Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Can you tell me what the score is with posting a thread and saying you're only wanting it up for a while then you're going to get it deleted?

133 replies

mathsgsceresit · 07/09/2014 16:53

Just I was posting on a thread which has now been deleted or hidden until the MN team can take a look at it.

I have no issue with the OP of the thread (just to make that clear!) but they said from the get go that they were going to put the thread up just for a short time and then get it deleted.

I didn't think that was really how it was supposed to work?

Is it possible to get some clarification on this?

Thanks.

OP posts:
NickiFury · 07/09/2014 18:12

I said in my post didn't I? Because you're desperate for input or advice and it feels worth the risk.

walkonthewildside · 07/09/2014 18:12

If HQ have changed their deletion policy , maybe they should amend the talk guidelines to say 'just ask if you want your thread deleted'

NickiFury · 07/09/2014 18:15

It hardly ever happens though does it? Not a massive problem, surely?

Original poster
mathsgsceresit · 07/09/2014 18:15

Walk that's exactly where I'm coming from.

Nicki - I don't have a beef if that is the decision that HQ make - that it is delete at the OP's request, I'd just like to know that's the situation.

OP posts:
Original poster
mathsgsceresit · 07/09/2014 18:16

Well it has happened to me a few times - enough that I've started this thread.

I don't think I ever said it was a "massive problem" did I?

OP posts:
MrsHathaway · 07/09/2014 18:16

I've requested deletion before, although not a whole thread, and MNHQ have obliged.

But old threads are useful - I've not started two threads in the last couple of days because I've been able to find old discussions. So deleting them just because the OP has no further use to them misses the point rather.

Of course there comes a point where the needs of the OP in particular outweigh the interests of the membership as a whole, but that's generally pretty rare, and shouldn't form the basis of an OP.

MrsCampbellBlack · 07/09/2014 18:18

I think you have to accept that mn is not there to allow you to start a thread which will only be up for 30mins on a sunday.

So the OP in that case should have realised that it wasn't exactly a massive priority for mn to delete it on a sunday afternoon.

I don't think mn would want to encourage the site being used like that really - but the odd deletion if privacy really impacted should of course be deleted.

NickiFury · 07/09/2014 18:20

I don't think I have ever seen it before, I have requested a thread be deleted when I posted more details than I had intended. MN did not delete and that's fine.

It seems to be a big enough problem to you that you've started a thread about it.

Original poster
mathsgsceresit · 07/09/2014 18:21

Actually, that's a good point too - that if the guidelines are as they are and threads ARENT deleted at the OP's request - then OPs like that one need to know that and take it on board. They might start a thread and state confidently "I am only putting this up for an hour or two and then I'm going to get it deleted" but HQ might NOT delete it.

OP posts:
walkonthewildside · 07/09/2014 18:22

It has never been a site where you could start a thread with the intention of having it deleted after a few hours.

If that has changed maybe HQ would like to let it's members know.

Original poster
mathsgsceresit · 07/09/2014 18:24

Nicki - I don't know what your problem is with me, or this thread, but I have had it happen a time or two and I just wanted to ask the question here in site stuff to try to get an answer from HQ.

The problem I have is that the OP of the thread today, for example, posted with a proviso in the very first post that it would only be up for an hour or two and then they would get it deleted.

I just want some clarity as to what the rules are around this. Confused Have I done the wrong thing in asking the question?

OP posts:
LatteLoverLovesLattes · 07/09/2014 18:24

NickiFury Sun 07-Sep-14 18:07:32
I agree with Latte. Why on earth should a thread that could be potentially damaging to the OP's life hang around just because you took five minutes out of your day to post on it? How incredibly self centred. This is supposed to be a supportive space and on occasion this may happen. As for the "well they should have thought of that before they posted" What if they're desperate for input and have no one in RL to talk it over with? Should they just stay away and not seek help so you won't lose out on your exciting update? This "we wasted our time posting" thing really makes me confused as well. You're messing around in an Internet forum, if you weren't posting on that thread, you'd be on another, why is YOUR time more important than an OP's well being?

