Deletion of Users Comments and Threads

Peter · 27 February 2010, 00:22

Sensitive topic I know but I feel that this has to be said...

If a user chooses to leave the EAB Forum I say that their comments and threads should be preserved - in my opinion the user should not be able to leave and just delete the comments and threads they have created.

This forum could lose a lot of very valuable Amiga information unless this is addressed.

I cant be on my own here, no one likes to see members leave, especially popular members but it is the AMIGA Computer that should be the main focus here.

Can this please be addressed.

Allen1 · 27 February 2010, 00:40

That does sound like a sensible thing to do maybe after a month or so, the post could then be made permanent which would allow a poster the opportunity to tidy up its content if they so wished before it truly became permanent.

prowler · 27 February 2010, 00:50

Deleting all your posts amounts to sabotage and appropriate safeguards should be considered a necessary precaution.

cosmicfrog · 27 February 2010, 01:10

Yes something should be done

but is`t anything I type my property, as ever playing devils advocate

Hungry Horace · 27 February 2010, 01:11

as i mentioned in the other thread, one favoured option is to allow editing / deleting of posts only with a time limit - the length of such a limit would be up to the staff here, but i feel a few hours (maybe up to 6?) is a good enough length of time to allow genuine corrections/additions to a post to happen.

not only does this prevent people leaving big gaps in the board, it also forces members to take responsibilty for their words... a similar thing happened on another forum i've helped on, where one user deleted all his posts which had lead to his banning, and he also deleted a bunch of other posts where he had shown his own general ignorance. (including killing some threads due to being the first poster)... its frustrating to read, because often the threads make little/no sense without those posts being there.

prowler · 27 February 2010, 01:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmicfrog

but is`t anything I type my property, as ever playing devils advocate

Could be, but once your comments are posted here, then surely they are in the public domain.

Peter · 27 February 2010, 12:24

I would think that it must be something other forums have addressed - I would imagine that it would have to be part of the terms and conditions that you would have to agree to and tick before you could register on the forum.

TCD · 27 February 2010, 16:06

When -Rob- left, he deleted all of his posts. Then posts were 'locked' (no editing or deleting them) after some days. After that some people complained about that and it was enabled again.
I think if someone decides to delete all of their posts before they go, that should be okay (even if it leaves a mess in a lot of threads). I have no idea why Cammy left, but we should respect her decision to delete her posts.

skateblind · 27 February 2010, 16:22

Why delete everything though? It ruins the whole board especially if the person deleting the posts had been around a while. Imagine in a year or two when a few more people do the same thing, certain threads will be a complete mess and incomprehensible. I see no sensible reason to delete every single one of your own posts, other than immaturity or spitefulness and I do include cammy in this category until I hear a good explanation concerning her reasoning.

I hope the rules get changed so that you have no more than a week maximum to edit or delete anything you have posted.

TCD · 27 February 2010, 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by skateblind

I hope the rules get changed so that you have no more than a week maximum to edit or delete anything you have posted.

If you have any lists in your first post that you would like to update, that's a bit annoying to ask a mod/GM each time to do that (ask andreas

). I see your point skatey, but I still think that people should have the 'right' to do whatever they want with their posts (even if it seems quite childish...).

ck1200 · 27 February 2010, 16:41

Although i dont really know what has gone on i do think that a user should not be able to delete everything they have posted especially usefull information that contributes to the site after all you join a community on line and are sharing with that community so to delete it all when you go seems a bit odd, but as i said i dont know the surrounding circumstances but just wanted to put my 2p in

i know on a car forum where i am a moderator members who leave or are banned dont have an option to withdraw there threads etc as said it is needed info for the site

Chris

clueless · 27 February 2010, 16:51

Isn't it possible for a mod or admin to have the final say? You can request to delete them, and info can be copied or edited by someone. More work I know, but how often does this happen?

