diff --git a/app/controllers/dmails_controller.rb b/app/controllers/dmails_controller.rb
index 649fc8a16..960503dbf 100644
--- a/app/controllers/dmails_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/dmails_controller.rb
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ class DmailsController < ApplicationController
   end
 
   def index
-    @dmails = Dmail.visible.paginated_search(params, count_pages: true)
+    @dmails = Dmail.visible(CurrentUser.user).paginated_search(params, count_pages: true)
     @dmails = @dmails.includes(:owner, :to, :from) if request.format.html?
 
     respond_with(@dmails)
diff --git a/app/controllers/favorite_groups_controller.rb b/app/controllers/favorite_groups_controller.rb
index 7f08bae11..ed3f98945 100644
--- a/app/controllers/favorite_groups_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/favorite_groups_controller.rb
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ class FavoriteGroupsController < ApplicationController
 
   def index
     params[:search][:creator_id] ||= params[:user_id]
-    @favorite_groups = FavoriteGroup.paginated_search(params)
+    @favorite_groups = FavoriteGroup.visible(CurrentUser.user).paginated_search(params)
     @favorite_groups = @favorite_groups.includes(:creator) if request.format.html?
 
     respond_with(@favorite_groups)
diff --git a/app/controllers/forum_post_votes_controller.rb b/app/controllers/forum_post_votes_controller.rb
index 12e386b86..d968489ea 100644
--- a/app/controllers/forum_post_votes_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/forum_post_votes_controller.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ class ForumPostVotesController < ApplicationController
   before_action :member_only, only: [:create, :destroy]
 
   def index
-    @forum_post_votes = ForumPostVote.visible.paginated_search(params, count_pages: true)
+    @forum_post_votes = ForumPostVote.visible(CurrentUser.user).paginated_search(params, count_pages: true)
     @forum_post_votes = @forum_post_votes.includes(:creator, forum_post: [:creator, :topic]) if request.format.html?
 
     respond_with(@forum_post_votes)
diff --git a/app/controllers/forum_posts_controller.rb b/app/controllers/forum_posts_controller.rb
index ab6133d7f..c99148783 100644
--- a/app/controllers/forum_posts_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/forum_posts_controller.rb
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class ForumPostsController < ApplicationController
   end
 
   def index
-    @forum_posts = ForumPost.paginated_search(params)
+    @forum_posts = ForumPost.visible(CurrentUser.user).paginated_search(params)
     @forum_posts = @forum_posts.includes(:topic, :creator) if request.format.html?
 
     respond_with(@forum_posts)
diff --git a/app/controllers/forum_topics_controller.rb b/app/controllers/forum_topics_controller.rb
index 4e7346101..22c095680 100644
--- a/app/controllers/forum_topics_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/forum_topics_controller.rb
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ class ForumTopicsController < ApplicationController
     params[:search][:order] ||= "sticky" if request.format.html?
     params[:limit] ||= 40
 
-    @forum_topics = ForumTopic.paginated_search(params)
+    @forum_topics = ForumTopic.visible(CurrentUser.user).paginated_search(params)
 
     if request.format.atom?
       @forum_topics = @forum_topics.includes(:creator, :original_post)
diff --git a/app/controllers/mod_actions_controller.rb b/app/controllers/mod_actions_controller.rb
index 8441b2f56..8a87c3d43 100644
--- a/app/controllers/mod_actions_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/mod_actions_controller.rb
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ class ModActionsController < ApplicationController
   respond_to :html, :xml, :json
 
   def index
-    @mod_actions = ModAction.paginated_search(params)
+    @mod_actions = ModAction.visible(CurrentUser.user).paginated_search(params)
     @mod_actions = @mod_actions.includes(:creator) if request.format.html?
 
     respond_with(@mod_actions)
diff --git a/app/controllers/moderation_reports_controller.rb b/app/controllers/moderation_reports_controller.rb
index af872b8fe..21a23b9d3 100644
--- a/app/controllers/moderation_reports_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/moderation_reports_controller.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ class ModerationReportsController < ApplicationController
   end
 
   def index
-    @moderation_reports = ModerationReport.paginated_search(params, count_pages: true)
+    @moderation_reports = ModerationReport.visible(CurrentUser.user).paginated_search(params, count_pages: true)
     @moderation_reports = @moderation_reports.includes(:creator, :model) if request.format.html?
 