^^ This a million times over.

There's nothing wrong with MN policy or their handling of it.

I also think it would be good to be able to start a thread saying 'I just need some help on this one, but will ask MN to delete it later because I'm worried someone might read it'.

At least then it would be clear to anyone before they post that their so very important words wont be deleted before they've had their 30 days of glory over them Hmm

Maryz · 07/09/2014 18:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
mathsgsceresit · 07/09/2014 18:27

Exactly Maryz and Walkonthewildside.

I don't so much care whether the rules are delete on request or only delete rarely, I just want to know what they are.

Me and my clarity again Grin

OP posts:
LatteLoverLovesLattes · 07/09/2014 18:28

I think their current policy is fine. It gives MHHQ total control over what is and what isn't pulled without even more whinging from people that it wasn't done 'quickly enough' . Any 'pulling of threads' is done from the goodness of their hearts not because it's policy.

walkonthewildside · 07/09/2014 18:29

It's nothing to do with the 'glory' OP wants to know if it's the done thing now to start a thread and ask for it to be deleted after a few hours.

It's a perfectly reasonable question, considering the guidelines state threads will not be deleted at the OPs request.

Original poster
mathsgsceresit · 07/09/2014 18:30

If you think someone who shouldn't might read a thread, can I gently suggest you choose somewhere other than AIBU in the country's biggest fastest moving parenting site to post it?

Surely even if it's only up for an hour or two the "wrong" people might have read it or had it sent to them?

OP posts:
NickiFury · 07/09/2014 18:30

I have no problem with you at all Confused. I don't know you from Adam. I am responding to the thread you started because think it's a bit petty and self centred to start an entire complaining thread in Site Stuff because you've been prevented from continued rubber necking I and posted as such. It's hardly a huge problem is it?

I've posted sensitive stuff on here when there is a chance it could be seen because I have been pretty isolated in RL. I think it's a bit simplistic and crap to say "well don't post on a public forum then". Why exactly, just so you won't have wasted five minutes posting time? There's hundreds of interesting threads on here that HAVEN'T been deleted. Just move forward and post your valuable opinions on those.

LatteLoverLovesLattes · 07/09/2014 18:30

Threads can't be deleted on demand - which is as it should be. BUT threads are sometimes deleted on request and I think that's fine.

This website should be supporting people and if they want help but don't want that thread to linger than it should be able to be deleted at MN's convenience.

Original poster
mathsgsceresit · 07/09/2014 18:31

I am not looking for glory.

The OP of the thread I am referring to posted confidently to say that they were putting the thread up for a few hours and then going to get HQ to delete it.

In the very first post.

I didn't/don't think that's how things were done so I just wanted to ask HQ the question Confused

OP posts:
NickiFury · 07/09/2014 18:32

Maybe you should just feel lucky that you've not felt so isolated that you need to take the risk of posting on a public forum rather than advising (gently) that people shouldn't post.

Original poster
mathsgsceresit · 07/09/2014 18:33

Nicki - my views are no less or more valuable than anyone else's.

But this site says they don't delete unless in rare circumstances. But the OP of that thread thinks they do. I don't have an issue if HQ DO want to delete "on demand" - I'd just like to know before I post that's the scoop and what's going to happen.

What's wrong with that?

OP posts:
SauvignonBlanche · 07/09/2014 18:34

I agree with Maryz

Original poster
mathsgsceresit · 07/09/2014 18:34

Nicki - how do you know that I haven't?

So Latte, you're looking for a change in policy then? You're looking for HQ to delete on demand?

HQ - is that something you would be prepared to consider? Changing the rules/guidelines to accommodate this?

OP posts:
NickiFury · 07/09/2014 18:35

I don't think I said it was "wrong" did I? Just that I thought it was petty, which I do.