When we flag a question, do the mods know the names of who flagged it?

Yes.

I once got thanked by a mod for flagging spam.

Yup

That should explain some of the variations you see in the application of the rules.

That horse is dead, @ibstubro, quit beating it.

I suspected that was how you got a “Robot Crush” award, by flagging a couple of hundred bot spammers (the ones that show up in the over-night mail), but I think that horse is either dead too, or my suspicions were wrong. I still flag, anyway. Sometimes I write a little poem in Engrish before I do (A spoem). That is, if @zenvelo or @elbanditoroso don’t beat me to it.

What horse is that, @marinelife?

Speak right up if there’s a problem.
PM me if you think it’s warranted. I don’t recall there being a problem between you and I.

I like seeing the funny comments on spam from those who are flagging it. Makes me smile :-)