     respond_with(@moderation_reports)
diff --git a/app/controllers/post_votes_controller.rb b/app/controllers/post_votes_controller.rb
index 77eee0c9f..1ba8e15e9 100644
--- a/app/controllers/post_votes_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/post_votes_controller.rb
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ class PostVotesController < ApplicationController
   rescue_with PostVote::Error, status: 422
 
   def index
-    @post_votes = PostVote.paginated_search(params, count_pages: true)
+    @post_votes = PostVote.visible(CurrentUser.user).paginated_search(params, count_pages: true)
     @post_votes = @post_votes.includes(:user, post: :uploader) if request.format.html?
 
     respond_with(@post_votes)
diff --git a/app/controllers/user_feedbacks_controller.rb b/app/controllers/user_feedbacks_controller.rb
index a5626c48d..2ad2c6559 100644
--- a/app/controllers/user_feedbacks_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/user_feedbacks_controller.rb
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ class UserFeedbacksController < ApplicationController
   end
 
   def index
-    @user_feedbacks = UserFeedback.paginated_search(params, count_pages: true)
+    @user_feedbacks = UserFeedback.visible(CurrentUser.user).paginated_search(params, count_pages: true)
     @user_feedbacks = @user_feedbacks.includes(:user, :creator) if request.format.html?
 
     respond_with(@user_feedbacks)
diff --git a/app/controllers/user_name_change_requests_controller.rb b/app/controllers/user_name_change_requests_controller.rb
index 40df71d1b..c1646f66a 100644
--- a/app/controllers/user_name_change_requests_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/user_name_change_requests_controller.rb
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class UserNameChangeRequestsController < ApplicationController
   end
 
   def index
-    @change_requests = UserNameChangeRequest.visible.order("id desc").paginate(params[:page], :limit => params[:limit])
+    @change_requests = UserNameChangeRequest.visible(CurrentUser.user).order("id desc").paginate(params[:page], :limit => params[:limit])
     respond_with(@change_requests)
   end
 
diff --git a/app/models/application_record.rb b/app/models/application_record.rb
index 06926bdf5..8f9f94579 100644
--- a/app/models/application_record.rb
+++ b/app/models/application_record.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 class ApplicationRecord < ActiveRecord::Base
   self.abstract_class = true
 
+  include Mentionable
+  extend HasBitFlags
+  extend Searchable
+
   concerning :PaginationMethods do
     class_methods do
       def paginate(*args, **options)
@@ -16,9 +20,15 @@ class ApplicationRecord < ActiveRecord::Base
     end
   end
 
-  module ApiMethods
-    extend ActiveSupport::Concern
+  concerning :PrivilegeMethods do
+    class_methods do
+      def visible(user)
+        all
+      end
+    end
+  end
 
+  concerning :ApiMethods do
     class_methods do
       def api_attributes(*attributes, including: [])
         return @api_attributes if @api_attributes
@@ -175,9 +185,4 @@ class ApplicationRecord < ActiveRecord::Base
   def warnings
     @warnings ||= ActiveModel::Errors.new(self)
   end
-
-  include ApiMethods
-  include Mentionable
-  extend HasBitFlags
-  extend Searchable
 end
diff --git a/app/models/comment.rb b/app/models/comment.rb
index f60dd0b8d..c98e74372 100644
--- a/app/models/comment.rb
+++ b/app/models/comment.rb
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ class Comment < ApplicationRecord
     select { |comment| comment.visibility(user) == :hidden }
   end
 
+  # XXX rename
   def self.visible(user)
     select { |comment| comment.visibility(user) == :visible }
   end
diff --git a/app/models/comment_vote.rb b/app/models/comment_vote.rb
index b3f18b337..28163cb9c 100644
--- a/app/models/comment_vote.rb
+++ b/app/models/comment_vote.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ class CommentVote < ApplicationRecord
   validate :validate_comment_can_be_down_voted
   validates_inclusion_of :score, :in => [-1, 1], :message => "must be 1 or -1"
 
