What is it with all these threads being deleted??

[Lilifer]

Every day now there seems to be a thread deleted on aibu - it's the only section I'm really on, but pretty much every day lately I'll see a thread, read it, then return to it later to get an update and it's been deleted. I've been on Mumsnet since 2009 and threads were rarely deleted until recently , this last year or so it seems to happen so much. Are more people just trying to troll or wind us up, or what's the reason behind this huge increase in deletions?

Someone I know had a thread taken off as 'under investigation' but there was no investigation and the thread just never appeared again. It was a shame as her DH was getting great advice about how he'd messed something up with her and with each message it was hammering home to him that he really did have to change. It pissed her off how so many Mumsnet users just piled on, and started going on and about how it was a troll thread, and really robbed my mate of some good advice for her DH. Even the couple of pages she got of messages were very useful to them, but it'd have been a lot better if the thread had just been left.

I'd presume that happens a lot, small flag and it just gets removed as that's the easiest route for Mumsnet, but a shame for the advice that often gets wasted. Some posters need to calm down on the troll hunting.

Just clicked onto 3 threads, each of which has been deleted or has message saying it's being looked at.
Why not remove the thread completely? Given my brain is addled, I will forget topics, so won't care if they simply disappear. But don't tease me by leaving a topic to click onto only to find it's a dead thread - killed my MNHQ
If deleting threads is becoming a real frequent issue due to posters refretting their contribution, then provide a delete button for users; that way, we don't lose the whole thread because one person regrets calling another person an idiot (or whichever term of endearment they chose!)

OP it's v difficult for me to see a glaring title with blasphemy in it. Other threads with it in in the main body I simply avoid cos I don't like to see it......but this one is impossible not to see as it keeps coming up on my feed

And yes, annoying so many threads get deleted

If your post caused a problem, generally speaking, only your post would be deleted. Not the entire thread.

Well that's not going to happen is it. Threads get deleted when you report them if and only if MNHQ agree that you were right to report and they need deleting, so why would they punish you for that?

I've reported five in the last week: my average is normally more like one a month.

One made-up shite, two weird goady shite (ketchup/M&S), one horrendous homophobia, one where my report just said "ewwwww". All were deleted rapidly and most of the replies from MNHQ said "sorry for the mass email".

Which of those do you think should have stayed?

AIBU seems to attract the attention of bored housewives absolutely desperate to be able to be mean to someone and just want some entertainment rather than a genuinely helpful place to go. A great place for trolls to feast.

Won't this one be deleted too, for talking about the other threads?

The point is as I and others have said, innocent people are having their threads deleted just because someone suspects someone would go to the bother of making up something. I believe 99% of threads deleted are innocent and not troll threads. The problem is some posters are so sheltered and naive they cannot conceive of something happening so accuse the OP of being a troll even when they're not. NOTHING on this site surprises me, I find it all believable. Because I haven't been sheltered and I know what people say happens, happen. How do YOU know the thread you reported was "made-up shite"? Just because you couldn't imagine it happening and choose to believe someone would make something up? And so what if something is 'goady'. So what?? It's a DISCUSSION board.

That is a brilliant idea @Fernsinthegarden
Some can be very entertaining!

I also think they should stop taking down a post just because the OP has decided that she doesn't want it up there any more, maybe she wasn't getting the answers she wanted? I think that in the most part MNHQ should only take down a post if something has happened that makes the OP very open, and vunerable to, exposure.

There was one about someone who's husband killed himself, and because of a few clues to the OP'S identity, and our ever vigilant members, they managed to link her to real life, because it was in the local media - I can understand people wanting to know more, but I do wish they wouldn't contact the OP about it, whether on the thread or privately - so yes, on rare occasions like that, I do think the threads should be removed, and at least in that particular case, MNHQ told us why the thread was being removed.

That drives me mad @ChazzaGirl as I tend to type responses that most people can't be bothered to read because of the length of them! That is fine, it is their choice, but for me to have spent nearly two to three hours typing it, and then being told that the thread has been closed, is very frustrating!

Just had 2 threads in my watching. Not that interesting threads.
Went on to watching, both threads said deleted.
Went onto what I'm on, 1 thread still active, yes the other thread had gone poof, not surprised on that one.
But odd all the same

Couldn't agree more PAFMO. Trolls are nasty little inadequates who shouldn't be given the time of day.

As for dedicating a section to troll threads just to keep them for entertainment value. No thanks. The number of troll posts with rise massively if they think threads won't be consigned to the ether.

So how certain does Mumsnet have to be that it is a troll before deleting it?
No offense meant @PortiaFimbriata, but I don't want a thread taken down just because a few members think that it can't possibly be true. I worry about the damage that it can cause the OP if it is true.

I would rather risk the chance of being trolled, than risk an OP going without the help she needs. Also, even if someone is a troll, it doesn't mean that some of those of us reading it, might not get some valuable advice or information from other PP's who have been kind enough to contribute to the thread.

I really like @Fernsinthegarden suggestion of just putting suspected trolls threads in a troll section - it could be called 'Under the Bridge'.

Three hours! Do you not end up getting told to cancel the cheque a lot? Or do you keep the thread open on another tab, check for updates and keep revising?

Spending 2-3 hours writing one post has to be the definition of over-investment!

^^ This but you put is much better than me OP.

I think that if this rate of deletion keeps up then people will just naturally drift away from Mumsnet because it will have lost the thing that made it worth engaging with, lively robust informative and supportive discussion - yes with sometimes the odd idiot/weirdo/shitstirrer on it too, but the trolling was always outweighed by the good on it. It's just not going to be something I'm going to want to take time out to engage in if half the threads I'm on are disappearing randomly and unexpectedly,

for me to have spent nearly two to three hours typing it, and then being told that the thread has been closed, is very frustrating

You what?????? 2 -3 hours writing a reply?

You know there's a Hide Thread option?

Lol, @PortiaFimbriata, no, I just literally spend most of my time when not sleeping (which I do a lot of) watching TV with my husband (maximum 3 hours a day), reading a novel, or being on the internet.

When a reply takes me 2 to 3 hours, it means that I am very invested in the subject, and my mind thinks of all the scenarios that might not be covered if I don't go into a lot of detail.

This is my daily life 24/7 for most of the time, although I do get a few small breaks per year. My husband only likes talking about a very limited range of subjects, so he is on the Internet nearly all the time as well, except when he is getting us a meal, or shopping. Life is very boring most of the time.

On the rare occasions when I am eating and watching the TV, and that also coincides with me also responding to someone on here, it would take about 5 hours before I was able to post it. By then the OP has probably already had lots of other posts saying what I was trying to say 2 to 5 hours ago!

To be fair, that poster came back and confirmed that her partner was female, and revealed she was terminally ill. That combination could potentially be identifying. It also a bit unfair to say she was ‘militant’ about using ‘they’ - she only posted once before confirming the gender! It was other posters who got into a strop because they didn’t know this irrelevant detail.

I really don't know why posters on that thread got so het up about not knowing the sex of the partner!

Just had my first post deleted

Was only shocked about the gender rules in schools about toilets 😬

I think its a shame to say the days of having an opinion are dead. I was not discriminatory in any way, guess people are just looking to take offence in everything now a days!

Mumsnet are very delete happy these days, posts and threads, it never used to be like this and does ruin the forum. So many times I’ll be reading a thread and someone rights ‘reported’ for little reason other than they disagree, particularly anything to do with gender, womens rights and sexuality