Ability to delete your own posts.

[The Joker]

I think this would be a good idea, in case you accidentally double posted, or realized that your post wasn't needed, or you have second thoughts about a thread you posted.

Now, I've heard a certain complaint before. Wouldn't it confuse people, if there was a missing post? Well, on a forum I was on, you were only able to delete a post if no one had posted after you, otherwise you'd have to request it to be deleted.

[Memory]

That would be cool.

[Cloud]

VT used to have this option. I dont know why they took it away.

we did???

[Azunite]

Whether if someone poster after it or not, I think you should be able to delete your own posts.
If you have double posted, you could carry the things in your second post to your first post, and then it could say "This message has been deleted by "The Joker". Reason: ( for example ) I double posted"

[Ender]

This was suggested awhile ago and was turned down, so I'm guessing this wont happen.

[Memory]

we did???

Wait, thinking of another forum nvm. I lied.

[Mrs.KermitTheFrogx]

This was suggested awhile ago and was turned down, so I'm guessing this wont happen.


Why was it turnedd down ? o_O

[ShatteredWings]

The reason I remember people having a problem with was inflamatory posts being put up when no mods are online, then having them be deleted by the user

[Ender]

The reason I remember people having a problem with was inflamatory posts being put up when no mods are online, then having them be deleted by the user

im sure they would only be able to soft-delete.. mods can still see it, and it still shows up in new posts to mods..

But I mean members cant move or delete, its what mods are there for. If you have an issue, just report it using http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/images/bgold/buttons/report.gif and a mod will take care of it as soon as they can.

[Perseus]

im sure they would only be able to soft-delete.. mods can still see it, and it still shows up in new posts to mods..

But I mean members cant move or delete, its what mods are there for. If you have an issue, just report it using Image (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/images/bgold/buttons/report.gif) and a mod will take care of it as soon as they can.

In diaries, if you delete something the mods of the diaey can still see what it was. It's probably the same things when legit mods delete something. It's still there for them.

I am not opposed or for this, really.

[Ender]

im sure they would only be able to soft-delete.. mods can still see it, and it still shows up in new posts to mods..

But I mean members cant move or delete, its what mods are there for. If you have an issue, just report it using Image (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/images/bgold/buttons/report.gif) and a mod will take care of it as soon as they can.

In diaries, if you delete something the mods of the diaey can still see what it was. It's probably the same things when legit mods delete something. It's still there for them.

Yes, that is what i said..

[Perseus]

Yes, that is what i said..

Not really since you had no proof to back it up. :P I was just reinforcing your statement.

[MoveAlong]

No. This is just an excuse to say something hurtful and then being able to cover it up and mask the effects. You can edit your posts. That's enough.

[Ender]

No. This is just an excuse to say something hurtful and then being able to cover it up and mask the effects. You can edit your posts. That's enough.

^ This. It's definitely possible. But for a site like VT, its not going to happen.

[The Joker]

No. This is just an excuse to say something hurtful and then being able to cover it up and mask the effects. You can edit your posts. That's enough.

I think you're really over thinking this. On the forum I was on, when it was used succesfully, there was no such problem.

[JunkBondTrader]

we did???

Actually, I think we did at one point, but it went when we switched from phpBB to vBulletin.

As far as I recall, anyway...

[lipstick_kisses23]

i think we should have something like that, just in case no one needs advice anymore or maybe just want to forget they even posted what they did

[Sith Lord 13]

No. This is just an excuse to say something hurtful and then being able to cover it up and mask the effects. You can edit your posts. That's enough.

But they won't be able to cover things up from the mods, or if someone has replied, etc. The same effects you're proposing can be made by editing your post to remove all content. People have the ability now, yet it's not generally being done. I think the main use of it would be for accidental double posts, or if someone has genuinely changed their mind about posting something, or realized that they only repeated what others had said.

[Powerline]

I dont think this is a good idea people would be deleting their posts left and right. It's better to just let the staff do it after all it's part of their job

[Peace God]

There are other forums that i'm on that have this feature and it doesn't seem to cause many problems.

[Sith Lord 13]

I dont think this is a good idea people would be deleting their posts left and right. It's better to just let the staff do it after all it's part of their job

A) If they're only allowed to delete unreplied to posts, they wouldn't be able to delete the majority of them.

B) Why? People have the ability now to edit their posts to be blank of content but they don't generally do that.

[Powerline]

A) If they're only allowed to delete unreplied to posts, they wouldn't be able to delete the majority of them.

B) Why? People have the ability now to edit their posts to be blank of content but they don't generally do that.

1. True
2. Isnt the Edit function only there for a certain amount of time? like you cant edit after the post has been up for a few hours?