Graham Humphrey · 27 February 2010, 16:56

This sort of thing (users going off and deleting their posts) has probably happened two or three times, ever, so I think introducing a limit on how long posts can be edited for is a bit OTT. And not totally practical for people who for whatever reason need to update posts regularly (i.e. like the Super League threads - I know I run them but that's not the point I'm making here). Also I really don't want to spend my days having to edit other peoples' posts for them because they want to update something a few weeks down the line.

kriz · 27 February 2010, 17:02

Time limited edit is the way i think, it destroys the forum when people delete stuff !!

skateblind · 27 February 2010, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Humphrey

This sort of thing (users going off and deleting their posts) has probably happened two or three times, ever, so I think introducing a limit on how long posts can be edited for is a bit OTT. And not totally practical for people who for whatever reason need to update posts regularly (i.e. like the Super League threads - I know I run them but that's not the point I'm making here). Also I really don't want to spend my days having to edit other peoples' posts for them because they want to update something a few weeks down the line.

Say you and TCD delete your posts, that is only 2 people, but it would total more than 20,000 posts and it would really mess up a LOT of threads. I know that scenario is highly unlikely, but cammy must have had a lot of posts as well and some of them would have had valuable information in for other users.

TCD · 27 February 2010, 17:20

Deleting my precious posts?

How dare you...

Like Graham said it's unlikely that it happens regularly and even if two quite valuable members did it now, the fussiness to edit posts should be more important. There is this saying about using a sledge-hammer to crack a nut...

cosmicfrog · 01 March 2010, 05:33

I think that if a user wants to leave and the remove all trace of them ever being here then they should have the right to do so, regardless if they chose to share their reasons or not.

so we lose info thats your/my fault for not copying while we had the chance, (any one have a HD crash)

Yes it dose make the place look untidy, though we have mods to keep the place tidy by editing posts and what not

I also think it was childish closing the original thread about cammy, now if we hear any news guess what new thread time, also where do we post words of wisdom and good will to her?? sorry but to be honest most of the time I really don`t get why some threads are closed

Graham Humphrey · 01 March 2010, 07:56

I'm sorry - 'childish'? So constant speculation about somebody's personal circumstances on a public forum is perfectly okay is it?

If you would like to pass on words of goodwill etc then I am sure you are all capable of contacting her and passing on messages privately.

Minuous · 01 March 2010, 08:24

So, since it is allowed, could some mod please explain why I got banned sometime back for doing exactly that? Seems like different rules for different people.

mihcael · 01 March 2010, 09:37

Its not good for the forum but i think people should be able to delete there own posts, however meaningless the act may be!

If something is so important not to be lost, it should be preserved in a more meaniful manner. (wiki or knowledgebase?)

27 February 2010, 00:22	#1
Peter Still an Amiga user Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kent Age: 55 Posts: 2,715	Deletion of Users Comments and Threads Sensitive topic I know but I feel that this has to be said... If a user chooses to leave the EAB Forum I say that their comments and threads should be preserved - in my opinion the user should not be able to leave and just delete the comments and threads they have created. This forum could lose a lot of very valuable Amiga information unless this is addressed. I cant be on my own here, no one likes to see members leave, especially popular members but it is the AMIGA Computer that should be the main focus here. Can this please be addressed.

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27 February 2010, 00:40	#2
Allen1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Blyth England Age: 68 Posts: 786	That does sound like a sensible thing to do maybe after a month or so, the post could then be made permanent which would allow a poster the opportunity to tidy up its content if they so wished before it truly became permanent.

27 February 2010, 00:50	#3
prowler Global Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sidcup, England Posts: 10,300	Deleting all your posts amounts to sabotage and appropriate safeguards should be considered a necessary precaution.

27 February 2010, 01:10	#4
cosmicfrog The 1 who ribbits Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: leek, Staffs, UK Age: 56 Posts: 3,557	Yes something should be done but is`t anything I type my property, as ever playing devils advocate

27 February 2010, 01:11	#5
Hungry Horace Wipe-Out Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: . Age: 43 Posts: 2,545	as i mentioned in the other thread, one favoured option is to allow editing / deleting of posts only with a time limit - the length of such a limit would be up to the staff here, but i feel a few hours (maybe up to 6?) is a good enough length of time to allow genuine corrections/additions to a post to happen. not only does this prevent people leaving big gaps in the board, it also forces members to take responsibilty for their words... a similar thing happened on another forum i've helped on, where one user deleted all his posts which had lead to his banning, and he also deleted a bunch of other posts where he had shown his own general ignorance. (including killing some threads due to being the first poster)... its frustrating to read, because often the threads make little/no sense without those posts being there.

