Can you tell me what the score is with posting a thread and saying you're only wanting it up for a while then you're going to get it deleted?

If you were using the thread to work out your own issues and found it helpful why not post your own to carry on getting support? if you don't want to discuss personal stuff but want to gain from the replies it is a bit off to moan it has gone when you aren't willing to open up yourself.

"Frankly I think it's a good policy, upheld well"

Me too and in quite a few years on MN I have never seen threads be deleted at a whim. In fact I am not sure I have ever seen an OP say "I am only posting for a few hours etc". Obviously it did today but I can't understand why it's worthy of a while complaining thread?

Blimey, just read the thread! Its a perfectly legitimate question, why is op getting it in the neck?

No I am not looking for a change in policy. I have said (about 10 times) that I think the policy is fine as it stands :)

I was rather surprised by that too, op. I have been here since 2006 and didn't think it was the done thing - fair enough if you start a thread and then something happens later which means your anonymity might be compromised.

But putting it up temporarily and then asking HQ to delete it on demand is like asking them to supply a special service just for you. They notoriously don't have the manpower for instant modding either, especially at the weekends.

Well if you had it would make me wonder why you're moaning about one thread being deleted rather than just being supportive and accepting that you may inconvenienced occasionally by the deletion of an "enjoyable" thread.

maths

Anyone can ask MNHQ to delete their thread.

MN will look at the thread and decide whether to do so or not.

Putting that it will be deleted in the OP is foolhardy, putting you are going to ask for it to be deleted makes sense - it gives people the option of posting or not. It doesn't mean MNHQ will delete it though, so it's a risk the OP takes.

Frankly, I think it's a good policy, upheld well.

I don't think I said it was "wrong" did I? Just that I thought it was petty, which I do.

I agree with Maryz

Maybe you should just feel lucky that you've not felt so isolated that you need to take the risk of posting on a public forum rather than advising (gently) that people shouldn't post.

Threads can't be deleted on demand - which is as it should be. BUT threads are sometimes deleted on request and I think that's fine.

This website should be supporting people and if they want help but don't want that thread to linger than it should be able to be deleted at MN's convenience.

I have no problem with you at all . I don't know you from Adam. I am responding to the thread you started because think it's a bit petty and self centred to start an entire complaining thread in Site Stuff because you've been prevented from continued rubber necking I and posted as such. It's hardly a huge problem is it?

I've posted sensitive stuff on here when there is a chance it could be seen because I have been pretty isolated in RL. I think it's a bit simplistic and crap to say "well don't post on a public forum then". Why exactly, just so you won't have wasted five minutes posting time? There's hundreds of interesting threads on here that HAVEN'T been deleted. Just move forward and post your valuable opinions on those.

It's nothing to do with the 'glory' OP wants to know if it's the done thing now to start a thread and ask for it to be deleted after a few hours.

It's a perfectly reasonable question, considering the guidelines state threads will not be deleted at the OPs request.

I think their current policy is fine. It gives MHHQ total control over what is and what isn't pulled without even more whinging from people that it wasn't done 'quickly enough' . Any 'pulling of threads' is done from the goodness of their hearts not because it's policy.

NickiFury Sun 07-Sep-14 18:07:32
I agree with Latte. Why on earth should a thread that could be potentially damaging to the OP's life hang around just because you took five minutes out of your day to post on it? How incredibly self centred. This is supposed to be a supportive space and on occasion this may happen. As for the "well they should have thought of that before they posted" What if they're desperate for input and have no one in RL to talk it over with? Should they just stay away and not seek help so you won't lose out on your exciting update? This "we wasted our time posting" thing really makes me confused as well. You're messing around in an Internet forum, if you weren't posting on that thread, you'd be on another, why is YOUR time more important than an OP's well being?

^^ This a million times over.

There's nothing wrong with MN policy or their handling of it.

I also think it would be good to be able to start a thread saying 'I just need some help on this one, but will ask MN to delete it later because I'm worried someone might read it'.

At least then it would be clear to anyone before they post that their so very important words wont be deleted before they've had their 30 days of glory over them

It has never been a site where you could start a thread with the intention of having it deleted after a few hours.

If that has changed maybe HQ would like to let it's members know.