[Sith Lord 13]

1. True
2. Isnt the Edit function only there for a certain amount of time? like you cant edit after the post has been up for a few hours?

No, you can edit it at any time.

[Sogeking]

No, you can edit it at any time.

Except when the thread is locked.

[Powerline]

No, you can edit it at any time.


really? I never noticed that before. guess im not very observant

[nick]

If there was away to allow deletion only when it was the last post in the thread then I think it would be OK, otherwise it makes a nonsense of the thread history.

[MoveAlong]

I think the main use of it would be for accidental double posts, or if someone has genuinely changed their mind about posting something, or realized that they only repeated what others had said.

In these cases you or someone else can report the post and ask it to be removed, or edit out the post.
And yes, that would be the ideal main use. But deleting posts could easily be misused.

i think we should have something like that, just in case no one needs advice anymore or maybe just want to forget they even posted what they did

Not needing the advice anymore is not a good reason to delete your post. It's good that old posts are left so other people can search the old posts if they had a similar problem and see the responses left by people long ago.

If the OP wants to forget about what they posted, then can edit it out, or ask a mod to remove them. I've done both.

Also, it sucks if you look back on a thread and some posts have been deleted, so it's difficult to understand that thread because portions of its content were removed.

I think you're really over thinking this. On the forum I was on, when it was used succesfully, there was no such problem.

Okay, on the forum you were on. But this isn't the same forum.

Now one suggestion could be to limit the ability to those who have a certain post count. I however expect abuse of the ability to delete your own posts out of any and all of our members. Here are examples that cover those with high posts and those with low posts.

1. This situation can involve a person of any post count.

Person A makes a flame post to Person B. Person A leaves the post up long enough for Person B to view it, then gets rid of the evidence.

The staff are of course able to view a deleted post. Person B knows this and reports the post. Person A is confronted by staff, but he claims that the post was a bad idea so that's why he deleted it. It just so happened that Person B saw it before he "realized his mistake". Cum punishment or se punishment, This wastes everybody's time, raises tensions and suggests that you can make up excuses for such actions.

2. This situation involves posters with lower post counts.

Person A has a handsome avatar and posts his MSN handle in a thread. He leaves it up for awhile and then he deletes his thread.

Staff will be able to see this guy's deleted thread and ban him, yes. But, he left his thread up long enough for someone to pick up his handle. We don't know who got it, but now they have it, and now they're at risk.

A possible counter-argument is that "well, this happens in PMs and VMs and signatures, what's the difference?" The difference is we're already fighting this problem on those levels. You are asking us to open the floor to a new way to abuse the rules.

The idea is flawed and does not serve such a great justice that we should allow people to delete their own posts.

[Jess]

No, it could be easily abused.

[The Joker]

No, it could be easily abused.

How? I hate it when I suggest something, then people just give one dimensional statements without backing them up whatsoever.

[The Red Devil]

Im a member on many forums where it the ability to delete your own posts causes very little in any negative impacts at all. I think it would be useful, for example you make a post asking for assistance on a personal issue, but then you have second thoughts about putting it out in the open, you want to delete it asap. Beside surely the mods have more important things to do than deal with requests to delete someone's thread or posts...

[Sith Lord 13]

Here are examples that cover those with high posts and those with low posts.

One problem. Both of your examples are easily doable just by editing it out. There wouldn't be any difference between deleting the post or editing out the information in the post. It's not done now, why would it change?

[MoveAlong]

One problem. Both of your examples are easily doable just by editing it out. There wouldn't be any difference between deleting the post or editing out the information in the post. It's not done now, why would it change?

Good point. Facepalm
I think it could change because people just don't have the same malicious attitude towards editing as deleting.

I still stand by my opinion that no one deserves to be able to delete their posts. Sorry, you posted it, you gotta live with it being there. If you didn't want it there then you shouldn't have posted it.

As far as mistakes are concerned, you want to delete a mistake post. Well doesn't the edit button do a similar thing?

Beside surely the mods have more important things to do than deal with requests to delete someone's thread or posts...

Yes and no. Really, filling a request like that is no big deal.

Another problem that could arise is threads asking a question and being deleted once they're answered. Posts pop in and out and because of this it makes the forum seem slow and that may reduce incoming members.

[The Joker]

Good point. Facepalm
I think it could change because people just don't have the same malicious attitude towards editing as deleting.

I still stand by my opinion that no one deserves to be able to delete their posts. Sorry, you posted it, you gotta live with it being there. If you didn't want it there then you shouldn't have posted it.

As far as mistakes are concerned, you want to delete a mistake post. Well doesn't the edit button do a similar thing?



Yes and no. Really, filling a request like that is no big deal.

Another problem that could arise is threads asking a question and being deleted once they're answered. Posts pop in and out and because of this it makes the forum seem slow and that may reduce incoming members.

