diff --git a/files/classes/award.py b/files/classes/award.py
index 78947f2d6..b5c9fa181 100644
--- a/files/classes/award.py
+++ b/files/classes/award.py
@@ -65,10 +65,10 @@ class AwardRelationship(Base):
 	comment_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("comments.id"), default=None)
 	kind = Column(String(20))
 
-	user = relationship("User", primaryjoin="AwardRelationship.user_id==User.id")
+	user = relationship("User", primaryjoin="AwardRelationship.user_id==User.id", viewonly=True)
 
-	post = relationship("Submission", primaryjoin="AwardRelationship.submission_id==Submission.id")
-	comment = relationship("Comment", primaryjoin="AwardRelationship.comment_id==Comment.id")
+	post = relationship("Submission", primaryjoin="AwardRelationship.submission_id==Submission.id", viewonly=True)
+	comment = relationship("Comment", primaryjoin="AwardRelationship.comment_id==Comment.id", viewonly=True)
 
 
 	@property
diff --git a/files/classes/badges.py b/files/classes/badges.py
index cc481b4f8..554abfa4d 100644
--- a/files/classes/badges.py
+++ b/files/classes/badges.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class Badge(Base):
 	badge_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("badge_defs.id"))
 	description = Column(String(64))
 	url = Column(String(256))
-	badge = relationship("BadgeDef")
+	badge = relationship("BadgeDef", viewonly=True)
 
 	def __repr__(self):
 
diff --git a/files/classes/clients.py b/files/classes/clients.py
index 42a154021..9256effc8 100644
--- a/files/classes/clients.py
+++ b/files/classes/clients.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class OauthApp(Base):
 	redirect_uri = Column(String(4096))
 	description = Column(String(256))
 	author_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("users.id"))
-	author = relationship("User")
+	author = relationship("User", viewonly=True)
 
 	def __repr__(self): return f"<OauthApp(id={self.id})>"
 
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ class ClientAuth(Base):
 	oauth_client = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("oauth_apps.id"))
 	access_token = Column(String(128))
 	user_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("users.id"))
-	user = relationship("User")
-	application = relationship("OauthApp")
+	user = relationship("User", viewonly=True)
+	application = relationship("OauthApp", viewonly=True)
 
 	@property
 	@lazy
diff --git a/files/classes/comment.py b/files/classes/comment.py
index 73a3c952e..7383d90a4 100644
--- a/files/classes/comment.py
+++ b/files/classes/comment.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class Comment(Base):
 	__tablename__ = "comments"
 
 	id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
-	comment_aux = relationship("CommentAux", uselist=False, primaryjoin="Comment.id==CommentAux.id")
+	comment_aux = relationship("CommentAux", uselist=False, primaryjoin="Comment.id==CommentAux.id", viewonly=True)
 	author_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("users.id"))
 	parent_submission = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("submissions.id"))
 	# this column is foreignkeyed to comment(id) but we can't do that yet as
@@ -50,19 +50,19 @@ class Comment(Base):
 	sentto=Column(Integer)
 
 	app_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("oauth_apps.id"))
-	oauth_app=relationship("OauthApp")
+	oauth_app = relationship("OauthApp", viewonly=True)
 
-	post = relationship("Submission")
-	flags = relationship("CommentFlag", lazy="dynamic")
-	author = relationship("User", primaryjoin="User.id==Comment.author_id")
+	post = relationship("Submission", viewonly=True)
+	flags = relationship("CommentFlag", lazy="dynamic", viewonly=True)
+	author = relationship("User", primaryjoin="User.id==Comment.author_id", viewonly=True)
 
 	upvotes = Column(Integer, default=1)
 	downvotes = Column(Integer, default=0)
 
-	parent_comment = relationship("Comment", remote_side=[id])
-	child_comments = relationship("Comment", remote_side=[parent_comment_id])
+	parent_comment = relationship("Comment", remote_side=[id], viewonly=True)
+	child_comments = relationship("Comment", remote_side=[parent_comment_id], viewonly=True)
 
-	awards = relationship("AwardRelationship")
+	awards = relationship("AwardRelationship", viewonly=True)
 
 	def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
 
@@ -408,8 +408,8 @@ class Notification(Base):
 	blocksender = Column(Integer)
 	unblocksender = Column(Integer)
 
-	comment = relationship("Comment")
-	user=relationship("User")
+	comment = relationship("Comment", viewonly=True)
+	user = relationship("User", viewonly=True)
 
 	def __repr__(self):
 
diff --git a/files/classes/flags.py b/files/classes/flags.py
index 01e254e1f..f35d6c486 100644
--- a/files/classes/flags.py
+++ b/files/classes/flags.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ class Flag(Base):
 	user_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("users.id"))
 	reason = Column(String(100))
 	
-	user = relationship("User", primaryjoin = "Flag.user_id == User.id", uselist = False)
+	user = relationship("User", primaryjoin = "Flag.user_id == User.id", uselist = False, viewonly=True)
 
 	def __repr__(self):
 
