Can I ask about how this works on Mumsnet?

[okayhescereal]

I don't want this to be a troll hunt (have read the guidelines!) but I'm interested to know if it's normal when someone's posts are deleted on one thread if all that persons posts then disappear entirely from the site? Are posts treated individually? Or by thread? Or completely wiped out by username? Or does it depend on the severity of the crime?

Anyone know?

Both, if the person is determined to be a troll or previously banned poster and is banned then all posts are removed. In addition individual posts can also be deleted if they break the talk guidelines.

Usually just the posts they were reported for are removed, even if they are banned the rest of their posts stand.

Sometimes if they’re a massive troll all their posts are deleted en masse. Not often.

I thought if you were banned all posts were wiped.

@Igotjelly @noblegiraffe so if someone was to break a rule on one thread then just that post might be deleted, but if they started being awful all over the place then probably all posts associated with that username would disappear. Got it!! Thanks so much. Just noticed something today which got me intrigued.

I would say being awful in itself unfortunately doesn’t get you banned, there are plenty of absolute horrors kicking about MN, it’s quite specific stuff that I’ve previously seen carry a ban.

Oh really? Could you give some examples? Or is that going to get us into trouble?

Basically noticed a name on a couple of threads and then later all the posts have gone, but the content didn't seem to be anything racist/sexist/even that mean, at least not the ones i saw. So I wondered how it works. I like to understand things.

No, definitely not. Sometimes if they're a troll and they've started a troll thread the entire thread is deleted, but I've definitely reported posters and had a response that they've been banned but their posts still stand.

Some bans are only for a week as well, so deleting all of a poster's posts would be a bit harsh!

I've noticed more and more that all posts by certain posters are deleted. I assume they are a persistent troll who keeps coming back with different names. It seems to happen a lot on long running threads in the TV topic.

We have similar issues with bots and trolls on the Ukraine support thread. Clearly the same person over and over.

sometimes people are selling offering services mixed into basic treads in which case all their spam posts get deleted.
on older threads people who deactivate their account will come up as deleted posts.

If someone is trolling or sock puppeting they will possibly get banned and all posts removed.
Sadly, there are some posters (especially on AIBU) who make it their job to be unpleasant, but most of them are careful enough not to put their toe over the line badly enough to get deleted completely, so just the reported posts get deleted.

MN will only withdraw all your old posts if you ask. Deactivating your account doesn't mean your posts get automatically deleted.

What is sock puppeting??

Sock puppeting is when someone name changes and posts, usually in support of themselves in their original posting name.

But that isn't possible now as you can't post on one thread under two or more names.

Maybe that's the bit about multiple accounts in the talk guidelines then? Sock puppeting but with a bit more effort involved?

Sometimes people have been outed in RL or stalked through MNet and ask for all their posts to be deleted.

People can get around that, it still happens sometimes.