Author Topic: Deleting posts (Read 89027 times)

EEVblog · « **on:** December 30, 2013, 07:18:27 am »

Due to an incident where someone deleted their own first post in a thread resulting in the deletion of the entire thread, deleting your own posts has been disabled.
This was discussed in the Supporters Lounge and a poll conducted, and most people wanted this.
As always, comments invited.

Jon Chandler · « **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2013, 07:42:23 am »

I have seen a few cases here where people go back and edit the first post in a thread to something like "never mind. I solved the problem." And deleting all the rest, which makes all the rest of the posts in the thread useless. The answer to whatever problem you're facing might be there, but you can't tell because the original post was removed.

mrflibble · « **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2013, 10:19:27 am »

Quote from: Jon Chandler on December 30, 2013, 07:42:23 am

I have seen a few cases here where people go back and edit the first post in a thread to something like "never mind. I solved the problem." And deleting all the rest, which makes all the rest of the posts in the thread useless. The answer to whatever problem you're facing might be there, but you can't tell because the original post was removed.

This is indeed quite annoying and self centered behavior. That sort of person always goes on my Screw You Hippie list. Next question? Never mind, you will have solved the problem in the future. Happy solving!

But haven't really seen this on eevblog so far. Edit posts, yes. But ohlook I have my answer *delete* not so much... Edit post is a Good Thing [tm], as is delete post. As wilfred said, some people should use it more often.

EEVblog · « **Reply #3 on:** December 30, 2013, 10:58:06 am »

Ok, poll now added here...
Bare in mind that if someone asks me to delete their posts or even nuke their entire account and all posts, I never say no, it's their choice.

deth502 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 30, 2013, 11:06:18 am »

Quote from: mrflibble on December 30, 2013, 10:19:27 am

But haven't really seen this on eevblog so far. Edit posts, yes. But ohlook I have my answer *delete* not so much... Edit post is a Good Thing [tm], as is delete post. As wilfred said, some people should use it more often.

i have. lol, i may have been in on this one.

im not sure this actual post was the deciding one being talked about, but someone recently put a post in the beginners section asking about a certain o'scope, which was followed by a dickish response by someone bitching about how he/she was stupid because they didnt properly use the search first, to which i called him out on his asshole-edness. that was the first 3 posts, idk if there were any responses beyond that, but im sure it devolved fairly quickly if there were.

as far as the poll, dave, its your party, you have to clean up afterwards. do as you see fit.

Bored@Work · « **Reply #5 on:** December 30, 2013, 11:32:37 am »

Quote from: deth502 on December 30, 2013, 11:06:18 am

i have. lol, i may have been in on this one.

im not sure this actual post was the deciding one being talked about, but someone recently put a post in the beginners section asking about a certain o'scope, which was followed by a dickish response by someone bitching about how he/she was stupid because they didnt properly use the search first, to which i called him out on his asshole-edness.

Actually, the first response (no, it was not me) was right and you were wrong. That particular rubbish oscilloscope had been discussed in at least five threads, the response contained links. Maybe it even had been discussed ten times.

The guy asking was also not a newbie, he knows the forum for some time, and feels the need to bore us with his ham stories. He made a fuss about being treated so "badly" for his laziness. The thing is, all he managed is to annoy more people, the forum gets one feature less and he certainly ended up in a bunch of ignore lists. Great achievement.

AlfBaz · « **Reply #6 on:** December 30, 2013, 11:52:13 am »

I was reading a thread I had posted in the other day, jumping back and forth through its pages, when I noticed someone had responded to somethig I had said. I reponded and hit post but then realised it was nearly 2 pages since his post and the topic had moved on to something else. I deleted it pretty much staight away realising that my post was now out of context.

There are legitimate reasons for deleting a post and its not always worth the hassle of calling upon a moderator to do so

EEVblog · « **Reply #7 on:** December 30, 2013, 11:56:12 am »

Quote from: AlfBaz on December 30, 2013, 11:52:13 am

There are legitimate reasons for deleting a post and its not always worth the hassle of calling upon a moderator to do so

According to the poll, the majority don't seem to think so?

AlfBaz · « **Reply #8 on:** December 30, 2013, 12:00:44 pm »

Quote from: EEVblog on December 30, 2013, 11:56:12 am

According to the poll, the majority don't seem to think so?

That's not very reasuring, the majority of australia's population voted for abott

dr.diesel · « **Reply #9 on:** December 30, 2013, 12:19:07 pm »

If you're really upset with what you posted, you can still edit the post and delete all of the text, which preserves all other content.

Legit-Design · « **Reply #10 on:** December 30, 2013, 12:23:44 pm »

Please don't remove their posts, remove their username and signature from the posts at the most. So when few people remove their posts/accounts we would have "anonymous" people who are indistinguishable.
Some boards I've seen require for you to have very heavy reasons for removing all the posts of a user, usually it's never done.

digsys · « **Reply #11 on:** December 30, 2013, 12:54:06 pm »

+1
Too many people "mouth off" or behave unsociably, then when they get called up, just go back an erase it all,
and suddenly they're all clean again - then continue to do it, because they have the magic erase pen.
I also prefer sites where there is NO erase option, and edits only for a short period (or admin request).
I've been resorting to "saves" the last few weeks, including the E4 debacle. It's the only way I can keep track.

Fsck · « **Reply #12 on:** December 30, 2013, 01:07:19 pm »

I'm going to miss the post delete button. sometimes when I'm sleep deprived, I type something incredibly moronic that I don't realize until minutes after I post.