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class CommentFlag(Base):
 	comment_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("comments.id"))
 	reason = Column(String(100))
 	
-	user = relationship("User", primaryjoin = "CommentFlag.user_id == User.id", uselist = False)
+	user = relationship("User", primaryjoin = "CommentFlag.user_id == User.id", uselist = False, viewonly=True)
 
 	def __repr__(self):
 
diff --git a/files/classes/mod_logs.py b/files/classes/mod_logs.py
index 2394d355d..aa4429a8e 100644
--- a/files/classes/mod_logs.py
+++ b/files/classes/mod_logs.py
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ class ModAction(Base):
 	_note=Column(String(256), default=None)
 	created_utc = Column(Integer, default=0)
 
-	user = relationship("User", primaryjoin="User.id==ModAction.user_id")
-	target_user = relationship("User", primaryjoin="User.id==ModAction.target_user_id")
-	target_post = relationship("Submission")
+	user = relationship("User", primaryjoin="User.id==ModAction.user_id", viewonly=True)
+	target_user = relationship("User", primaryjoin="User.id==ModAction.target_user_id", viewonly=True)
+	target_post = relationship("Submission", viewonly=True)
 
 	def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
 		if "created_utc" not in kwargs:
diff --git a/files/classes/submission.py b/files/classes/submission.py
index 56f23180f..39422b18c 100644
--- a/files/classes/submission.py
+++ b/files/classes/submission.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class Submission(Base):
 	__tablename__ = "submissions"
 
 	id = Column(BigInteger, primary_key=True)
-	submission_aux = relationship("SubmissionAux", uselist=False, primaryjoin="Submission.id==SubmissionAux.id")
+	submission_aux = relationship("SubmissionAux", uselist=False, primaryjoin="Submission.id==SubmissionAux.id", viewonly=True)
 	author_id = Column(BigInteger, ForeignKey("users.id"))
 	edited_utc = Column(BigInteger, default=0)
 	created_utc = Column(BigInteger, default=0)
@@ -51,11 +51,11 @@ class Submission(Base):
 	private = Column(Boolean, default=False)
 	club = Column(Boolean, default=False)
 	comment_count = Column(Integer, default=0)
-	comments = relationship("Comment", primaryjoin="Comment.parent_submission==Submission.id")
-	flags = relationship("Flag", lazy="dynamic")
+	comments = relationship("Comment", primaryjoin="Comment.parent_submission==Submission.id", viewonly=True)
+	flags = relationship("Flag", lazy="dynamic", viewonly=True)
 	is_approved = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("users.id"), default=0)
 	over_18 = Column(Boolean, default=False)
-	author = relationship("User", primaryjoin="Submission.author_id==User.id")
+	author = relationship("User", primaryjoin="Submission.author_id==User.id", viewonly=True)
 	is_pinned = Column(Boolean, default=False)
 	is_bot = Column(Boolean, default=False)
 
@@ -63,11 +63,11 @@ class Submission(Base):
 	downvotes = Column(Integer, default=0)
 
 	app_id=Column(Integer, ForeignKey("oauth_apps.id"))
-	oauth_app=relationship("OauthApp")
+	oauth_app = relationship("OauthApp", viewonly=True)
 
-	approved_by = relationship("User", uselist=False, primaryjoin="Submission.is_approved==User.id")
+	approved_by = relationship("User", uselist=False, primaryjoin="Submission.is_approved==User.id", viewonly=True)
 
-	awards = relationship("AwardRelationship")
+	awards = relationship("AwardRelationship", viewonly=True)
 
 	def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
 
diff --git a/files/classes/subscriptions.py b/files/classes/subscriptions.py
index 43c0fbc69..cdd4c9bb7 100644
--- a/files/classes/subscriptions.py
+++ b/files/classes/subscriptions.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ class Subscription(Base):
 	user_id = Column(BigInteger, ForeignKey("users.id"))
 	submission_id = Column(BigInteger, default=0)
 	
-	user = relationship("User", uselist=False)
+	user = relationship("User", uselist=False, viewonly=True)
 
 	def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
 		super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ class Follow(Base):
 	user_id = Column(BigInteger, ForeignKey("users.id"))
 	target_id = Column(BigInteger, ForeignKey("users.id"))
 
-	user = relationship("User", uselist=False, primaryjoin="User.id==Follow.user_id")
-	target = relationship("User", primaryjoin="User.id==Follow.target_id")
+	user = relationship("User", uselist=False, primaryjoin="User.id==Follow.user_id", viewonly=True)
+	target = relationship("User", primaryjoin="User.id==Follow.target_id", viewonly=True)
 
