This thread has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the request of its author.

[PigInAHouse]

Is this something we can just do now? If we want it removing, we can?

If the tone of a thread turns nasty, as they sometimes can, it's vital that people can get them removed.

There's nothing to be gained from contributing to someone's misery. People start threads ill-advisedly, when vulnerable, when angry, when drunk. It'd be irresponsible and exploitative for MN to refuse to take them down.

I also agree with a PP this is not new, it's always been that way.

Sometimes there might be mental health reasons or similar why it is the right thing to do to look after the op.

Many years ago I posted an AIBU and got horribly rounded on by a number of posters (others were quite balanced to be fair) and it caused me excruciating mental distress as I was in a vulnerable place anyway. I was new to Mumsnet and didn't realise that AIBU was often just used as a place for people to get out their anger . People often don't stop and think that there is a real person behind the post.

At the time MN didn't delete and just told me to hide the thread, which I did but in all honesty it would have been much better for my mental health if it had been deleted.

I felt like someone in the stocks having tomatoes lobbed at me, and it was on an evening when I was low and vulnerable and alone and had just had a very traumatic experience (which was what I posted about)

I think it's a shame when a couple of derailing trolls mean a thread is deleted, I even think it is a shame if a troll thread gets deleted if it has sparked interesting debate. But the Ops mental health or well being is worthy of protection with deletion.

Honestly I entirely get all of those things. There is no value in keeping a thread if it is causing distress.
The thread that prompted my question was one where the OP posted in quite a combative tone, and after 4-5 posters (politely) disagreed she said something like ‘urgh you’re all wrong, I’m getting this deleted. MN, delete my thread’. There was no aggression, no pile on, people were just answering the question she asked.
Obviously I don’t know what she said to MN behind the scenes. As I had seen a spate of similar threads and then the deletion message ‘deleted at the posters request’, I just wanted to check the actual policy, that’s all.

@HebeMumsnet - let's be honest here and call a spade a spade.
When xenophobic posts are brought to the attention of MN Admins, they repeatedly ask for evidence of same and don't even delete threads or posts on those threads....but if someone doesn't like that they are being told they are being unreasonable multiple times....threads go Poof! in the night.

The posting guidelines could do with a review and perhaps it would be useful to get feedback from the people that actually make up the posts for that??

The step mum went poof overnight

I did feel for her and every one jumped in on her

she asked how to make things better