Thread Deletion

[FarrisK]

Hey all - I took Pete's advice and decided to start a thread on thread deletion. I promise I won't delete it.

There have a been 2 instances that I know of where people have deleted threads that they were in disagreement of where they were headed, and I'm sure it has happened more than that. The two that I know of were just threads that I followed. Is there any way that we can remove the ability to delete threads and replace that ability with an "Ask moderator to remove thread" button?

Theoretically, it would work like this:
1. Click the delete button.
2. Pops up with a dialogue box for an explanation as to why you want to delete your thread, a la the "Report post" button.
3. Thread goes into hidden-mode (or lockdown mode) so that it cannot be viewed (or added to/deleted from) until the Mods and Admins have decided it's fate.
4. Appropriate action is taken.

I just feel like the amount of thread control that's available to the average user is too much. When an entire thread is deleted, people's words, thoughts and views are deleted as well, which strikes me as too much "power" for the average Org citizen.

I added step 3 in there so that wee can keep the peace. Obviously if someone wants to delete a thread, they have a reason for it. That's why I suggested the hidden mode.

Just my US$0.02

[warren]

Originally Posted by FarrisK

I just feel like the amount of thread control that's available to the average user is too much. When an entire thread is deleted, people's words, thoughts and views are deleted as well, which strikes me as too much "power" for the average Org citizen.

and from another corner, i respectfully disagree.

[FarrisK]

Originally Posted by warren

and from another corner, i respectfully disagree.

Ack! An argument! I MUST DELETE THIS THREAD!!!!!




See what I mean?

[warren]

Originally Posted by FarrisK

Ack! An arguement! I MUST DELETE THIS THREAD!!!!!
See what I mean?

hehe.

[FarrisK]

Originally Posted by warren

hehe.

In all seriousness, though, why the disagreement? I'd love to hear reasons why people prefer the straight "delete" button over what I've proposed.

[warren]

i like the option of deleting a thread (or post, for what that's worth )

don't know how much of a moderator's time it'd take to adjudicate "thread delete" requests...

i'd venture a guess their time would be better spent on other tasks...

you know, the ones where they earn their moderator and/or admin 'pay.'

[FarrisK]

Originally Posted by warren

i like the option of deleting a thread (or post, for what that's worth )

don't know how much of a moderator's time it'd take to adjudicate "thread delete" requests...

i'd venture a guess their time would be better spent on other tasks...

you know, the ones where they earn their moderator and/or admin 'pay.'

I see what you're saying, but I have a feeling that delete requests won't exactly pour in.

I LOVE the post delete option, BTW. I don't think that should change at all.

[jdesigns]

My personal opinion, rather than my moderator opinion, is that if I start a thread, I should be able to delete it at any time. I don't want to put it in the hands of a Mod or Admin for them to decide.

If there are some worthy posts and people think that they should be seen, then they are more than welcome to start another thread and talk about whatever it was in my thread.

Simple.

[DZLBUG]

Posters should have the right to remove their posts and only their posts. They should not have the right to censor others just because they don't like what is being said.

Only moderators should have the power to delete the posts of others...and in that case it should only be done when said posts are in violation of forum policy.

I absolutely agree with you Farris.

[FarrisK]

Originally Posted by DZLBUG

Posters should have the right to remove their posts and only their posts. They should not have the right to censor others just because they don't like what is being said.

Only moderators should have the power to delete the posts of others...and in that case it should only be done when said posts are in violation of forum policy.

It's amazing how some people, despite never having met me face to face, can summarize exactly what I was trying to say so easily.

[wawalker]

I don't start many threads (these last few years ), but if I didn't have the power over my own threads, I'd start very few or none(some will consider this ample reason to go ahead w/ the OP's idea).

[DZLBUG]

Originally Posted by FarrisK

It's amazing how some people, despite never having met me face to face, can summarize exactly what I was trying to say so easily.

Well as a person who has been on the losing side of this quite a few times since coming here, it is easy for me to understand. As many of you know...I am very opinionated. And I have no problems making my opinions known. I try very hard to be fair, honest and truthful. What can I say? I love to argue...I get it from my grandfather. In my opinion, I also have always done so within forum rules.

Nobody is making me discuss (or argue), that is my choice. But if I take an hour of my time to make some information known in an effort to help out other members, and that gets deleted just because the OP doesn't like what I have to say...I think that is absolutely wrong.

I have seen NO OTHER FORUM where this is done this way. As I said before, members should only be able to edit/delete their own posts and not wipe out the contributions of others...whether those contributions are appropriate or not. That is what we have moderators for.

