Justine said

[GretaGip]

that deletions were going to be a bit more reasonable.

I have just seen 2 deletions on a thread that totally weren;t against Talk Guidelines.

What the heck is going no?

I happen to still have a window opem, and can quote them.

It's really annoying and actually unacceptable, as it makes sane poaters look like Vipers when they're not. I thought this was going to be eradicated.

I am really saddened.

HQ?

[SuePurblybiltbyElves]

Mass googling of someone who may not have been entirely honest about their job title .
I love MN. Between that and the Bidet eejit...

[KnottyLocks]

That is the one, Lady Mary

[ExitPursuedByABrrrrrrr]

Mass exit - Linky please

[KnottyLocks]

And the bidet?!

[SuePurblybiltbyElves]

LOADS of bidet threads, the OP was banned for one earlier and is bouncing round the boards starting new ones.
I did report them, Helen

[LadyMaryChristmas]

Oh, that's really not good!

[ExitPursuedByABrrrrrrr]

What is wrong with bidets? Apart from the general naffness?

[LadyMaryChristmas]

I can't find it. Can you send me a DM link, please? (not to the bidet thread, thanks )

[HelenMumsnet]

@MmeLindor

I don't think saying someone is delusional is a personal attack.

It is all v box of froggish really.

Ah but it is. Someone's posts might be delusional or someone's opinion, though.

It's like the difference between "You're mad" and "Your opinions are mad"

One is personal. T'other isn't.

[ExitPursuedByABrrrrrrr]

But Helen - I called you delusional and I haven't been deleted.

[OatyBeatie]

Hmm, I think "Your opinions are mad" is just shorthand for saying "Your opinions are those of a mad person (i.e. you are mad)" Actual opinions can't be mentally disordered: they don't have minds; they are in minds.

(Not that that helps at all. It's just a bit interesting.)

[SuePurblybiltbyElves]

I didn't say anyone's opinions were mad. Well, not on that thread.
I said they were delusional, used in the sense of Chipping's definition upthread.

[HelenMumsnet]

@ExitPursuedByABrrrrrrr

But Helen - I called you delusional and I haven't been deleted.

Indeed you did.

[HelenMumsnet]

@OatyBeatie

Hmm, I think "Your opinions are mad" is just shorthand for saying "Your opinions are those of a mad person (i.e. you are mad)" Actual opinions can't be mentally disordered: they don't have minds; they are in minds.

(Not that that helps at all. It's just a bit interesting.)

Well if you want to be pedantic, Oaty , I think it's possible to hold an opinion on one thing that is similar to that of a mad person but not, in fact, to be a mad person yourself.

[LadyMaryChristmas]

There's nothing wrong with being called delusional, Aristotle has told me on many occasions. I wouldn't call someone else delusional though, it could really upset them.

[MmeLindor]

Hmm, I just worry that we are getting so tied up in knots about language that some quite tame posts are being deleted.

And that as we get more and more devious about what we post, we will still be insulting the poster, but not deletable.

'You are nuts / mad as a box of frogs / delusional ... ' are not allowed but 'your opinions are seriously fucked up' could stay?

[ExitPursuedByABrrrrrrr]

I think you are all fucked up so I am going to bed.

[SuePurblybiltbyElves]

Well, quite. The poster in question called someone else's posts 'shitty', mid-rant. That's not been deleted, or even reported I shouldn't think - nor do I think it should be.

[SuePurblybiltbyElves]

[MmeLindor]

You know what - if I post AIBU and am CLEARLY U - then I expect people to say, 'Don't be such a silly moo. YABU'.

I have done this, and accepted after 6 or 7 YABU that I was being a silly moo.

[OatyBeatie]

So perhaps on the safe side we ought to say "Some of your opinions are mad, although the number is below the threshold at which you can be designated mad in virtue of your opinions."

And perhaps we could say "Some of your characteristics are those of a cunt, but the number is below the threshold at which you yourself are a cunt."

Can we have an emoticon for that please?

[HelenMumsnet]

@MmeLindor

Hmm, I just worry that we are getting so tied up in knots about language that some quite tame posts are being deleted.

And that as we get more and more devious about what we post, we will still be insulting the poster, but not deletable.

'You are nuts / mad as a box of frogs / delusional ... ' are not allowed but 'your opinions are seriously fucked up' could stay?

Strictly speaking, MmeLindor, yes. But, as we posted earlier, it does all depend on context.

The same words "You are nuts / mad as a box of frogs / delusional" could be posted with very different intent, from affectionate to deliberately insulting.

We do always try to read reported posts in context.

[OatyBeatie]

(I'm only messing about btw. I've never felt annoyed by deleting policy. I don't think I'm ever on the right threads to see the problem.)

[ChippingInLovesAutumn]

Helen - are you ignoring me :(

[LadyMaryChristmas]

I dunno, Sue. Saying someone's posts are 'shitty' is different to calling a person 'shitty' IYSWIM? It's a bit like your child when you tell them off. You don't say you don't like them, you say you don't like what they are doing. I think