Handling repeated events in a log

Answer 1

One approach would be to coalesce matching entries that repeat within some time delta of each other, something like

12:03 - Restart attempted [3 times since 12:01]
12:03 - Restart failed    [3 times since 12:01]
12:02 - Something
11:23 - Restart attempted [17 times since 11:21]

Answer 2

They typically either compel you to fix the problem, or have flags to suppress them. And I think properly so.

Error logs are typically chronically underadministered and undermonitored anyway. If it's an application I'm in any way involved with, I'd as soon see as much flag-waving as possible if it gets someone's attention.