To think MNHQ should let us delete our own threads

AFAIK posts are "content" and as soon as you hit that "post" button the content belongs to MN (terms & conditions i guess) to do with as they please.

I think MN has reactive moderation, i could be wrong I don't really think about it much, so if people report posts for not being in the spirit and they agree, away they go. Seems fair to me.

I don't think that means we can ask for posts to be deleted though - as that's not data, surely?

If it happened a lot it would make threads pretty annoying, but I do see the argument that you own your own words and should be able to delete those if you wish. Whereas I don’t see the argument that you should be able to delete other people’s at all.

OTOH - we don’t want threads full of holes because half the thread is missing and the other half is quoting missing posts.

Thanks! Bit of FOMO there!

You can't. @BIWI was just suggesting what they think should happen.

Currently the only way for posters to delete their own posts / threads is to ask MNHQ to do so on their behalf.

How do you do this?

We do have rights in respect of this

https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/your-right-to-get-your-data-deleted#:~:text=The%20right%20to%20get%20your%20data%20deleted%20is%20also%20known,'right%20to%20be%20forgotten'.

This is sort of the idea that a thread you start is your personal property and you should be allowed to do what you like with it. But I disagree with that perspective, only your own words are yours. You start a thread you invite everyone else to engage, to just delete (or lock, or whatever) because it hasn’t given you what you want is disrespectful to everyone else you engage with on the board. Just because you start a conversation doesn’t mean you should have the right to make everyone else shut up if they don’t say what you want them to.

I see some merit to the idea you should be able to delete your own posts, though if people have already quoted you to comment on what you’ve said, that quote should not automatically be deleted.

you could ask MN to delete your account and all your postings. How about you just go back and report all your posts?

The entire point of MN - and other message boards that were set up in the dim and distant past of Internet 1.0 - was to be helpful to everyone, as a forum. Just because people are now used to their own SM (where the content also doesn't belong to them, if only they read the small print they'd know that) it doesn't mean that the owner of a message board like MN has to listen to the footstamping of "it's not fair"

As pp said: if people posted in more appropriate parts of the site, it would be better all round.

Ah fair enough it isn't social media so what we say isn't our own it belongs to mumsnet.

I agree. I'm slowly erasing my internet presence, Facebook memories as they come up ,posts in groups etc. I asked for my posting history to be deleted and MN refused ; I'd love to be in control of my digital footprint

i don't think it's a bad idea for threads to be locked rather than deleted. Sometimes a thread gets some really useful replies, that will be useful for other people not just the OP. Then it is a bloody shame if that vanishes.

I do think it would be helpful then for MN to lock the thread so the advice is still searchable.

This isn't social media - the thread doesn't "belong" to the OP. It belongs to MN as content and anyone else can read and find it useful. Or not.

If you want the thread to delete post it in 30 days only. If you don't want it visible to search engines post in Off the beaten track. If you want sensitivity post in Relationships or one of the specialist areas.

Unfortunately, instead of choosing the appropriate place for a thread. people just seem to start them in AIBU and then get pissed off when people talk to them frankly.

I don't think people should be able to delete threads because the replies can be really helpful to others.

Actually locking it is a better idea if you don't want any more comments.

well, i think it is great that they don't. And i think it's great that the edit function is a) timed out and b) you can see what they wanted to edit out. Useful sometimes.

If you don't like the MN Sandbox, find another?

I think lock it, and also delete the username.

But it's their thread to delete. If you don't like what people say to you in person you are allowed to walk away and "delete" the conversation.

Yes I think you should be allowed to delete a thread that you started for whatever reason.

Fair enough. But I do think that when Mumsnet takes a thread down because it has got too heated, locking it would be a better option. Then it would gradually slide down and disappear anyway. But still be available to anyone who wants to read it.

That’s a better idea.
I think the option of deleting your own thread is just going to encourage the non genuine posters and will result in a lot more troll posts.

So? If you’re the OP it should be up to you if a thread stands or not (and a pile on is rarely helpful)

Everyone should be able to delete their own postings, without having to request and wait for someone to approve and get around to it.

That's a shit idea. As it will be filled with people ranting about something and then not allowing anyone to challenge them.

I agree, the OP should be allowed to delete.