Is there any way to understand exactly why one got a particular notification about a new post in a message thread? I can guess many possible reasons, but I'd really like to click on some meta information for a notification that describes exactly what was the trigger for the notification. Why did the server(s) decide to send me the notification exactly?
I occasionally get what appear to be random notifications for a thread. It contains no posts from any "person" that I recognize. It's possible that I inadvertently performed some action to follow the thread. But how can I confirm that to be the case or not to be the case.
Best answers would point to ways to find concrete evidence. Next best describe effective sleuthing techniques if no concrete evidence can be unearthed without having access to data only available to a behind-the-scenes google admin (i.e., not me).