After I flag a post I see, in my flag summary, the word active, meaning that it is awaiting a moderator's attention. But what happens after that is unclear to me.

I see the word helpful after a while, which I assume means the reason for my flag has been accepted. I've also seen declined, which I assume means my flag has not been accepted (indeed, the moderator kindly adds a reason for the flag rejection).

But what I don't understand is:

1. Why does the word disputed appear? Does this mean that one or more moderators have reviewed it and don't agree with each other?
2. If I don't agree with a declined flag, is there any recourse or should I just accept the moderator's verdict?
3. Why does a little (non-clickable) number occasionally appear next to a question in my flagged list?
4. Does the number of permitted open flags increase with successful flagging? I thought the default is 25, but now for me it seems to be approaching 30. What is the formula?
5. Why do some flags remain on active for >24 hours when others (before and after) are no longer active?

After I flag a post I see, in my flag summary, the word active, meaning that it is awaiting a moderator's attention. But what happens after that is unclear to me.

I see the word helpful after a while, which I assume means the reason for my flag has been accepted. I've also seen declined, which I assume means my flag has not been accepted (indeed, the moderator kindly adds a reason for the flag rejection).

But what I don't understand is:

1. Why does the word disputed appear? Does this mean that one or more moderators have reviewed it and don't agree with each other?
2. If I don't agree with a declined flag, is there any recourse or should I just accept the moderator's verdict?
3. Why does a little (non-clickable) number occasionally appear next to a question in my flagged list?
4. Does the number of permitted open flags increase with successful flagging? I thought the default is 25, but now for me it seems to be approaching 30. What is the formula?
5. Why do some flags remain on active for >24 hours when others (before and after) are no longer active?

After I flag a post I see, in my flag summary, the word active, meaning that it is awaiting a moderator's attention. But what happens after that is unclear to me.

I see the word helpful after a while, which I assume means the reason for my flag has been accepted. I've also seen declined, which I assume means my flag has not been accepted (indeed, the moderator kindly adds a reason for the flag rejection).

But what I don't understand is:

1. Why does the word disputed appear? Does this mean that one or more moderators have reviewed it and don't agree with each other?
2. If I don't agree with a declined flag, is there any recourse or should I just accept the moderator's verdict?
3. Why does a little (non-clickable) number occasionally appear next to a question in my flagged list?
4. Does the number of permitted open flags increase with successful flagging? I thought the default is 25, but now for me it seems to be approaching 30. What is the formula?

After I flag a post I see, in my flag summary, the word active, meaning that it is awaiting a moderator's attention. But what happens after that is unclear to me.

I see the word helpful after a while, which I assume means the reason for my flag has been accepted. I've also seen declined, which I assume means my flag has not been accepted (indeed, the moderator kindly adds a reason for the flag rejection).

But what I don't understand is:

1. Why does the word disputed appear? Does this mean that one or more moderators have reviewed it and don't agree with each other?
2. If I don't agree with a declined flag, is there any recourse or should I just accept the moderator's verdict?
3. Why does a little (non-clickable) number occasionally appear next to a question in my flagged list?
4. Does the number of permitted open flags increase with successful flagging? I thought the default is 25, but now for me it seems to be approaching 30. What is the formula?
5. Why do some flags remain on active for >24 hours when others (before and after) are no longer active?