GeoffS · « **Reply #13 on:** December 30, 2013, 01:08:37 pm »

Having a limited window during which you can edit or delete posts is (I think) a good thing and standard on most (all?) of the vBulletin sites I frequent.
No such option in SMF

Of course, should Dave decide to re-allow user deletes, now that the recycle option is on, deleted posts are moved to a secret location and not actually removed from the system.

dr.diesel · « **Reply #14 on:** December 30, 2013, 01:15:31 pm »

Quote from: Fsck on December 30, 2013, 01:07:19 pm

I'm going to miss the post delete button. sometimes when I'm sleep deprived, I type something incredibly moronic that I don't realize until minutes after I post.

I have been "online" since the late 80s and have accepted the fact that sometimes I'm just retarded. I've learned to make fun of myself and laugh just as hard as everyone else when I do it. No need for a delete post button, just

, then

and move on!

xrunner · « **Reply #15 on:** December 30, 2013, 01:19:24 pm »

No.

Or only if you accidentally disclosed personally identifiable information you deem might be harmful, and then you should have to ask an Admin to help and explain it to them. Other than that, no, you posted it, you have to live with it. Besides, once posted, there is no guarantee it hasn't already been copied by anyone on the internet or parts quoted into other threads.

Think before posting. If you can't do that, then you should not be posting on forums.

mikeselectricstuff · « **Reply #16 on:** December 30, 2013, 01:50:42 pm »

Deleting can maybe cause confusion, especially if it results in other posts disappearing, - as long as posts are modifiable (which _is_ essential to enable errors to be corrected or updated info to be added), replacing the post text with "deleted due to employer issues/stupidity/problem solved/legal issues/whatever" is probably better than just deleting it.

SLJ · « **Reply #17 on:** December 30, 2013, 02:37:20 pm »

You can go back and edit your posts so there is no need to delete them. Just say in the edit you screwed up.

BravoV · « **Reply #18 on:** December 30, 2013, 02:45:21 pm »

Quote from: SLJ on December 30, 2013, 02:37:20 pm

You can go back and edit your posts so there is no need to delete them. Just say in the edit you screwed up.

Unfortunately certain people are just not able to do that.

The only reason I could think of the need on post deletion is that posts were made too many when creating a new thread, like a tear-down with tons of photos to share, and since max picture attachments on single post is only allowed max at 10 pics, so the thread owner might miscalculated and created too many reserved/spare blank posts to accommodate the upcoming photos, and ended up too many of these blank reserved posts at the beginning of the thread.

Radio Tech · « **Reply #19 on:** December 30, 2013, 03:16:10 pm »

I have been SYSOP, Admin, moderator of forums and bulletin boards since the days of WWIV BBS systems. I always hate to see a forum where the user has the ability to delete their post or account.
I simply put a statement in the forum rules that all post and content of xxxx.com belong to xxx.com all rights reserved blah blah blah. I am a member of several radio type forums and seen folks go off the deep end and delete every post they ever made. Tons of meaningful information gets removed that can never be revived. Unless you have a back up ?

Just my opinion.

Stonent · « **Reply #20 on:** December 30, 2013, 03:56:07 pm »

I had an employer issue in the past where I was asked (told) to delete a forum post. The admin didn't respond so I just edited out all the content.

Fsck · « **Reply #21 on:** December 30, 2013, 04:06:12 pm »

Quote from: GeoffS on December 30, 2013, 01:08:37 pm

Having a limited window during which you can edit or delete posts is (I think) a good thing and standard on most (all?) of the vBulletin sites I frequent.
No such option in SMF

Ah, that would explain why it's all-or-nothing.

Teneyes · « **Reply #22 on:** December 30, 2013, 04:34:46 pm »

I say Yes to delete my own Posts. and I have often deleted my posts, and here is why:

1. It is off topic, or a bad joke

2. My complete post is quoted many days later ,
so it is better to have my post along with the response together in the later post.

3. A Group of members agree that a series of post are off topic or desire a new topic
and wish to repost in a New Blog topic

4. I wish to be able to delete my post when it was incorrect
and someone has posted a more correct response ,keeping the blog clean

5.. Right of Copy

I once cleaned a large Blog of my unnecessary posts and reduced the Blog 5 pages;
so I BS a Lot

I agee the first post (the topis) should not be deleted,
but maybe allow it to be unassign who Posted it

mikeselectricstuff · « **Reply #23 on:** December 30, 2013, 04:41:05 pm »

Quote from: Fsck on December 30, 2013, 04:06:12 pm

Quote from: GeoffS on December 30, 2013, 01:08:37 pm
Having a limited window during which you can edit or delete posts is (I think) a good thing and standard on most (all?) of the vBulletin sites I frequent.
No such option in SMF

Ah, that would explain why it's all-or-nothing.

Shouldn't be a time limit on editing - a good example is the colossal Flir E4 thread and similar scope hack threads, where it is useful to be able to update the first post to reflect the "state of the art" and link to significant posts so people don't need to trawl through 2500+ posts.

ResR · « **Reply #24 on:** December 30, 2013, 06:03:28 pm »

I agree with mikeelectricstuff. I have used the ~~edit~~ modify button to add some new info with Edit at the beginning about the progress of the project if nobody have been replied since my last post few days (maybe weeks, but not yet happened) ago. Maybe if the first post can be deleted only by moderator, that way the whole topic doesn't disappear by the actions of the OP.


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Author Topic: Deleting posts (Read 89027 times)

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