That last point there... I said you'd only be able to delete if no one replied.

[Azunite]

No. This is just an excuse to say something hurtful and then being able to cover it up and mask the effects. You can edit your posts. That's enough.

Why would it change anything? You could just delete everything in your post and put a single "." or a letter by editing.

Edit: Just saw MoveAlong's last post

[Weeping]

Nah.. If you want to delete it, you can aswell just edit it. Actually being able to delete posts could be pretty confusing..

[Perseus]

Nah.. If you want to delete it, you can aswell just edit it. Actually being able to delete posts could be pretty confusing..

I've been to forums where you can. It's not confusing at all if the people don't abuse it.

[Weeping]

I've been to forums where you can. It's not confusing at all if the people don't abuse it.

Well it could be. It's like.. Parts of the thread is just gone.. If you really have to totally delete a post, ask a mod to fix it for you..

[Perseus]

Well it could be. It's like.. Parts of the thread is just gone.. If you really have to totally delete a post, ask a mod to fix it for you..

What difference does it make if a mod does it, though? All that is is someone else deleting it for you because you can't, albeit they usually don't delete posts, unless they've changed that rule.

[Commander Thor]

You guys just aren't getting what's being suggested here, are you?
We're not suggesting that we be able to delete any post we damn well please, we're suggesting that we be able to delete the VERY LAST POST in the thread (So long as it was YOU that posted it) for reasons such as double post, or perhaps someone ninja'd you. (The ninja issue also requires a suggestion....)
Lets put it like this.
I JUST posted this post, correct?
Lets say that I wanted to delete it, someone else posted before I did saying EXACTLY the same thing I did.
Now, because I'm one who HATES redundancy, and think I'll just look like a complete idiot if I say the same thing as a poster above me, I want this post gone.
So long as it remains the LAST POST on the page, I can delete it.
Someone else decides to post? I CAN'T delete it anymore.

Using this system, random posts from threads wouldn't dissapear, discussions wouldn't be confusing, as you can't just rip posts out from the discussion.
ONLY THE LAST POST CAN BE DELETED.

Get it?
Good.

[Cloud]

You guys just aren't getting what's being suggested here, are you?
We're not suggesting that we be able to delete any post we damn well please, we're suggesting that we be able to delete the VERY LAST POST in the thread (So long as it was YOU that posted it) for reasons such as double post, or perhaps someone ninja'd you. (The ninja issue also requires a suggestion....)
Lets put it like this.
I JUST posted this post, correct?
Lets say that I wanted to delete it, someone else posted before I did saying EXACTLY the same thing I did.
Now, because I'm one who HATES redundancy, and think I'll just look like a complete idiot if I say the same thing as a poster above me, I want this post gone.
So long as it remains the LAST POST on the page, I can delete it.
Someone else decides to post? I CAN'T delete it anymore.

Using this system, random posts from threads wouldn't dissapear, discussions wouldn't be confusing, as you can't just rip posts out from the discussion.
ONLY THE LAST POST CAN BE DELETED.

Get it?
Good.
what if a user quotes you and responds to your post in the time it takes you to delete it?

[grstl]

Either my internet connection is clunky or my computer is....either way I have ended up with a couple of accidental double posts I would gladly have removed.

[Peace God]

what if a user quotes you and responds to your post in the time it takes you to delete it?
Not a huge problem...either tell a mod/admin to delete it or deal with it.

[Commander Thor]

what if a user quotes you and responds to your post in the time it takes you to delete it?

Not a huge problem...either tell a mod/admin to delete it or deal with it.
Indeed.

Besides, if it was a double post issue, or a redundancy issue, it wouldn't matter if they quoted your post, there should be nothing to hide from there.
If it's something you shouldn't have said, it's your own damn fault, and you deserve to be quoted.

[Cloud]

Not a huge problem...either tell a mod/admin to delete it or deal with it.

can this not be applied to the situation brought up at the start of the thread?

[Commander Thor]

can this not be applied to the situation brought up at the start of the thread?

Mods aren't on 24/7, you know. And mods for a perticular section are on even less (Meaning, there may be P101 mods on, but they can't help in GD, and vise versa). There's sometimes hours that go by before reports get delt with, why wait that long?

What's wong with being able to fix your own mistakes?

[Ender]

Mods aren't on 24/7, you know. And mods for a perticular section are on even less (Meaning, there may be P101 mods on, but they can't help in GD, and vise versa). There's sometimes hours that go by before reports get delt with, why wait that long?

What's wong with being able to fix your own mistakes?

edit out the post. then report it requesting deletion.

It's worked with VT for so long... Why does it matter if we change it now?

[Sith Lord 13]

edit out the post. then report it requesting deletion.

