diff --git a/app/models/user_action.rb b/app/models/user_action.rb
index 6a240c865..123857fce 100644
--- a/app/models/user_action.rb
+++ b/app/models/user_action.rb
@@ -162,20 +162,15 @@ ORDER BY p.created_at desc
         end
         action.save!
 
-        action_type = hash[:action_type]
         user_id = hash[:user_id]
-        if action_type == LIKE
-          User.update_all('likes_given = likes_given + 1', id: user_id)
-        elsif action_type == WAS_LIKED
-          User.update_all('likes_received = likes_received + 1', id: user_id)
-        end
+        update_like_count(user_id, hash[:action_type], 1)
 
         topic = Topic.includes(:category).where(id: hash[:target_topic_id]).first
 
         # move into Topic perhaps
         group_ids = nil
         if topic && topic.category && topic.category.secure
-          group_ids = topic.category.groups.select("groups.id").map{|g| g.id}
+          group_ids = topic.category.groups.pluck("groups.id")
         end
 
         MessageBus.publish("/users/#{action.user.username.downcase}",
@@ -197,17 +192,19 @@ ORDER BY p.created_at desc
       MessageBus.publish("/user/#{hash[:user_id]}", {user_action_id: action.id, remove: true})
     end
 
-    action_type = hash[:action_type]
-    user_id = hash[:user_id]
-    if action_type == LIKE
-      User.update_all('likes_given = likes_given - 1', id: user_id)
-    elsif action_type == WAS_LIKED
-      User.update_all('likes_received = likes_received - 1', id: user_id)
-    end
+    update_like_count(hash[:user_id], hash[:action_type], -1)
   end
 
   protected
 
+  def self.update_like_count(user_id, action_type, delta)
+    if action_type == LIKE
+      User.update_all("likes_given = likes_given + #{delta.to_i}", id: user_id)
+    elsif action_type == WAS_LIKED
+      User.update_all("likes_received = likes_received + #{delta.to_i}", id: user_id)
+    end
+  end
+
   def self.apply_common_filters(builder,user_id,guardian,ignore_private_messages=false)
 
     unless guardian.can_see_deleted_posts?
diff --git a/lib/post_creator.rb b/lib/post_creator.rb
index 7541a90b2..1bd96235d 100644
--- a/lib/post_creator.rb
+++ b/lib/post_creator.rb
@@ -252,31 +252,25 @@ class PostCreator
 
   def add_users(topic, usernames)
     return unless usernames
-    usernames = usernames.split(',')
-    User.where(username: usernames).each do |u|
-
-      unless guardian.can_send_private_message?(u)
-        topic.errors.add(:archetype, :cant_send_pm)
-        @errors = topic.errors
-        raise ActiveRecord::Rollback.new
-      end
-
-      topic.topic_allowed_users.build(user_id: u.id)
+    User.where(username: usernames.split(',')).each do |user|
+      check_can_send_permission!(topic,user)
+      topic.topic_allowed_users.build(user_id: user.id)
     end
   end
 
   def add_groups(topic, groups)
     return unless groups
-    groups = groups.split(',')
-    Group.where(name: groups).each do |g|
+    Group.where(name: groups.split(',')).each do |group|
+      check_can_send_permission!(topic,group)
+      topic.topic_allowed_groups.build(group_id: group.id)
+    end
+  end
 
-      unless guardian.can_send_private_message?(g)
-        topic.errors.add(:archetype, :cant_send_pm)
-        @errors = topic.errors
-        raise ActiveRecord::Rollback.new
-      end
-
-      topic.topic_allowed_groups.build(group_id: g.id)
+  def check_can_send_permission!(topic,item)
+    unless guardian.can_send_private_message?(item)
+      topic.errors.add(:archetype, :cant_send_pm)
+      @errors = topic.errors
+      raise ActiveRecord::Rollback.new
     end
   end
 end