Why Can't We Delete/moderate Post In Threads We Create?

LPSG Simon

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Why can't we control our threads (delete things, lock it, etc.)?
I’ve actually wondered if it would be advantageous to give OP’s more ownership over some aspects of their own threads.

One thing that makes this hard is that anyone who starts a thread would be a pseudo moderator, and this gets into standards. Not every thread owner is going to hold the respondents to the same standards that a smaller team of staff might. We would get splinter threads, and there would be a high potential for dissenting participants in one thread to say, open a new thread that allows things that might be ...less congenial (ie: insults) because the owner of the first thread didnt allow that.

A few other things I think could be problematic - If an OP abandons a thread, or leaves the site, who owns or controls those threads, and what protocol would the community want to adopt when it comes to transferring a thread to a new owner?

Right now we have a system in place where once there is a reply in a thread, that thread belongs to the community. It's part of the LPSG archive that goes back 20 years for everyone to participate and enjoy. This is why we dont allow post and thread removals. Thinking of our message board like a wall: Removing other people's scribbles isnt really very fair to them, even if it's just a point of process. It's funny because more new wave platforms like Facebook are more granular in what someone can delete. Boards follow a more old-school format.

All that said, I think that this is a really worthwhile discussion and Im intrigued to hear other perspectives about it. :)
 

Lé_Asmith

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If an OP abandons a thread, or leaves the site, who owns or controls those threads, and what protocol would the community want to adopt when it comes to transferring a thread to a new owner?
It could maybe be like a thing where the thread owner could pick people to help moderate the thread, and when the OP leaves, the ownership to goes to one of their helpers they pick.
All that said, I think that this is a really worthwhile discussion and Im intrigued to hear other perspectives about it. :)
I can see that feature being abused. Mostly by people just deleting every post that they don't like/agree with. But it could help remove trolls, who only pop into threads to say "This person is ugly" or "Why are y'all attracted to this person?".
 

LPSG Simon

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But it could help remove trolls, who only pop into threads to say "This person is ugly" or "Why are y'all attracted to this person?".

We have the report button for that. :)

I can see that feature being abused. Mostly by people just deleting every post that they don't like/agree with.

For sure! Also in the case of revisionism! Like, "No I didnt say that".

Had a short chat with Mr. LPSG and LPSG Richard today about this. Some other issues came up, and the consensus is that we're a public place, and what gets posted here should stay public and part of the record. Anything that would be worthy of needing self-deleted shouldnt be posted in the first place. ;)
 

LPSG Support

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I have looked very deeply into this. There are a lot of issues with both the idea of a user moderating a thread and a user having unlimited delete/edit options.

First, I've research what other forums do and have done. I have not found any that allow this. So that usually is a sign it's not a great idea.

It is important to remember, like anything in society, it is only a small group of 1 to 2% of users that would abuse a situation or abuse their power and ruin it for everyone.

Allowing users to moderate the threads they start. This could result in a lot of board fighting. Take the political area of the site. Can you imagine allowing the moderator to decide which posts stay and which go? Deciding who can respond? The same could happen in regular threads. The thread moderator could remove all negative posts about a topic or performer or remove all positive. It removes the element of free speech. Only a small number of users would abuse this but they would cause a disproportionate amount of problems for the forum.

Allowing an unlimited edit on posts has similar issues. Users can go back and edit their history for the better or worse. Imagine we receive a DMCA from Brad Pitt about his thread. We remove the content. But users have unlimited editing ability and a user who had previously posted in that thread goes back edits his post and re-uploads content we were supposed to remove. We could be legally liable for that.

All that to say it sounds nice but the consequences of it would be very challenging on the site.
 

bulgingpkg

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I’ve actually wondered if it would be advantageous to give OP’s more ownership over some aspects of their own threads.

One thing that makes this hard is that anyone who starts a thread would be a pseudo moderator, and this gets into standards. Not every thread owner is going to hold the respondents to the same standards that a smaller team of staff might. We would get splinter threads, and there would be a high potential for dissenting participants in one thread to say, open a new thread that allows things that might be ...less congenial (ie: insults) because the owner of the first thread didnt allow that.

A few other things I think could be problematic - If an OP abandons a thread, or leaves the site, who owns or controls those threads, and what protocol would the community want to adopt when it comes to transferring a thread to a new owner?

Right now we have a system in place where once there is a reply in a thread, that thread belongs to the community. It's part of the LPSG archive that goes back 20 years for everyone to participate and enjoy. This is why we dont allow post and thread removals. Thinking of our message board like a wall: Removing other people's scribbles isnt really very fair to them, even if it's just a point of process. It's funny because more new wave platforms like Facebook are more granular in what someone can delete. Boards follow a more old-school format.

All that said, I think that this is a really worthwhile discussion and Im intrigued to hear other perspectives about it. :)
I have just posted a reply in Homoerotic Behavior that I would like to take down because I accidentally mentioned my age at the time (under 18). I want to adhere to your guidelines. Is there no way to take down this post? Thanks
 

LPSG Simon

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I have just posted a reply in Homoerotic Behavior that I would like to take down because I accidentally mentioned my age at the time (under 18). I want to adhere to your guidelines. Is there no way to take down this post? Thanks
you can use the report button, and let them know what is going on. Or, DM me the link, and I can edit for you if you let me know what wording you want changed.
 

bulgingpkg

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you can use the report button, and let them know what is going on. Or, DM me the link, and I can edit for you if you let me know what wording you want changed.
Thanks, see if this link works...
homoerotic behavior
All I would ask is that you replace the words "about 14" with "much younger". If you want, you can also delete the second photo, which is just a duplicate. Again, just avoiding any suggestion of impropriety. Thank you very much.
 

bulgingpkg

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you can use the report button, and let them know what is going on. Or, DM me the link, and I can edit for you if you let me know what wording you want changed.
Here is a link to the page and my
Thanks, see if this link works...
homoerotic behavior
All I would ask is that you replace the words "about 14" with "much younger". If you want, you can also delete the second photo, which is just a duplicate. Again, just avoiding any suggestion of impropriety. Thank you very much.
 
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I‘v have been to forums where users with premium upgrades were allowed to delete comments along with ban other members from the thread if he he/she felt like doing do it. No explanation was required. This atmosphere created some of the most angst and resentment among members I’ve ever seen. Bitter enemies were formed and trolls emerged with doxing their enemies. It was warfare because at the heart of most people we hate censorship of our views. Particularly when those views might be considered reasonable or benign. And especially when ordinary members were issuing these edicts. I swore I would never spend more than 5 seconds in a community that practiced similar policies.

So my hope is that reality NEVER comes to fruition. Thread creators often lack the emotional IQ to moderate a thread free of emotions and internal biases.