To request a thread that is now involved in a civil case to be deleted.

[Toaskyouaquestion]

More of a WWYD.

I have name changed.

I started a thread a few years ago for advice. I was open and honest about the circumstances surrounding it and everyone was very helpful.

I'm afraid to search for the thread and it was along time ago in case I resurrect it.

The issue has now come to a head as a civil case. Should I ask for the thread to be deleted or just live in hope it is buried although it was an honest thread. I am paranoid and mentioned my MH also in some pm messages. Should I just hope for the best.

If you're worried I'd ask for it to be deleted

Do you think they would delete it. I am worried it will highlight it instead somehow.

If you ask for it to be deleted it will just quietly vanish.

I see no reason they wouldn’t delete it. Hope all goes well with your case.

Just ask for it to be deleted. That won't resurrect it or highlight it at all. Explain to MNHQ why you want it deleted. I can't believe they would have a problem with it.

Email MNHQ and ask them rather than reporting the thread?

Email MNHQ or report the OP of the thread. Those actions won’t highlight the thread in any way, and if they delete it then it will be discrete “at the OP’s request - we don’t normally but privacy blah blah” and shouldn’t draw attention to it.

It won't highlight it (bring it into active threads) unless you post on it. A single viewing wouldn't be enough to put it into trending threads. Contact MNHQ with the details - I am sure they would delete it under the circumstances.

This is what concerns me because I thought threads did dissappear after a certain amount of days

It depends where you originally posted it - Chat disappears after 90 days, and there's a 30 days only section. I think others stay around indefinitely.

Thank you so much everyone.

I will contact MNHQ to ask.

Thanks again for your help.

You can’t really prejudice a civil case anyway. It’s not like criminal cases where you risk contempt or subjudice. If it’s bothering you, get it removed, but I don’t think you need to lose sleep over it.

I do not think they disappear. As with ZOMBIE threads if anyone comments it will bump it.

Some parts of my thread were very specific, I was very upset at the time.

NC4NOW Thanks. I have wanted to ask this awhile.

It's unlikely anyone would randomly comment on a thread that was years old and bump it, but contact MNHQ and explain the circumstances - it sounds as though the thread might be identifying, which is another reason to request deletion.

They'll delete it if you ask.
Thing is, if it's screen shot or anything like that then you can't undo that.
We've all posted stuff and regreted it yet how often do we tell our kids not to do that!
Hope everything is resolved quickly.

They delete stuff on a much weaker premise than 'involved in a court case', so yes, search and find it, get it deleted.

That is if it is still in existence, which will depend where it was posted.

I'd get in touch with MNHQ, you can report your own post on this thread and give them the details privately. Hope the case goes well for you OP.

It was posted in AIBU.

It'll still be there on AIBU - Report the original thread or contact MNHQ privately with the link and ask if they will delete it.

You can’t really prejudice a civil case anyway. It’s not like criminal cases where you risk contempt or subjudice

This isn't the main point here - it's more about disclosure I would guess. I think when you have a civil case you have to give the otherside all relevant info about the case.

OP you should be aware that if you wrote anything on that thread that should be disclosed in the proceedings by asking for it to be "destroyed" (ie deleted) once the litigation is ongoing could be an issue. I would speak to your lawyers about it.

I would guess It probably depends what is on the thread and what the issues in the case are - but the thread might help your case - for example if you wrote an account of what happened at the time - then that is good evidence of what you thought at the time.

From what I know, I'd be a bit careful about asking for something relevant to be "destroyed" without taking legal advice.

usern4me* Thank you for your advice.

I will face my fear and rtt. hopefully i wont find it.

MN will always delete a post where you feel your privacy or anonymity is at risk. Particularly so if it's to be the subject of a court case.

Just click the report button.

I’ve learnt a lot on this thread. Thanks for that, OP.
I obviously should have read up on the MN small print years ago.

Sometimes it feels like posting on MN is equally risky and beneficial, especially when you’re in crisis and your critical thinking skills are a bit drowned out by stress!

Good luck, OP. Sounds like you’ll be fine.

Bear in mind that although MN will automatically delete Chat and 30 day’s only posts and will also delete some posts for privacy and other reasons, these posts will probably still be accessible through other means such as Internet Archive.

If it would be disastrous to have something permanently available - if your privacy is life or death then the only advice is “don’t post it in the first place” (I do realise that that’s easier said than done).