A thread about many cancelled/withdrawn threads!

[NatureNurture85]

i literally know IANBU.

I have only asked for one thread to be withdrawn and picked up by the DM.

But many many threads with really very sound advice by posters, helping the OP get withdrawn and often we don’t know why! Example today the thread about the GPs going on holiday. We all said look you’ve just had a baby. Time will fly, they’ll be back soon and let them go on hols (her DP called and told the GPs they shouldn’t go on holiday).

Rightly or wrongly this is a public forum so you have to be mindful of what you post/ask. But it’s also where others come for advice, looking at old threads and then to find they’ve been withdrawn!!

I don’t think IABU but MN are by not giving proper explanations. It will drive down engagement and quality of postings/posters and you’re just getting deleted when you’ve taken time/thought to offer an opinion/help someone out.

I think the threads should stay too. If a post has identifying things in it then deleted or edit the post, not the whole thread. So much helpful information that could help others is getting lost.

YANBU

YANBU. I've got 4 in Threads I'm On.

If they're withdrawn or deleted, it's because they've been written by trolls. Although a lot of good information might be on those threads, generally they're deleted by MNHQ as they don't want to encourage trolls.

Maybe because the op's are not real?

Once you've been here a while you tend to notice the subjects/threads that are likely to be dubious.

And let's face it, there are millions of threads here where you'll probably find just as good advice.

There are so many troll posts about completely random things though, I often don’t bother replying to long detailed threads now.

The GP going on holiday one was probably deleted because OP wanted everyone to say her mum was being a bitch, and people didn’t comply and rightly called out her husband for being a dick.

If they're withdrawn or deleted, it's because they've been written by trolls.

No, not always.

They'll be taken down if MN agrees they are too identifying at the OP's request, or if there a lot of deleted posts, or if 'not in the spirit' (which covers a wide gamut).

I reckon it makes posters more likely to be snarky when posting, kind of a why bother giving a well thought out reply? Odds are this threads going to be deleted?

Yes that's true @EarringsandLipstick - but I suppose the point I was making was that there's usually always a good reason why MNHQ take things down.

If that op was real then I don't blame them for withdrawing the thread. There was the usual mix of helpful advice complete arseholes who love to stick the boot in when someone has just been through a traumatic premature birth and is feeling vulnerable.

the trolls ones yes they need to go but others just because someones changed their mind or its not going their way is ridiculous

I think there can be a good reason but sometimes it's very much on a whim.

That said, it's always a reminder (to me!) not to get overly invested in threads.

I think your dissatisfaction is aimed at the wrong people. Don't blame MNHQ for deleting your posts that you take the time to write, blame the OPs who either posted then complained when it didn't go their way, or who was a troll or being intentionally goady (whichever it was).

Hmm. I think, sometimes, we all disagree about whether or not a post or thread has been deleted - but I think that saying it's done on a whim is a bit of an exaggeration.

It’s the ones that OP’s ask to be removed because it’s identifying or causing issues in real life, when really it’s because it’s not went the OPs way that are frustrating

"The OP has had second thoughts about posting." 🙄

I'm not sure it is BIWI. Not all the time, but there are certainly many many threads where the deletion message runs something like: the OP appreciates all the advice but has asked that we remove this thread now.

It isn't apparent why (so seems on a whim) and it isn't due to trolling.

Yes!

I had a thread taken down because it got derailed and turned into me having to defend what I did for a living, instead of the actual issue I posted about.

People didn't believe me and I didn't want to have to say what my job was but I had to say what it was in the end to defend myself.

I imagine so.

You sound like you get over invested. If someone wants their thread deleted, who cares. Most stuff on here is bollocks anyway.

But isn’t the whole point or the whole commercial point of MN that the forum attracts people they can then advertise to. If the forum is so heavily policed, or threads deleted as PPs said cos the OP had second thoughts then MN is essentially devaluing its biggest marketing tool/value.

There’s plenty of threads on all subjects, you’re overthinking it. Treat mumsnet as a form of entertainment and you’ll feel much better.

I think that's the problem, it's fine for something light-hearted to be treated as entertainment but not when someone's posting something more serious. Its like there are less and less people prepared to take a thoughtful approach and it's no wonder when threads just disappear so often. It's made everything more snarky.