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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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Original poster

deleted threads again, sorry.

80 replies

grumpygov · 26/04/2013 23:25

I am a bit miffed that a thread was deleted today 'for the OPs privacy' when it was blatantly because the OP got a bit of (pretty reasonable and mostly civil) stick and didn't like it. They hadn't given a load of identifiable details, they were just having a huff.

It really spoils it when whole threads disappear grumblegrumble

OP posts:

Snazzynewyear · 27/04/2013 10:20

Or even, get left to stand when distressing others but then deleted when MNHQ decide thread is being too nasty to golden child OP.

need more coffee, my powers of expression are crap today

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 27/04/2013 10:23

@Snazzynewyear

Threads by Certain Posters always get left to stand, so it does depend on who you are.

We really don't think that is true, Snazzynewyear.

We don't have any "special" posters or "golden children". We really would be cutting off our nose to spite our face if that was our policy.

BalloonSlayer · 27/04/2013 10:23

But there was also another one, yesterday, in Relationships (the baby support one was in Legal).

The one I am talking about is the one with the gigantic paragraphs that were all one sentence, where the OP was cheating on her DP. All the replies were along the lines of "they are both twats, get rid of them both and start again" and then she started saying "I'm going to get this thread deleted."

The message reads "This thread has been deleted at the OP's request. (We don't normally delete whole threads but we will do so when it is to protect a poster's privacy.)"

Saying "we don't normally delete whole threads" is a tad disingenuous when you do it twice in one day.

Especially when it was fairly clear she just wasn't getting the answers she wanted.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 27/04/2013 10:24

@TheDoctrineOfSnatch

There is sometimes a "thread deleted because it turned into a bunfight" message which seems handy.

Indeed.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 27/04/2013 10:26

@BalloonSlayer

But there was also another one, yesterday, in Relationships (the baby support one was in Legal).

The message reads "This thread has been deleted at the OP's request. (We don't normally delete whole threads but we will do so when it is to protect a poster's privacy.)"

Saying "we don't normally delete whole threads" is a tad disingenuous when you do it twice in one day.

Especially when it was fairly clear she just wasn't getting the answers she wanted.

Well I'm not sure about this one, I'm afraid - I'll have to go and take a look at our logs.

But think it's worth saying there are two issues here and they're easily muddled up.

Issue 1: MNHQ deleting threads at OP's request.

Issue 2: MNHQ cocking up and selecting the wrong deletion message when deleting a thread.

Maryz · 27/04/2013 11:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Freddiemisagreatshag · 27/04/2013 12:02

I agree with Maryz.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 27/04/2013 12:37

@Maryz

No, there is a third issue:

Issue 3: the mumsnetter on duty giving in to a particularly, erm, insistent op.

So if I email and ask politely for my thread to be deleted (either because I am upset, or have made an arse of myself), I will politely accept a polite refusal. As Freddie did with hers. See, all PARD-like

But if I spit out my dummy, have a hissy-fit, start insulting everyone and everything onthread, start naming names, repeatedly email mumsnet, and pretend that someone I know has seen the thread, then it is easier for the mnetter on duty just to say "fuck this for a game of cowboys, I'll delete the fecking thing".

Which I sympathise with.

But in that case, you should say "We don't normally delete entire threads, but if you are precious care enough to go completely bonkers, we will probably give in to the pressure.

Well, that may be true in some cases but it's really a (rather annoying) subset of Issue 1, innit?

Let's just say it's not unknown for us to ask very politely exactly what RL details could have been disclosed or what it was about the details on the thread that caused this RL person to think the thread was about them.

We hope you'd know us well enough to trust that we can usually tell what's going on (see my post earlier about us being well hard).

Obviously, though, any deletion policy that relies on looking at each case individually and in context, rather than having blanket rules, will mean some folks will think we're inconsistent. I'd like to think we're pretty damn consistent in our overall approach, though, and also as transparent and honest as possible about what we're doing, especially when we (occasionally) get it wrong.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 27/04/2013 12:37

@Freddiemisagreatshag

I agree with Maryz.

You have mail, Freddie.

Freddiemisagreatshag · 27/04/2013 12:38

Thank you Helen.

Maryz · 27/04/2013 12:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Freddiemisagreatshag · 27/04/2013 12:39

I agree with Maryz (again)

seeker · 27/04/2013 12:50

The only people who can get threads deleted are school governors or members of the PTA.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 27/04/2013 12:54

@seeker

The only people who can get threads deleted are school governors or members of the PTA.

Ha! What if the MNHQer deciding on deletion (or not) is a school governor or member of the PTA? Is that top trumps?

Maryz · 27/04/2013 12:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Freddiemisagreatshag · 27/04/2013 12:56

Tee2072 · 27/04/2013 13:12

Anyone who thinks 'regular' posters never get deleted should have a look through the boards.

Maryz · 27/04/2013 13:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MadBusLady · 27/04/2013 13:23

Balloon That was particularly egregious. But I do think the OP must have been shocked out of her wits. I think she was prepared for a bit of stick for being unfaithful and expecting a mix of "Run to the arms of your lurve" and "stand by your man", so that she could bellyache in some more huge long emotionally incontinent paragraphs. I think it genuinely didn't enter her head that anyone would say what everyone did. And some people's response to that is "WAAAAH, MAKE THE DIFFICULT THOUGHTS GO AWAY!" She sounded very young.

Tee2072 · 27/04/2013 13:32

Who me? I didn't mean ME, Maryz!

Oh to say such a thing!

::flounces::

HullMum · 27/04/2013 13:54

I don't see why threads shouldn't be deleted at the ops request. If the thread has turned nasty or she just feels it has, so what? This I "invested" my time on the thread whining is bull shit. No, you passed the time on an internet forum, it provided some entertainment value, and thats it. Your "investment" is certainly not so valuable and important it's has to stay at the expense of someone else. Not having the power to delete my own threads or comments has discouraged me from posting certain things in the past.

Freddiemisagreatshag · 27/04/2013 13:58

Fair enough, HullMum, but then it should be up front and honest and just say "Thread deleted at the OP's request"

What has got me and some other's backs up is the "thread deleted for privacy reasons" when if you'd read the thread there is nothing identifiable there.

HullMum · 27/04/2013 14:01

I see your point, but I think it is because they have got a do not delete policy, posters have to claim their privacy has been put at risk. and mnhq can't check a 29 page thread just to confirm it not.

Freddiemisagreatshag · 27/04/2013 14:03

I don't care if a thread is deleted because the OP wants it deleted. But in that case there needs to be consistency. And a policy that if the OP wants a thread to go, it goes.

The reason for the shouts of "privacy" is because if a thread doesn't go the way the OP thinks it should have and they don't like the responses, they know that if they shout "privacy" it will usually be pfft'd

Tee2072 · 27/04/2013 14:41

Hull HQ check much longer threads than that all the time. The length has nothing to do with it.

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