-  def self.visible(user = CurrentUser.user)
+  def self.visible(user)
     if user.is_admin?
       all
     elsif user.is_member?
diff --git a/app/models/dmail.rb b/app/models/dmail.rb
index f3ab4ea16..882ad7f83 100644
--- a/app/models/dmail.rb
+++ b/app/models/dmail.rb
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ class Dmail < ApplicationRecord
   scope :deleted, -> { where(is_deleted: true) }
   scope :read, -> { where(is_read: true) }
   scope :unread, -> { where(is_read: false) }
-  scope :visible, -> { where(owner: CurrentUser.user) }
   scope :sent, -> { where("dmails.owner_id = dmails.from_id") }
   scope :received, -> { where("dmails.owner_id = dmails.to_id") }
 
@@ -85,6 +84,10 @@ class Dmail < ApplicationRecord
   end
 
   module SearchMethods
+    def visible(user)
+      where(owner: user)
+    end
+
     def sent_by(user)
       where("dmails.from_id = ? AND dmails.owner_id != ?", user.id, user.id)
     end
diff --git a/app/models/favorite_group.rb b/app/models/favorite_group.rb
index a74c136f2..77accc492 100644
--- a/app/models/favorite_group.rb
+++ b/app/models/favorite_group.rb
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ class FavoriteGroup < ApplicationRecord
 
     def search(params)
       q = super
-      q = q.visible(CurrentUser.user)
       q = q.search_attributes(params, :name, :is_public, :post_ids, :creator)
 
       if params[:name_matches].present?
diff --git a/app/models/forum_post.rb b/app/models/forum_post.rb
index 9b7f02163..75a51a768 100644
--- a/app/models/forum_post.rb
+++ b/app/models/forum_post.rb
@@ -40,13 +40,12 @@ class ForumPost < ApplicationRecord
       where(topic_id: ForumTopic.search(title_matches: title).select(:id))
     end
 
-    def permitted
-      where(topic_id: ForumTopic.permitted)
+    def visible(user)
+      where(topic_id: ForumTopic.visible(user))
     end
 
     def search(params)
       q = super
-      q = q.permitted
       q = q.search_attributes(params, :creator, :updater, :topic_id, :is_deleted, :body)
       q = q.text_attribute_matches(:body, params[:body_matches], index_column: :text_index)
 
diff --git a/app/models/forum_post_vote.rb b/app/models/forum_post_vote.rb
index 0540d41ab..fe2bcd77c 100644
--- a/app/models/forum_post_vote.rb
+++ b/app/models/forum_post_vote.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@ class ForumPostVote < ApplicationRecord
   scope :down, -> {where(score: -1)}
   scope :by, ->(user_id) {where(creator_id: user_id)}
   scope :excluding_user, ->(user_id) {where("creator_id <> ?", user_id)}
-  scope :visible, -> { where(forum_post: ForumPost.permitted) }
+
+  def self.visible(user)
+    where(forum_post: ForumPost.visible(user))
+  end
 
   def self.forum_post_matches(params)
     return all if params.blank?
diff --git a/app/models/forum_topic.rb b/app/models/forum_topic.rb
index 70f0e6fb7..1779f3453 100644
--- a/app/models/forum_topic.rb
+++ b/app/models/forum_topic.rb
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ class ForumTopic < ApplicationRecord
   end
 
   module SearchMethods
-    def permitted
-      where("min_level <= ?", CurrentUser.level)
+    def visible(user)
+      where("min_level <= ?", user.level)
     end
 
     def read_by_user(user)
@@ -79,7 +79,6 @@ class ForumTopic < ApplicationRecord
 
     def search(params)
       q = super
-      q = q.permitted
       q = q.search_attributes(params, :creator, :updater, :is_sticky, :is_locked, :is_deleted, :category_id, :title, :response_count)
       q = q.text_attribute_matches(:title, params[:title_matches], index_column: :text_index)
 
@@ -113,7 +112,7 @@ class ForumTopic < ApplicationRecord
         ForumTopicVisit.create(:user_id => user.id, :forum_topic_id => id, :last_read_at => updated_at)
       end
 
-      unread_topics = ForumTopic.permitted.active.unread_by_user(user)
+      unread_topics = ForumTopic.visible(user).active.unread_by_user(user)
 
       if !unread_topics.exists?
         user.update!(last_forum_read_at: Time.zone.now)
diff --git a/app/models/mod_action.rb b/app/models/mod_action.rb
index 4da9db28d..30f67c945 100644
--- a/app/models/mod_action.rb
+++ b/app/models/mod_action.rb
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class ModAction < ApplicationRecord
     other: 2000
   }
 
