Deleting Threads, Part 2
 

Yes, I realize we have discussed this before but, IMO, it is worth revisiting. Has there been any thought to allowing the OP of a thread to delete it when necessary. It dawned on me when reading this thread that, although we had some issues, it seemed way easier in the past when a thread could be deleted easily if it was a dupe or if someone posted a thread incorrectly. Is there any way to prevent a thread from being deleted only after a number of replies (say 10). Thoughts?

Just click on the "report post" and a mod will take care of it. Easy.

I feel the potential for abuse is too great, we don't want threads deleted just because the OP doesn't like other's opinions.

The once in awhile that someone makes a mistake (dupe thread,etc), just report it to the mods and it's gone.

The old system worked fine for 8 years. I don't remember "abuse" back then. IIRC, at one point recently, a poster put up a thread, got an answer, then deleted it (because he got his answer). Suddenly people petitioned to prevent deleting threads.

Then you're remembering incorrectly. There were at least two high-profile discussion threads that the OPs just up and deleted. That was the real cause of the new policy, in my opinion.

I posted a duplicate thread in Hot Deals last month. Not only could I not delete the duplicate, but there is no Report a Post button in your own posts. The duplicate threads are still there.

And that seems to be a good, logical change. Set it up where you can report your own post. Is there a reason why it's not already that way?

Exactly. There have been several cases of great threads, with lots of nice discussion and/or data, just disappearing because the OP got annoyed, or hit the wrong button.

But then, I'm a free speech freak and don't think that anything should be deleted. Closed is fine, but never deleted.

Except the caveat mentioned of being unable to delete after a certain number of posts would prevent this.

Or even a timed one... such as can't be deleted after X number of days or whatever.

Days? I'd be happy if you could delete it for 10 minutes. We have a grace period for editing posts without a "post edited" line. Something similar would be great for deleting threads.

If I remember correctly, deleting threads is an all-or-nothing option. This fine gradation that everyone is talking about would be great, but it's not possible with the forum software.

Something like this would be a step in the right direction...

http://vbmodder.com/forums/f17/allow...thread-62.html

Can we do this? Sounds like a perfect solution.

Except the threads that usually need to be deleted end up having at least one reply of someone pointing out that their thread is a duplicate.

On an IPB forum I visit they have a feature where members can delete their thread, but it really just goes invisible and sent to a queue where someone from the staff can either accept/deny the threads deletion. If the request is accepted it is permanently deleted, if it is denied that user can't attempt to delete that particular thread anymore.

vBulletin must have the same hack/modification available somewhere.