If I start a thread and someone proves me an idiot for something I say and then corrects me...I'm not going to delete it. I may edit or delete my own post, but the words of others are not in my control...nor should they be.

[FarrisK]

Originally Posted by DZLBUG

Well as a person who has been on the losing side of this quite a few times since coming here, it is easy for me to understand. As many of you know...I am very opinionated. And I have no problems making my opinions known. I try very hard to be fair, honest and truthful. What can I say? I love to argue...I get it from my grandfather. In my opinion, I also have always done so within forum rules.

Nobody is making me discuss (or argue), that is my choice. But if I take an hour of my time to make some information known in an effort to help out other members, and that gets deleted just because the OP doesn't like what I have to say...I think that is absolutely wrong.

I have seen NO OTHER FORUM where this is done this way. As I said before, members should only be able to edit/delete their own posts and not wipe out the contributions of others...whether those contributions are appropriate or not. That is what we have moderators for.

If I start a thread and someone proves me an idiot for something I say and then corrects me...I'm not going to delete it. I may edit or delete my own post, but the words of others are not in my control...nor should they be.

Well worded. I suppose we could dance around about the matter, but an example is available, courtesy of a moderator (noR):
Volkswagen New Beetle Dash Cover

I realize it may be considered "rude" to bring up that thread, but honestly I think it's a great example. The product was receiving negative reviews, and the product salesperson/thread-starter deleted the thread. I don't think that is something that should be allowed to happen.

[AmyJane]

I would totally be in favor of this, also. I hate when a good discussion gets going and just because the OP doesn't have everyone saying "I agree with you!" it gets deleted. And I agree with DZLBUG that the OP should be able to delete their own post, even if it's the first post without being able to delete the entire thread. That might not make much of a difference, though as there's a good chance someone will have quoted it by the time the OP gets a chance to delete.

Could there be an option to not be able to delete your own posts in Hot Topics and the marketplace because that's usually where the deleting happens?

[PhoenixRising]

I say, let 'em crash.


Which is to say that I have nothing to add to this but an old line from AIRPLANE!

I think everyone here has a solid view, and I tend to think that all the ideas are worthy of thinking about.

[noR]

Here's my thoughts on the issue.

A thread creator has the right to delete their thread. And anyone on the org has a right to start a new thread.

That would work fine in bad seller's feedback issue; because if a customer really has that serious of a complaint; they can totally start their own thread on it.

It's setup so that user's can't completely delete, so moderators CAN go back in and see if something inappropriate was said; or copy/paste information out of it as necessary.

I have no problem with anyone deleting threads they started. I discourage it at every occasion. I don't think it's ever appropriate; but that doesn't mean you shouldn't have the ABILITY to do so.

It's completely unnecessary to have to involve a moderator to delete a thread every time someone wants to do so.

Deleting posts, just like adding posts is a common and and very acceptable action on a forum. There's no reason to involve moderators in these simple day-to-day happenings, and that's why we have it set up as such.

[DZLBUG]

Originally Posted by noR

I have no problem with anyone deleting threads they started. I discourage it at every occasion. I don't think it's ever appropriate; but that doesn't mean you shouldn't have the ABILITY to do so.

I completely and respectfully disagree.

[GINA]

Originally Posted by DZLBUG

Posters should have the right to remove their posts and only their posts. They should not have the right to censor others just because they don't like what is being said.

Only moderators should have the power to delete the posts of others...and in that case it should only be done when said posts are in violation of forum policy.

I absolutely agree with you Farris.

I totally agree with this. Well said.

[JonK]

Originally Posted by jdesigns

My personal opinion, rather than my moderator opinion, is that if I start a thread, I should be able to delete it at any time. I don't want to put it in the hands of a Mod or Admin for them to decide.

If there are some worthy posts and people think that they should be seen, then they are more than welcome to start another thread and talk about whatever it was in my thread.

Simple.

Very well said!!!!! I agree I think it should be up to the person who started the thread, if they want to delete it!

JonK

[AmyJane]

Originally Posted by JonK

Very well said!!!!! I agree I think it should be up to the person who started the thread, if they want to delete it!

JonK

But, as someone else pointed out, when a thread gets deleted, the OP is deleting, not only their posts, but the posts of all the other people who posted in that thread, which some feel (including me) is not fair. Sure, the OP started the thread but IMO, once other people start posting in it and responding to other people's posts, not just the OP's posts, it becomes everyone's thread.

There have been quite a few threads that I have enjoyed participating in that were deleted for whatever reason by the OP. I think people disagreeing with you, especially in Hot Topics, is not a good enough reason to delete a thread.