diff --git a/.env.production b/.env.production
index 1d93141..232b9e7 100644
--- a/.env.production
+++ b/.env.production
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ ADVENT_OF_CODE_CHANNEL_ID=1047623689488830495
 # Role IDs (from your dev server)
 REPEL_ROLE_ID=1002411741776461844
 MODERATORS_ROLE_IDS=849481536654803004
+REGULAR_ROLE_ID=1383170370634514544
 
 # Other
 GUIDES_TRACKER_PATH=/app/data/guides-tracker.json
diff --git a/src/commands/docs/baseline.ts b/src/commands/docs/baseline.ts
index f1dc848..c9022f5 100644
--- a/src/commands/docs/baseline.ts
+++ b/src/commands/docs/baseline.ts
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ import {
 } from 'discord.js';
 import { features as data } from 'web-features';
 import { fuzzySearch } from '../../util/fuzzy-search.js';
+import { clampText } from '../../util/text.js';
 import type { ProviderConfig } from './types.js';
 import { createBaseConfig, getBaselineFeatures } from './utils.js';
-import { clampText } from '../../util/text.js';
 
 export type FeatureData = {
   name: string;
diff --git a/src/env.ts b/src/env.ts
index 2cdabeb..670c821 100644
--- a/src/env.ts
+++ b/src/env.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ export const config = {
       ? requireEnv('MODERATORS_ROLE_IDS').split(',')
       : [],
     repel: requireEnv('REPEL_ROLE_ID'),
+    regular: requireEnv('REGULAR_ROLE_ID'),
     a: optionalEnv('ROLE_A_ID'),
     b: optionalEnv('ROLE_B_ID'),
     c: optionalEnv('ROLE_C_ID'),
diff --git a/src/events/just-ask.ts b/src/events/just-ask.ts
index 331859d..f3506f1 100644
--- a/src/events/just-ask.ts
+++ b/src/events/just-ask.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-import { Events } from 'discord.js';
+import { Events, type Message, PermissionFlagsBits } from 'discord.js';
 import { MINUTE } from '../constants/time.js';
+import { config } from '../env.js';
 import { createEvent } from '../util/events.js';
 import { loadMarkdownOptions } from '../util/markdown.js';
 import { rateLimit } from '../util/rate-limit.js';
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ const reQuestion = `(?:experience|knowledge|info(?:rmation)?|ideas?|clues?|tips?
 const reConnector = `(?:with|about|on|regarding|for|of)`;
 
 const askToAskPattern = new RegExp(
-  String.raw`\b${reSubject}\s+${reVerb}\s+(?:${reQuantifier}\s+)?(?:${reQuestion}\s+)?(?:${reConnector}\s+)?.+\??`,
+  String.raw`\b${reSubject}\s+${reVerb}\s+(?:${reQuantifier}\s+)?(?:${reQuestion}\s+)?(?:${reConnector}\s+)?.+\?`,
   'i'
 );
 
@@ -33,15 +34,34 @@ const [response] = await loadMarkdownOptions<{ name: string }>(
 
 const { canRun, reset } = rateLimit(10 * MINUTE);
 
+const shouldCheck = (message: Message) => {
+  // check rate limit
+  if (!canRun()) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  // check author
+  if (message.author.bot || message.author.system) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  // check roles/permissions
+  if (
+    message.member !== null &&
+    (message.member.roles.highest.comparePositionTo(config.roleIds.repel) >= 0 ||
+      message.member.permissions.has(PermissionFlagsBits.ModerateMembers))
+  ) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  return true;
+};
+
 export const justAskEvent = createEvent(
   {
     name: Events.MessageCreate,
   },
   async (message) => {
-    if (!canRun() || message.author.bot) {
+    if (!shouldCheck(message)) {
       return;
     }
-
     // Ignore long messages, likely user provided more context
     if (message.content.split(' ').length > 10) {
       return;
diff --git a/src/util/commands.ts b/src/util/commands.ts
index 7fa14de..bfc6da0 100644
--- a/src/util/commands.ts
+++ b/src/util/commands.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import type { ChatInputCommandInteraction, Client } from 'discord.js';
+import type { ChatInputCommandInteraction } from 'discord.js';
 import type { Command } from '../commands/types.js';
 
 export const createCommand = (command: Command): Command => {