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Original poster

Can we have a 'Deleted Threads' topic?

91 replies

MamOfTwo · 25/05/2016 22:52

So, I posted this suggestion on one of the many threads that got deleted today but I am starting a new thread to put my suggestion forward again. My suggestion is this:

Why don't MNHQ make a Topic called 'Deleted Threads' - when a thread gets zapped, it can be popped in there with just the title visible and a deletion message. That way, if a thread you have been following has disappeared, that can be your first port of call to see if it is there and it will prevent countless posters started threads saying "What happened to that thread...?" and TAAT.

Just an idea - might save you some work, MNHQ! If this idea won't work, it would be interesting to know why. Just a thought really...

OP posts:
PotOfYoghurt · 26/05/2016 13:57

I think it's a good idea. I'm on the app too and it annoying not being able to see the deletion message.

And just Deleted Threads as the title. No point in making it at all interesting.

PointlessUsername · 26/05/2016 18:29

I think it's a good idea.

BurnTheBlackSuit · 26/05/2016 18:34

I think it's a good idea. And will save from people having to post on troll threads to see deletion message.

Without it, TAAT are the only way to find out what happened to something you were reading. I would hope it would discourage them.

Pipbin · 26/05/2016 18:52

I think it's a great idea. Sometimes I'll read a thread and it will be deleted before I get a chance to watch it etc.
With this if you logged on after work etc and couldn't find the thread then you could look in the holding pen and see if it was there.

iMatter · 26/05/2016 19:12

I agree. I think it's a good idea.

A thread I was on has vanished and I can't see a deletion message.

I was concerned about the poor op (and her dogs) and it's gone.

Original poster
MamOfTwo · 26/05/2016 19:49

Gosh, lots of discussion! I do love The Troll Hole but can see why that or The Graveyard wouldn't be appropriate. Agree that it shouldn't have a lot of fanfare, keep it simple just 'Deleted Threads' or similar - and 30 days is far too long to keep threads, delete after 7 days as someone suggested? Unless this idea might give trolls a new challenge ie how long can they keep their thread live before it gets moved? Although I guess that is kind of their challenge at the moment. The other problem is that if there are a gazillion threads in the Topic it might put users off if they think most of the site is a work of fiction! Oh dear... However, I still stand by my original suggestion and think it is a good idea.

OP posts:
TendonQueen · 26/05/2016 20:05

I made a very similar suggestion yesterday (as probably quite a few of us have). My version was to have just one thread in Site Stuff called Recently Deleted Threads, that only MNHQ can post on. When it runs out, just start a new one. I agree with keeping the fanfare down, no witty titles glamorising the whole thing, just a list of the titles of the deleted threads. It wouldn't necessarily all be trolling ones as it could also cover 'deleted for privacy' threads and 'turned into a total bunfight' ones.

WaitrosePigeon · 26/05/2016 20:14

Good idea!

ssd · 26/05/2016 20:18

I think this is a great idea

thisisnotausername · 26/05/2016 20:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AyeAmarok · 26/05/2016 20:44

I like "Rubberneckers"! Grin

bitingcat · 26/05/2016 20:50

Good idea, how about calling it "a bridge too far"

Pipbin · 26/05/2016 21:34

What about making it so that the topic was only visible to people who have been registered for a certain length of time. That way regular posters can see it but newly joined trolls can't revel in the dubious glory of being in the troll corner.

GiraffesAndButterflies · 27/05/2016 05:43

I agree it's a great idea. MNHQ, it really is extremely annoying to have to watch/lost on a thread to know what's happened to it. I don't want to have to worry every time I read something interesting that it will get deleted and I won't know why or what's happened. I'd rather be reading with the happy assumption that it's an honest thread, with a deleted topic to be the fallback if I'm wrong.

Agree that a simple "Deleted Threads" title would be best and I think 7 days is plenty of time to leave things in there.

GiraffesAndButterflies · 27/05/2016 05:49

Also and I might be overthinking this there is a sort of clash at the moment between not troll hunting and "posting for the deletion message". PFTDM implies "I think this is going to get zapped ie I think the OP is a troll" which we're not allowed to actually say. But lots of us end up doing this because it's the easiest way to keep track of what's going on, and even though the meaning is obvious it doesn't (I don't think?) seem to get classed as troll hunting.

Hecalledmecarrots · 27/05/2016 06:01

Good idea.

You could call it "Tit for TAAT" 😬

50shadesofTom · 27/05/2016 06:02

Brilliantly idea.

Keep it simple - set it up, just call it 'deleted threads' put a sticky on main pages for a bit announcing the new deleted threads section.

Then whenever any one can't find a thread they were looking at/reported, they can go straight to deleted threads and read the deletion message.

AHellOfABird · 27/05/2016 06:23

Good idea. Keep it dull too as "deleted threads" is easier to understand than "the graveyard" which unfamiliar posters might think was bereavement linked or similar.

Randomposter · 27/05/2016 06:34

How about you just get on with your RL & stop obsessing over weirdos on the Internet?

50shadesofTom · 27/05/2016 06:55

I don't obsess over weirdos on the Internet.

I do get annoyed by endless threads; often several running at the same time about the same thread asking 'what happened to...?. which then leads to the rehashing of it and 100 comments saying:

I knew that was bollocks.
I really fell for that one.
The one about the dog? That was a troll?!
Why do people do this?
I don't think it was a troll, why do you think it was?
Can anyone tell me what the deletion message was?
Just because MN deleted it doesn't mean it was a troll.
Read the deletion message.
But how do MNHQ know?
Was it a PBP?
I think MNHQ check IP addresses?
A PBP could have been banned for anything, it doesn't mean they're a troll

And on and on..

FoodPorn · 27/05/2016 07:01

I agree with those saying to just call it "Deleted threads" and also those saying to please not keep the original content of the thread, just the deletion message. Anything other than this would make it a hall of fame for trolls.

SoupDragon · 27/05/2016 07:17

How about you just get on with your RL & stop obsessing over weirdos on the Internet?

Should you not take your own advice?

SoupDragon · 27/05/2016 07:20

Anyway, the point is that people have often invested a significant amount of time into trying to help someone and some have often told quite personal stories. Its not about "obsessing over weirdos in the internet" or whatever other nasty spin you want to put on it, it's about people who have tried to help someone they believed was genuine.

Pipbin · 27/05/2016 07:34

How about you just get on with your RL & stop obsessing over weirdos on the Internet?

Oh the irony here is almost edible.

Anyway, it's not obsessing. I speak as someone who couldn't have got through a very difficult time in my life without the support of women I 'met' on MN.
Now if someone posts with similar issues I do all I can to help them. It is annoying to try and help someone only to find that it's not real.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 27/05/2016 07:36

I think 50shades has a good point.

There's a lot of TAATs which are just an innocent enough question followed by pages of people berating the OP for daring to have found something interesting or funny, lots of smug "I knew it was a troll", "can't believe people found it funny", etc and complaining about the TAAT (or just the equally smug "Reported Hmm").
And every time someone posts about how stupid the OP is for asking they bump the thread up Active, causing more people to read so you get "what thread?" posts, the whole thing kicks off again and all those yelling "Don't feed the troll!" are themselves feeding the troll and completely defeating the object!