-  def self.permitted(user)
+  def self.visible(user)
     if user.is_moderator?
       all
     else
@@ -65,7 +65,6 @@ class ModAction < ApplicationRecord
   def self.search(params)
     q = super
 
-    q = q.permitted(CurrentUser.user)
     q = q.search_attributes(params, :creator, :category, :description)
     q = q.text_attribute_matches(:description, params[:description_matches])
 
diff --git a/app/models/post_vote.rb b/app/models/post_vote.rb
index 7aa63f2ed..0c2aec16a 100644
--- a/app/models/post_vote.rb
+++ b/app/models/post_vote.rb
@@ -26,14 +26,12 @@ class PostVote < ApplicationRecord
     positive.where(user_id: user_id).pluck(:post_id)
   end
 
-  def self.visible(user = CurrentUser.user)
-    return all if user.is_admin?
-    where(user: user)
+  def self.visible(user)
+    user.is_admin? ? all : where(user: user)
   end
 
   def self.search(params)
     q = super
-    q = q.visible
     q = q.search_attributes(params, :post, :user, :score)
     q.apply_default_order(params)
   end
diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
index a2c56271a..ce7b1e4c1 100644
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ class User < ApplicationRecord
   has_many :dmails, -> {order("dmails.id desc")}, :foreign_key => "owner_id"
   has_many :saved_searches
   has_many :forum_posts, -> {order("forum_posts.created_at, forum_posts.id")}, :foreign_key => "creator_id"
-  has_many :user_name_change_requests, -> {visible.order("user_name_change_requests.created_at desc")}
+  has_many :user_name_change_requests, -> {order("user_name_change_requests.created_at desc")}
   has_many :favorite_groups, -> {order(name: :asc)}, foreign_key: :creator_id
   has_many :favorites, ->(rec) {where("user_id % 100 = #{rec.id % 100} and user_id = #{rec.id}").order("id desc")}
   has_many :ip_bans, foreign_key: :creator_id
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ class User < ApplicationRecord
   module ForumMethods
     def has_forum_been_updated?
       return false unless is_gold?
-      max_updated_at = ForumTopic.permitted.active.maximum(:updated_at)
+      max_updated_at = ForumTopic.visible(self).active.maximum(:updated_at)
       return false if max_updated_at.nil?
       return true if last_forum_read_at.nil?
       return max_updated_at > last_forum_read_at
diff --git a/app/models/user_feedback.rb b/app/models/user_feedback.rb
index 8601975e3..78c3e105f 100644
--- a/app/models/user_feedback.rb
+++ b/app/models/user_feedback.rb
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class UserFeedback < ApplicationRecord
   scope :undeleted, -> { where(is_deleted: false) }
 
   module SearchMethods
-    def visible(viewer = CurrentUser.user)
+    def visible(viewer)
       viewer.is_moderator? ? all : undeleted
     end
 
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ class UserFeedback < ApplicationRecord
     def search(params)
       q = super
 
-      q = q.visible
       q = q.search_attributes(params, :user, :creator, :category, :body, :is_deleted)
       q = q.text_attribute_matches(:body, params[:body_matches])
 
diff --git a/app/models/user_name_change_request.rb b/app/models/user_name_change_request.rb
index 655d30d14..8db511e03 100644
--- a/app/models/user_name_change_request.rb
+++ b/app/models/user_name_change_request.rb
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@ class UserNameChangeRequest < ApplicationRecord
 
   after_create :update_name!
 
-  def self.visible(viewer = CurrentUser.user)
-    if viewer.is_admin?
+  def self.visible(user)
+    if user.is_admin?
       all
-    elsif viewer.is_member?
+    elsif user.is_member?
       where(user: User.undeleted)
     else
       none
diff --git a/app/presenters/user_presenter.rb b/app/presenters/user_presenter.rb
index 362364dd5..8513109fb 100644
--- a/app/presenters/user_presenter.rb
+++ b/app/presenters/user_presenter.rb
@@ -152,6 +152,8 @@ class UserPresenter
   end
 
   def previous_names(template)
-    user.user_name_change_requests.map { |req| template.link_to req.original_name, req }.join(", ").html_safe
+    user.user_name_change_requests.visible(CurrentUser.user).map do |req|
+      template.link_to req.original_name, req }.join(", ").html_safe
+    end
   end
 end