QUESTION Why can't we delete our own posts? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

LoganSnake · 10-31-2009, 07:30 AM

Okay, I can understand not being able to delete the OP. That's reasonable. What about other posts that come after the OP? It's not like people would be completely deleting traces of "wrongdoing" or what have you. Mods and admins can still view deleted content. So...what's up?

Cynthetiq · 10-31-2009, 07:38 AM

I believe other admins call it acid boarding, where in it can create incoherent threads especially if someone does not use the quote function.

Also, from what I can recall, there no function to allow delete of a post that is a thread, versus a post. I know there is a function that restricts OPs and people can still post, but from the top of my head I don't recall that ability to be done with deleting.

we're always happy to delete a post for someone if it makes sense to do, just ping a staff member.

LoganSnake · 10-31-2009, 07:55 AM

Hm. Alrighty!

wooÐs · 10-31-2009, 07:56 AM

You can set it up to where there's a period of time (say, 2 hours,) for the poster to edit and / or delete their post, excluding original posts of a thread. This prevents a lot of confusion and loss of content to forums in my experience. Otherwise, you end up with meaningless threads like that 'got in a fight in front of my gf' one.

SecretMethod70 · 10-31-2009, 08:24 AM

That thread was edited 9 hours after the fact. Even under the most liberal of timeframes we'd consider, it would have been way past the limit.

Anyway, I just checked and couldn't find an option like that. Is it possible you saw that feature on a forum using different software? There are many different software options for message boards.

wooÐs · 10-31-2009, 08:37 AM

vb 3.6.8 was the last time I had access to the software. It was available then. I have no idea where it would be in the latest version.

---------- Post added at 12:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 PM ----------

edit - where the option to change this would be, that is

Cynthetiq · 10-31-2009, 02:40 PM

Thanks woods for the reminder. Since i couldn't remember and this was bugging me since I read it this morning, so I looked it up.

You can make that change, but again, I will cite acid boarding that people do. There have been people from time to time, who have decided that they didn't want their posts to be here anymore and would edit ever single post they had with ... I've seen it done with members who have had over 1,000 posts. It really fucks up the threads into incoherent piles of poo, especially if they were very active in the thread.

If they could have deleted them they would have. IMO that's not fair to the rest of the community.

Now, we've been using vbulletin since version 2.2, so there's a lot of backend baggage that still haunts us from all the updates and versions.

But the short answer for me is that I'm not a fan of it, there's only few cases where I think that deleting a post make sense, but even then, one should be more responsible and think before they press the submit button. Deleted posts of users also do not come up in searches, so if a person becomes a problem member, flames people and deletes them, we'll not really know about it as easily. A standing post even if it is edited can be reported and because of post edit history (something very new in vb software) we can see what was edited out. None of that is really searchable, meaning I cannot search for deleted posts of a user, nor can I search to see what posts they edited.

I have from time to time had to research long time members here, and it's a pain in the ass. When there was no post edit history I was luck that sometimes people quoted the offensive material. Had they had the ability to delete their posts, would have made it easier for them to cover their tracks.

---------- Post added at 06:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:56 PM ----------

I just remember something else. We historically have not deleted threads or posts. This is because we've had to rebuild the forum from backups, and when having to do recalculations of threads and posts, if you don't have the posts, well you can't count them.

Even rexed TB posts were not deleted, they were just moved out of the community view.

wooÐs · 11-01-2009, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cynthetiq

one should be more responsible and think before they press the submit button.

Ah, that's what makes forums fun sometimes.

Glad I could help... or not.

And I think it was you who deleted or moved a thread of mine out of member view. Something to do with texting and driving? I think it was you... not positive.

dlish · 11-01-2009, 09:42 AM

it really doesnt matter who moves a thread.

it's usually a collective agreement in modland depending on each scenario which is considered on a case by case basis.

wooÐs · 11-01-2009, 09:46 AM

no no - we had talked about it in pm and such. It'd make more sense if you knew the situation. Sorry if I wasn't clear on that.

Plan9 · 11-02-2009, 04:55 AM

So... basically... it throws off the balance of the universe much like Doc describes in Back to the Future II.