It's worked with VT for so long... Why does it matter if we change it now?

Sectional moderation means less mods for a given section on at a time. Why make double posts, mistakes, etc sit there? Why give the mods extra work to do?

[Cloud]

Sectional moderation means less mods for a given section on at a time. Why make double posts, mistakes, etc sit there? Why give the mods extra work to do?

cheers for the thought but its not extra, we've always done it
so for it to be extra it would have to be a new thing we would be required to do

its not even that much trouble
its like 5 mouse clicks

[Commander Thor]

It /is/ extra because you don't have to do it, it's not something that only the moderators can handle. We're not children, we can handle it, believe me.
Every suggestion I've EVER seen that might possibly take bit of load off a moderators job seems to freak them the fuck out, and I just can't understand why.... What makes you guys so afraid of change, for the better? Afraid you might have more time to post? *Gasp*

[Cloud]

It /is/ extra because you don't have to do it, it's not something that only the moderators can handle.
If someone messes it up (which they will more than they do now) then itll be more work for us to mop up

Every suggestion I've EVER seen that might possibly take bit of load off a moderators job seems to freak them the fuck out, and I just can't understand why....
its not a load, its not as if we are being flooded with double posts
if it was a big enough problem that you are making it out to be then maybe, but its not so why bother
and people would still double post anyway so why bother.

What makes you guys so afraid of change, for the better?
change is evil.
Afraid you might have more time to post? *Gasp*
Yes i am, because when i do people seem to get worked up over something that isnt important, like you have done here

[Commander Thor]

If someone messes it up (which they will more than they do now) then itll be more work for us to mop up
How can anyone possibly mess up nuking a post?

its not a load, its not as if we are being flooded with double posts
if it was a big enough problem that you are making it out to be then maybe, but its not so why bother
and people would still double post anyway so why bother.
I can't say I'm making a big problem out of it, but I do support it.
The people that double post anyway aren't the people that would use it. This is for people who /actually/ care about the forum, and how it looks (As well as how THEY, themselves look).


change is evil.

Yes i am, because when i do people seem to get worked up over something that isnt important, like you have done here
Not worked up, at all.
I just can't see why ANYONE is against it, something so small, that the average joe won't know that's it's being used, so it won't effect anything. I'm just not seeing the reasons for not having it.

[Maverick]

I never been a fan of deleting without limits because in a long discussion thread a deletion of a few posts that disappeared completely it can be really disruptive and cause confusion. I prefer to keep history preserved as is as much as possible.

I would much rather have moderators deal with the minor double posts and things like that (which aren't crucial, time sensitive) then to have members delete whatever they want in a free for fall. Yes they can edit but at least people can see that a post had been made and that they aren't going crazy when it looks like someone is suddenly talking to themselves because the other half of the conversation is gone.

[Commander Thor]

I never been a fan of deleting without limits because in a long discussion thread a deletion of a few posts that disappeared completely it can be really disruptive and cause confusion. I prefer to keep history preserved as is as much as possible.

I would much rather have moderators deal with the minor double posts and things like that (which aren't crucial, time sensitive) then to have members delete whatever they want in a free for fall. Yes they can edit but at least people can see that a post had been made and that they aren't going crazy when it looks like someone is suddenly talking to themselves because the other half of the conversation is gone.

Again, this isn't a suggestion for free-for-all deleting. It's for ONLY deleting the LAST post IF IT'S YOURS.

[Maverick]

Again, this isn't a suggestion for free-for-all deleting. It's for ONLY deleting the LAST post IF IT'S YOURS.
With the way vBulletin permissions work its either all or nothing.

[Commander Thor]

With the way vBulletin permissions work its either all or nothing.

Odd.
I suppose if it's not possible it's not possible. But it'd be a /very/ nice feature to have.

[Ender]

I never been a fan of deleting without limits because in a long discussion thread a deletion of a few posts that disappeared completely it can be really disruptive and cause confusion. I prefer to keep history preserved as is as much as possible.

I would much rather have moderators deal with the minor double posts and things like that (which aren't crucial, time sensitive) then to have members delete whatever they want in a free for fall. Yes they can edit but at least people can see that a post had been made and that they aren't going crazy when it looks like someone is suddenly talking to themselves because the other half of the conversation is gone.

With the way vBulletin permissions work its either all or nothing.


God has spoken.
/thread

[Sith Lord 13]

With the way vBulletin permissions work its either all or nothing.

I believe someone mentioned before that they had that limitation on their forum. Is it possible there's a hack that allows it, even if it's not built into the software?

[Maverick]

I believe someone mentioned before that they had that limitation on their forum. Is it possible there's a hack that allows it, even if it's not built into the software?
Sure its definitely possible that such a hack can be made. Finding it and implementing it is another thing.