Editing and deleting posts.

[garinda]

Noticed that quite a few posts have been deleted this evening.

True, strictly speaking some posts will have gone off the subject of the thread title, and thus they did break forum rules, and therefore they can quite rightly be deleted.

However, I could point out thousands of similar posts on the forum, which have also veered off topic, but they remain on site.

Some of the deleted posts may have exhibited, or at least attempted a stab at humour.

Is this seen as going off thread?

Might be an idea if the reasons why some posts are deleted, and some aren't, are given. Then hopefully people will know how to avoid this happening.

If arbitrary deletion, in which some posts are deleted, and similar posts remain untouched, continues, it might deter some people from bothering to post at all, because it becomes a bit of a lottery if their post does, or doesn't remain.

Which would result in the forum becoming very sluggish, in my opinion.

[cashman]

Know what yer saying, can't reply or twill be deleted.

[Neil]

There is a difference between being off topic, which as you know happens a lot and is usually left untouched and posts that are just argumentative and insulting each other.

Do you think those type of posts should be left on?

[BERNADETTE]

Appears my answering post has vanished

[Neil]

I have removed a lot of posts that were just argumentative and plain insulting. It was a toss up between removing posts and removing the whole thread.

I apologise for not cleaning up this thread sooner but I have been busy the last few days and not been online much.

[cashman]

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

Appears my answering post has vanished

this is getting ridiculous IMHO.

[Alan Varrechia]

If you only remove certain posts, people get a one sided opinion, sureley it's better to remove whole thread then it's not quite as biased.

[BERNADETTE]

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Neil,I have removed a lot of posts that were just argumentative and plain insulting.

My post was far from argumentative or insulting. But as you are the mod will have to abide by your decision to delete it.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Neil

Do you think those type of posts should be left on?

No, and as Cashman hinted I don't want to criticise any moderators, because that too would break forum rules.

However quite honestly I'm struggling to see any logic, in deciding which posts are deleted, and which remain untouched.

I'll state as fact that some recently deleted posts, although like thousands of others may have veered off topic, were definitely not 'argumentative and insulting'. Certainly no more so than posts that remain in the heavily edited thread. Including at least one post in the hacked thread, which could be argued contains at least two insults aimed at other members. Some of those deleted would have been seen as attempting humour, at least in the eyes of most people.

Rules should not be applied on a whim, willy-nilly, and in an arbitrary fashion.

Well they can be.

But as stated earlier, people wouldn't want to play a lottery game for long. Guessing if their very similar posts might, or might not be deleted.

I'm genuinely not criticising anyone.

Just trying to make sense of something that to me shows very little logic.

I've always had the utmost respect for the way this site is moderated, but this editing baffles me.

As in any society, if the law is deemed to be unfair, people soon get fed up.

A few might remain, a few might protest. Most will simply go elsewhere.

So we can learn from this, I'm more than happy if my own deleted posts are reproduced here, with an explanation as to why each needed removing, whilst similar are allowed to remain.

I'm sure all members would then know what to avoid, so as to create less work for the moderators.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

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My post was far from argumentative or insulting. But as you are the mod will have to abide by your decision to delete it.

And your going to lay back and take it.........

[BERNADETTE]

Originally Posted by Doug

And your going to lay back and take it.........

Nothing I can do but abide by a mods decision whether I agree with it or not Think most members will have got the gist of how one of our esteemed members can get away with insulting just about everyone as they so please without warning

[Doug]

OK, let’s pretend that I’m thick. Is this or is this not a discussion board?

[garinda]

If there's a situation in which people think rules aren't being applied across the board, and are applied to some cases, and not to others, that's when accusations od fairness and credibility arise.

Again, not being critical. I want clarity, so myself, and hopefully others can learn, and we won't fall foul of rule breaking again.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Alan Varrechia

If you only remove certain posts, people get a one sided opinion, sureley it's better to remove whole thread then it's not quite as biased.

Not always as simple as that.
The original post was a perfectly sensible post. Many of the following posts were just comments on other threads and insults between members.

Maybe I should have just left the original post and no others.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

Nothing I can do but abide by a mods decision whether I agree with it or not

Not true at all. You can PM me any time and discuss anything you want. I will reply as soon as I can.

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

Think most members will have got the gist of how one of our esteemed members can get away with insulting just about everyone as they so please without warning

I moderate as fairly as I can and will remove posts I think need removing no matter who has posted them.