10-31-2009, 07:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
LoganSnake We work alone Location: Cake Town	Why can't we delete our own posts? Okay, I can understand not being able to delete the OP. That's reasonable. What about other posts that come after the OP? It's not like people would be completely deleting traces of "wrongdoing" or what have you. Mods and admins can still view deleted content. So...what's up? __________________ Maturity is knowing you were an idiot in the past. Wisdom is knowing that you'll be an idiot in the future. Common sense is knowing that you should try not to be an idiot now. - J. Jacques

10-31-2009, 07:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	I believe other admins call it acid boarding, where in it can create incoherent threads especially if someone does not use the quote function. Also, from what I can recall, there no function to allow delete of a post that is a thread, versus a post. I know there is a function that restricts OPs and people can still post, but from the top of my head I don't recall that ability to be done with deleting. we're always happy to delete a post for someone if it makes sense to do, just ping a staff member. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

10-31-2009, 07:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
LoganSnake We work alone Location: Cake Town	Hm. Alrighty! __________________ Maturity is knowing you were an idiot in the past. Wisdom is knowing that you'll be an idiot in the future. Common sense is knowing that you should try not to be an idiot now. - J. Jacques

10-31-2009, 08:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	That thread was edited 9 hours after the fact. Even under the most liberal of timeframes we'd consider, it would have been way past the limit. Anyway, I just checked and couldn't find an option like that. Is it possible you saw that feature on a forum using different software? There are many different software options for message boards. __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

10-31-2009, 02:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	Thanks woods for the reminder. Since i couldn't remember and this was bugging me since I read it this morning, so I looked it up. You can make that change, but again, I will cite acid boarding that people do. There have been people from time to time, who have decided that they didn't want their posts to be here anymore and would edit ever single post they had with ... I've seen it done with members who have had over 1,000 posts. It really fucks up the threads into incoherent piles of poo, especially if they were very active in the thread. If they could have deleted them they would have. IMO that's not fair to the rest of the community. Now, we've been using vbulletin since version 2.2, so there's a lot of backend baggage that still haunts us from all the updates and versions. But the short answer for me is that I'm not a fan of it, there's only few cases where I think that deleting a post make sense, but even then, one should be more responsible and think before they press the submit button. Deleted posts of users also do not come up in searches, so if a person becomes a problem member, flames people and deletes them, we'll not really know about it as easily. A standing post even if it is edited can be reported and because of post edit history (something very new in vb software) we can see what was edited out. None of that is really searchable, meaning I cannot search for deleted posts of a user, nor can I search to see what posts they edited. I have from time to time had to research long time members here, and it's a pain in the ass. When there was no post edit history I was luck that sometimes people quoted the offensive material. Had they had the ability to delete their posts, would have made it easier for them to cover their tracks. ---------- Post added at 06:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:56 PM ---------- I just remember something else. We historically have not deleted threads or posts. This is because we've had to rebuild the forum from backups, and when having to do recalculations of threads and posts, if you don't have the posts, well you can't count them. Even rexed TB posts were not deleted, they were just moved out of the community view. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

10-31-2009, 07:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
wooÐs Sitting in a tree Location: Atlanta	You can set it up to where there's a period of time (say, 2 hours,) for the poster to edit and / or delete their post, excluding original posts of a thread. This prevents a lot of confusion and loss of content to forums in my experience. Otherwise, you end up with meaningless threads like that 'got in a fight in front of my gf' one.

10-31-2009, 08:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
wooÐs Sitting in a tree Location: Atlanta	vb 3.6.8 was the last time I had access to the software. It was available then. I have no idea where it would be in the latest version. ---------- Post added at 12:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 PM ---------- edit - where the option to change this would be, that is

11-01-2009, 09:42 AM	#9 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	it really doesnt matter who moves a thread. it's usually a collective agreement in modland depending on each scenario which is considered on a case by case basis. __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

11-01-2009, 09:46 AM	#10 (permalink)
wooÐs Sitting in a tree Location: Atlanta	no no - we had talked about it in pm and such. It'd make more sense if you knew the situation. Sorry if I wasn't clear on that.

11-02-2009, 04:55 AM	#11 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	So... basically... it throws off the balance of the universe much like Doc describes in Back to the Future II. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake."