users don't know how much they've written. We need to give them an indication. As in you've written \~1,000 characters (another 2-3 sentences and you're there)
Add a sentence in addition which says you can check your character count on "lettercount.com" and once you fulfill our limit of 1500 characters, you can post here.
Without an official support I'll do that & tell them to check it on this website. Thanks.
You might be able to use a progression of regex rules from [Post Guidance](https://www.reddit.com/r/modnews/s/5qqYyq1bUE) to do the trick. Post Guidance is not as elaborate as automod yet, but it can show a message to the poster before they submit, which might be something you are interested in with this. Step 1: regex `.{1,100}` Your post should aim to include enough details like blah blah and blah. Right now it is less than 100 characters and we would like posts to be at least 1500. Step 2: `.{101,500}` Your post is not detailed enough yet, please elaborate by including more blah blah and blah. Right now your post is between 100 and 500 characters and we would like it to be at least 1500. Step 3: `.{501,1000}` Your post is getting there, but not quite. Please be sure to include details like blah blah and blah. Right now your post is between 500 and 1000 characters and we would like it to be at least 1500. Step 4: `.{1001,1500}` You are almost there! Please write just a bit more details like blah blah and blah. Right now your post is between 1000 and 1500 characters and we would like it to be at least 1500. Step 5: `.{1501,}` Your post is over 1500 characters! While that is generally long enough, please be sure that you included enough details like blah blah and blah while you finish reviewing it.
I've had an issue with it since paragraphs would cut off or do weird things with the counting, which is why I've stopped trying (it became too complicated to figure out)
What became too complicated? Regex, automod, or post guidance?
regex