 	def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
 		super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
diff --git a/files/classes/user.py b/files/classes/user.py
index 2aaeb77ec..db855e505 100644
--- a/files/classes/user.py
+++ b/files/classes/user.py
@@ -123,12 +123,12 @@ class User(Base):
 	oldreddit = Column(Boolean)
 	nitter = Column(Boolean)
 	controversial = Column(Boolean, default=False)
-	submissions = relationship("Submission", lazy="dynamic", primaryjoin="Submission.author_id==User.id")
-	comments = relationship("Comment", lazy="dynamic", primaryjoin="Comment.author_id==User.id")
+	submissions = relationship("Submission", lazy="dynamic", primaryjoin="Submission.author_id==User.id", viewonly=True)
+	comments = relationship("Comment", lazy="dynamic", primaryjoin="Comment.author_id==User.id", viewonly=True)
 	bio = Column(String)
 	bio_html = Column(String)
-	badges = relationship("Badge", lazy="dynamic")
-	notifications = relationship("Notification", lazy="dynamic")
+	badges = relationship("Badge", lazy="dynamic", viewonly=True)
+	notifications = relationship("Notification", lazy="dynamic", viewonly=True)
 
 	is_banned = Column(Integer, default=0)
 	unban_utc = Column(Integer, default=0)
@@ -151,24 +151,24 @@ class User(Base):
 	discord_id = Column(String(64))
 	ban_evade = Column(Integer, default=0)
 	original_username = deferred(Column(String(255)))
-	subscriptions = relationship("Subscription")
+	subscriptions = relationship("Subscription", viewonly=True)
 
-	following = relationship("Follow", primaryjoin="Follow.user_id==User.id")
-	followers = relationship("Follow", primaryjoin="Follow.target_id==User.id")
+	following = relationship("Follow", primaryjoin="Follow.user_id==User.id", viewonly=True)
+	followers = relationship("Follow", primaryjoin="Follow.target_id==User.id", viewonly=True)
 
-	viewers = relationship("ViewerRelationship", primaryjoin="User.id == ViewerRelationship.user_id")
+	viewers = relationship("ViewerRelationship", primaryjoin="User.id == ViewerRelationship.user_id", viewonly=True)
 
-	blocking = relationship("UserBlock", lazy="dynamic", primaryjoin="User.id==UserBlock.user_id")
-	blocked = relationship("UserBlock", lazy="dynamic", primaryjoin="User.id==UserBlock.target_id")
+	blocking = relationship("UserBlock", lazy="dynamic", primaryjoin="User.id==UserBlock.user_id", viewonly=True)
+	blocked = relationship("UserBlock", lazy="dynamic", primaryjoin="User.id==UserBlock.target_id", viewonly=True)
 
-	_applications = relationship("OauthApp", lazy="dynamic")
-	authorizations = relationship("ClientAuth", lazy="dynamic")
+	_applications = relationship("OauthApp", lazy="dynamic", viewonly=True)
+	authorizations = relationship("ClientAuth", lazy="dynamic", viewonly=True)
 
-	awards = relationship("AwardRelationship", lazy="dynamic", primaryjoin="User.id==AwardRelationship.user_id")
+	awards = relationship("AwardRelationship", lazy="dynamic", primaryjoin="User.id==AwardRelationship.user_id", viewonly=True)
 
 	referred_by = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("users.id"))
 
-	referrals = relationship("User")
+	referrals = relationship("User", viewonly=True)
 
 	def __init__(self, **kwargs):
 
@@ -623,7 +623,7 @@ class ViewerRelationship(Base):
 	viewer_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey('users.id'))
 	last_view_utc = Column(Integer)
 
-	viewer = relationship("User", primaryjoin="ViewerRelationship.viewer_id == User.id")
+	viewer = relationship("User", primaryjoin="ViewerRelationship.viewer_id == User.id", viewonly=True)
 
 	def __init__(self, **kwargs):
 
diff --git a/files/classes/userblock.py b/files/classes/userblock.py
index 9032637c9..b9be3092f 100644
--- a/files/classes/userblock.py
+++ b/files/classes/userblock.py
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ class UserBlock(Base):
 	user_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("users.id"))
 	target_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("users.id"))
 
-	user = relationship("User", primaryjoin="User.id==UserBlock.user_id")
-	target = relationship("User", primaryjoin="User.id==UserBlock.target_id")
+	user = relationship("User", primaryjoin="User.id==UserBlock.user_id", viewonly=True)
+	target = relationship("User", primaryjoin="User.id==UserBlock.target_id", viewonly=True)
 
 	def __repr__(self):
 
diff --git a/files/classes/votes.py b/files/classes/votes.py
index 54c694ba2..58e4bdeb2 100644
--- a/files/classes/votes.py
+++ b/files/classes/votes.py
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ class Vote(Base):
 	submission_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("submissions.id"))
 	app_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("oauth_apps.id"))
 
-	user = relationship("User", lazy="subquery")
-	post = relationship("Submission", lazy="subquery")
+	user = relationship("User", lazy="subquery", viewonly=True)
+	post = relationship("Submission", lazy="subquery", viewonly=True)
 
 	def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
 
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ class CommentVote(Base):
 	comment_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("comments.id"))
 	app_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("oauth_apps.id"))
 
-	user = relationship("User", lazy="subquery")
-	comment = relationship("Comment", lazy="subquery")
+	user = relationship("User", lazy="subquery", viewonly=True)
+	comment = relationship("Comment", lazy="subquery", viewonly=True)
 
 	def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):