27 February 2010, 12:24	#7
Peter Still an Amiga user Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kent Age: 55 Posts: 2,715	I would think that it must be something other forums have addressed - I would imagine that it would have to be part of the terms and conditions that you would have to agree to and tick before you could register on the forum.

27 February 2010, 16:06	#8
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,958	When -Rob- left, he deleted all of his posts. Then posts were 'locked' (no editing or deleting them) after some days. After that some people complained about that and it was enabled again. I think if someone decides to delete all of their posts before they go, that should be okay (even if it leaves a mess in a lot of threads). I have no idea why Cammy left, but we should respect her decision to delete her posts.

27 February 2010, 16:22	#9
skateblind Village Idiot Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: UK, England Age: 38 Posts: 580	Why delete everything though? It ruins the whole board especially if the person deleting the posts had been around a while. Imagine in a year or two when a few more people do the same thing, certain threads will be a complete mess and incomprehensible. I see no sensible reason to delete every single one of your own posts, other than immaturity or spitefulness and I do include cammy in this category until I hear a good explanation concerning her reasoning. I hope the rules get changed so that you have no more than a week maximum to edit or delete anything you have posted.

27 February 2010, 16:41	#11
ck1200 CBM & Retro Mad Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: North Wales/Wirral Uk Age: 42 Posts: 611	Although i dont really know what has gone on i do think that a user should not be able to delete everything they have posted especially usefull information that contributes to the site after all you join a community on line and are sharing with that community so to delete it all when you go seems a bit odd, but as i said i dont know the surrounding circumstances but just wanted to put my 2p in i know on a car forum where i am a moderator members who leave or are banned dont have an option to withdraw there threads etc as said it is needed info for the site Chris

27 February 2010, 16:51	#12
clueless Guessing my way round Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: England Posts: 159	Isn't it possible for a mod or admin to have the final say? You can request to delete them, and info can be copied or edited by someone. More work I know, but how often does this happen?

27 February 2010, 16:56	#13
Graham Humphrey Moderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Age: 37 Posts: 11,168	This sort of thing (users going off and deleting their posts) has probably happened two or three times, ever, so I think introducing a limit on how long posts can be edited for is a bit OTT. And not totally practical for people who for whatever reason need to update posts regularly (i.e. like the Super League threads - I know I run them but that's not the point I'm making here). Also I really don't want to spend my days having to edit other peoples' posts for them because they want to update something a few weeks down the line.

27 February 2010, 17:02	#14
kriz Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: No(R)Way Age: 42 Posts: 3,222	Time limited edit is the way i think, it destroys the forum when people delete stuff !!

27 February 2010, 17:20	#16
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,958	Deleting my precious posts? How dare you... Like Graham said it's unlikely that it happens regularly and even if two quite valuable members did it now, the fussiness to edit posts should be more important. There is this saying about using a sledge-hammer to crack a nut...

01 March 2010, 05:33	#17
cosmicfrog The 1 who ribbits Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: leek, Staffs, UK Age: 56 Posts: 3,557	I think that if a user wants to leave and the remove all trace of them ever being here then they should have the right to do so, regardless if they chose to share their reasons or not. so we lose info thats your/my fault for not copying while we had the chance, (any one have a HD crash) Yes it dose make the place look untidy, though we have mods to keep the place tidy by editing posts and what not I also think it was childish closing the original thread about cammy, now if we hear any news guess what new thread time, also where do we post words of wisdom and good will to her?? sorry but to be honest most of the time I really don`t get why some threads are closed

01 March 2010, 07:56	#18
Graham Humphrey Moderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Age: 37 Posts: 11,168	I'm sorry - 'childish'? So constant speculation about somebody's personal circumstances on a public forum is perfectly okay is it? If you would like to pass on words of goodwill etc then I am sure you are all capable of contacting her and passing on messages privately.

01 March 2010, 08:24	#19
Minuous Coder/webmaster/gamer Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Canberra/Australia Posts: 2,673	So, since it is allowed, could some mod please explain why I got banned sometime back for doing exactly that? Seems like different rules for different people.

01 March 2010, 09:37	#20
mihcael Zone Friend Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Aussie Posts: 1,144	Its not good for the forum but i think people should be able to delete there own posts, however meaningless the act may be! If something is so important not to be lost, it should be preserved in a more meaniful manner. (wiki or knowledgebase?)

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