The MN Mail Column - what we think, and what we plan to do next... part 2

[whataboutthisone]

Firstly, I am a regular but have created a new name for this.

My thoughts about what I know so far:

1. In a much earlier post there was a discussion about a change in T&Cs and whether they are valid or not. Several years ago I took a company to court for a breach of their T&Cs. Their argument was that they had changed T&Cs and my complaint was therefore no longer valid. However, the judge said that because I had not specifically been asked to accept the new T&Cs, I was entitled to rely on the ones I had accepted and therefore I won my case.

1. I choose to post on MN in the knowledge that the details I give are probably just obscure enough to anyone I may know in RL who also posts, so that what I say still effectively remains private. However, that doesn't mean that the same could be said of, for instance, my mother, who reads the DM (!) There is probably just enough about my circumstances that would enable her to put 2+2 together. I would like the option to choose whether or not I let my Mum ( or anyone else in RL) in on certain areas of my life, and there is a real possibility that this hack, has taken that choice away from me.

1. I have never ( and now will never) post asking for advice, but I will also be very careful about offering advice in the future. I, along with many others, occasionally use examples from my life to explain where I am coming from. If I continue to do that, as I said earlier, it is possible that some people would be able to work out who I am. Now, I am not so big-headed as to believe that any advice I offer is worth taking, however, there are many fantastic posters on here who do give amazing and insightful advice based on their own experiences. It would be a real shame if that was to stop because they, like me, do not want to share some of those experiences with the folk they are close to in RL. It would also be a real tragedy if others were prevented from asking for help for the same reasons.

I am very disappointed that any MNer would feel it is acceptable to violate the trust we place in each other on this forum. I do not know who she is. I do not want to know who she is. But I hope she is hanging her head in shame for breaching the trust that has been placed in her by everyone whose words she has stolen to make a few bucks!

Daftpunk, I don't.

BUT if that issue is ironed out (e.g. it is agreed that it is not Fair Use), then there is no need for the deletions, isn't that right?

Well, I am not so sure myself, HQ did make it clear that this sort of column would be ok in other papers, ie this could happen again and again....

IMO, yes (like I said though I already got posts I was concerned about deleted so can only guess as to how others feel about it) but I suppose now people might feel that they don't trust MN with the posts as this is the third (?) time a newspaper has printed quotes and only now is it being looked into.

"By SoupDragon on Tue 18-Aug-09 16:57:39
"I do wonder, actually, whether the onus should be on MN to decide which posts they value from a particular user that they'd like to keep, rather than the onus being on the distressed user to rake through painful old posts to decide what should go."

Why should they go to that much trouble? This isn't their fault. "

Actually, it is their responsibility, since they haven't made the T & C's particularly clear - they don't understand them themselves.

They are suggesting that deleting posts takes time - not true.
They are suggesting it is a difficult process - absolute bollocks.
They are saying that they wish to keep "valued" posts hence not wanting to delete a user's entire history, which causes a problem with threads being sensical. Which of these posts are valued posts? MNHQ must have an idea - why else say it?

Does that mean cod's posts were not valuable? Or Robinw?

They seem to know best what is worth keeping and what isn't. So, why not decide for themselves. They've much better, fine-tuned search tools to search their own databases, after all.

\

Well, I don't like to single you lovely

but she was loopa daloop

There are plenty of others, looking back through my old threads a few of them are missing about half of the posts!

Wasn't there that DJ person whose boss had print outs of her posts as well? Didn't she get everything deleted?

Over the years I am sure there have been a fair few, it is just in the earlier threads it is more noticable as there were so many fewer posters back then IYSWIM!

And you aren't......?

There have been loads. I can't farking remember them now, but I've seen lots where there are only "message deleted" or "message withdrawn at posters request" there.

I think it is a matter of principle that if, say, cod and robinw and star and others have had their entire history deleted then so should anyone else who requests it. T&C are all well and good but they have not been applied consistently. If anyone feels threatened under any circumstances by having their posts out there they should not have to be afraid just so the MN can court the press.

Or, perhaps MNHQ could dig into the server and restore all the old posts so that everyone is still fair game.

I think it is a matter of principle that if, say, cod and robinw and star and others have had their entire history deleted then so should anyone else who requests it. T&C are all well and good but they have not been applied consistently. If anyone feels threatened under any circumstances by having their posts out there they should not have to be afraid just so the MN can court the press.

Or, perhaps MNHQ could dig into the server and restore all the old posts so that everyone is still fair game.

MP, Enid asks if you have been here all day? She is concerned about your employment status apparently.

She could but she'd have to reregister etc.

i liked the DJ.....i hope she came back.

It has set somewhat of a precedent, tis true winehouse.

@ enid.

Why did robinw have her posts deleted? (sorry I probably need to read back). I would LOVE to spend an evening reading her stuff again. Oh fond old memories of Brownies and teacher bashing....

i had a look at the mail online, i didn't realsie that the whole moldie dooby gate was in there back in december.

I feel 'watched'. It feels horrible.