would make people who have constantly updated projects or guides a major pain.
And on top of that, as an admin you shouldn't really care.
Why are you so hung up on the idea of a forum being a historical record?
I suspect the vast majority of users regard it as an information resource.
How about 7 minutes? That's long enough that the reasonable part of your brain has had adequate time to think "mmmh, maybe this was not such a good idea *delete*" and short enough that there statistically speaking are not loads and loads of replies to it. And no loads and loads of replies means that in the event of deletion there are not loads and loads of replies that suddenly are out of context.
I think it needs to be 12-24 hours. So if you post something dumb before you head to sleep, you can remove it when you wake up.
QuoteFor the other scenario of "but it's my post and I want to be able to remove the content a week after I posted it" I really suggest people can just use the edit button. That way the user's mission of "must delete content" is still completed, AND for the rest of the thread participants there is still enough coherence left because they can see the edited post. Seems a reasonably balanced solution to me, but that's just my opinion.
What if a user requests to close there account and have all their posts removed?
This has happened before, and I think it's their right to ask for that, so I always comply. Unlike some forums, I do have a clause that says the information you enter belongs me *insert evil laugh*
In which case, does it make sense not to allow post deletion at any time?
You aren't. So what? Why is it a probolem?
It's obvious even to the most casual user isn't it?QuoteDisabling a facility that most of the time is useful just in case someone "abuses" it seems rather stupid.
No, it isn't "stupid Mike. People can post corrected info in any thread they want to without editing the past. I've already explained why it's a bad idea, there's no need to type the same thing over and over is there?
Well stop belittling people like me who DO think they know a damn thing or two about forums. If I think I'm right then just accept it.
You don't have to change your mind, but don't belittle others that are of a different mindset. Your just as goddamn hardheaded as I am, and don't try to say otherwise 'cause I've seen it in the past.
would make people who have constantly updated projects or guides a major pain.
And I think if the poll asked if people should be able to edit their own posts, I think the vast majority would say yes.
Essentially there are two separate issues here, but they are related, because if you allow editing of a post, why not deleting?
I'm having a hard time coming up with a really compelling reason...
Why are you so hung up on the idea of a forum being a historical record?
I suspect the vast majority of users regard it as an information resource.
Why are you so hung up on it not being a historical record?
The ability of the OP to keep up-to-date links at the start helps them find it.
would make people who have constantly updated projects or guides a major pain.
And I think if the poll asked if people should be able to edit their own posts, I think the vast majority would say yes.
Essentially there are two separate issues here, but they are related, because if you allow editing of a post, why not deleting?
I'm having a hard time coming up with a really compelling reason...
I'm not - I just don't beleive (sic)many users here regard it as being as important as you seem to believe.
Why are you so hung up on it not being a historical record? What you want is not a forum, what you want is an error free sanitized list of information. That sure in Hell ain't what a forum is all about.
ISTR this whole thing kicked off due to a post deletion resulting in a whole thread vanishing.
The ability of the OP to keep up-to-date links at the start helps them find it.
Sure, if that's is what they are editing the post for.
And what if they are making more mistakes than they are correcting?
Plus you of course realize that all the quotes from any original posts that are unedited do not change?
It just makes a mess of things Mike. Yea - I don't know what the fuck I'm talking about. Right, I know, I just make this up out of thin air.
Plus you of course realize that all the quotes from any original posts that are unedited do not change? It just makes a mess of things
Perhaps not, but in the real world that is a part of what it becomes whether you like it or not. That I think is demonstrably true. And I'd hazard a guess that more people care about using it that way than it being some "historical record" of people bitching about this and that, complete with all their mistakes.
Do you really think most people who will visit say the Flir E4 thread care about who said what at what time to whom? No, they care about find the info about hacking their camera.
Surely you can at least concede there is some merit to allowing people to edit say their first post for that very reason?
If not, how do you propose that be handled? Is the useful info doomed to forever be spread over countless posts? Creating a new super post every time a new bit of info is added?
Or should any useful info once found on a forum be copied over to some information wiki instead?
Surely you can at least concede there is some merit to allowing people to edit say their first post for that very reason?
However the ability to edit has demonstrably been of benefit to a significant number of users, and you've yet to provide any convincing argument to change it.
Historical record ? That is something that I never considered this forum to be
To me as a member, it is a fun place to share knowledge. I don't get paid for the help I give and expect no payment or to be tied into any form of 'legal' agreement regarding who actually owns my Posts. Hell I have enough red tape and anal attitudes in my work place without it pervading eth EEVBlog forum.
If people are told that they lose all rights to their posts as it is a Historical (legal?) record of their views and comments, it kind of places a wet blanket on discussions. This is a place for free expression without fear (within legal bounds of course!)
Historical record of importance to mankind.....Nah ! that's getting too serious and grandiose for me
Everyone has a right to have and share their views, both right and wrong. Lets keep this forum and fun and friendly place to be and not some starchy rule rich nightmare that is so common elsewhere on the NET. This is Aussie DAVE's place after all ..... cool and laid back
ISTR this whole thing kicked off due to a post deletion resulting in a whole thread vanishing. If instead that had been "<post removed by user>" instead of complete disappearance, it may have been clearer.