Jason - deleting new topics

[AAN]

Jason, I was wondering if you were any closer to a solution on how we can delete entire topics that we have started.
I'm feeling the urge to delete the more chattery topics that I've started once the thread dies.
??
Thanks.

[Jason]

Yes I am AAN - but it's become clear recently that we actually have 2 separate topics going here.

1/can users delete posts they have started if they are just replies to another topic?

2/can we delete topics, including their responses if we are the person that started them (regardless of their age)

So, in the interest of being clear.....

There are some users, and some forums that for one reason or the other, don't have the persmission to delete their own topics that have no replies. This does have to be fixed or addressed: why do just those people not have permisison do do this? You get the idea.

The issue of deleting entire threads/posts because they're old, or inactive is kind of phylisophical. My feeling is that we should first upgrade the post-viewing interface so it's not cluttered; secondly, we should choose something standard like the age or inactivity of a thread to determine its deletion or archiving; AND then, if that's not enough, consider a user-moderator concept where our own regulars become moderators and decide these things. Honestly I'm not sold on the last idea (and CHP management might not be either), but it has worked for others forums in the past.

I've rambled now - did I answer your question? <scatching head>

[AAN]

but if you take a look at the D&D, I feel the board has become about me, or I've made the board become about me. I was just thinking that some of the more chittery chattery topics that I'VE started, I could delete once they get cold, because of the tendency of the length....I don't want people to be bothered by the complete lack of topic. I do agree on making a clutterless board will help solve this, so perhaps I can wait until that happens :)
Aren't you on vacation? Go away! ;)

[Jason]

Originally posted by AAN
but if you take a look at the D&D, I feel the board has become about me, or I've made the board become about me. I was just thinking that some of the more chittery chattery topics that I'VE started, I could delete once they get cold, because of the tendency of the length....I don't want people to be bothered by the complete lack of topic. I do agree on making a clutterless board will help solve this, so perhaps I can wait until that happens :)
Aren't you on vacation? Go away! ;)

Heheh, your thoughtfulness aside, the general rule has been that users would only be able to delete their own posts, but not if that meant deleting an entire thread.

However, I am willing to let this up a bit so the more "chittery chattery" among us - your words not mine ;) - could make changes.

Let me know if this works for you ok?

thanks
J

[Artsy]

I understand that it is possible to delete a message as long as it is NOT the first topic ... but are you saying that it has NEVER been possible on H & H to delete a message you started? I just assumed it was possible hence I asked you about it recently.

I am concerned about the deletion of posts because of the potential information that will be lost. I personally (on a regular basis) use the search section to research topics I am interested in, or to look up an old message or picture that I want to refer to. If the "old" and/or "inactive" messages are deleted, does this mean they will no longer show up when you do a search? Would you do something like this because of a server space issue? So far you have not indicated this to be an issue (space that is).

I know that some of us have wanted to delete a message that is of a more "chatty" nature once it ends. Perhaps one solution would be to allow the deletion of an entire post on just the "general forum". Since the topic of chatting came up more seriously recently, some of us have been going to general for this type of playful discussion.

Sorry for the long message. Thanks for replying when you have a chance. Happy vacation. :)

[Jason]

Originally posted by Artsy
I understand that it is possible to delete a message as long as it is NOT the first topic ... but are you saying that it has NEVER been possible on H & H to delete a message you started? I just assumed it was possible hence I asked you about it recently.



It has only been possible to delete your own message:
1/ it was not the start of a thread;
2/ if it WAS the start of a thread BUT did not have any replies. If it had replies, then deleting it would also delete the thread. So that wasn't permitted.


I am concerned about the deletion of posts because of the potential information that will be lost. I personally (on a regular basis) use the search section to research topics I am interested in, or to look up an old message or picture that I want to refer to. If the "old" and/or "inactive" messages are deleted, does this mean they will no longer show up when you do a search? Would you do something like this because of a server space issue? So far you have not indicated this to be an issue (space that is).



Space does not appear to be an issue - and I don't anticipate it will be. The time-sensitive purging of posts is not happening now and there are not plans to make it happen. So searching the forum for past/old/very old posts would still work just fine.

Generally, the accepted policy (throughout the internet) is that a user editing their own posts is one thing, but making changes that would affect other users' posts is another and therefore not allowed.


I know that some of us have wanted to delete a message that is of a more "chatty" nature once it ends. Perhaps one solution would be to allow the deletion of an entire post on just the "general forum". Since the topic of chatting came up more seriously recently, some of us have been going to general for this type of playful discussion.


Yeah, this is where things get fuzzy.

What we're getting into here is a "we should be able to delete posts and even threads sometimes but not all the time and it depends on their pertinence to the topic at hand" sort of thing.

My feeling right now is that we should make the navigation changes to the left nav column as we are planning first, then decide what kind of topic-editing privileges we want to change. I think we'll find that our perception of "chattiness" will change once all topics occupy the same vertical space regardless of their size.


Sorry for the long message. Thanks for replying when you have a chance. Happy vacation. :)

These are good discussions to have now that the forums are getting more mature. It's good for you guys, and it's good for us. Thanks for the good wishes, but unfortunately I wasn't on holiday, just out of the office doing some training <sigh>.

J

[Artsy]

for replying to my comments and questions. Just so you know, I was not able to delete my test message (there were no replies when I tried).

One last thought. If the "chatting" does continue to bother some (even after you make the changes we discussed), I think that the best alternative is to designate a new menu as "chat" or something. I suppose we could use general but this way it would be clear what the purpose is. Only on this "chat" forum could members delete entire posts. I don't like the fact that traffic is going away from the forum in order to accommodate chat amongst forum members. The ability for us to delete would help prevent this from happening I believe! Okay, and I selfishly want everyone to stay here on H & H because I can't go onto the MSN thingy because I use Mac. Honesty is the best policy, yes?

Cheers! :D

[MamboGirl]

Jason, Could you do something like if we start a new thread and there are no replies, then we could delete it. Else if there's replies, we can't delete it?

It happens sometimes that I want to reply to a topic but accidently start a new topic. I'd like to be able to delete that right away.

Oh geeez... too much programming for me i'm starting to speak in IF THEN ELSE statements! Ahh!!

[Jason]

does that work?

[Jason]

Originally posted by Artsy
[...snip...] Okay, and I selfishly want everyone to stay here on H & H because I can't go onto the MSN thingy because I use Mac. Honesty is the best policy, yes?

Cheers! :D

Hmmmm, this MSN chat thing-Mac-incompatibility is puzzling. I use a MSN chat client all the time. Where is this chat thing you can't get on?