Permission to delete posts

[spl]

On more than one occasion I have submitted post with code, expecting at least one response (that wasn't from me). I would request being able to delete the initial post after several days in no reply  state.

[td]

I don't think "no response" is the same thing as "no value." I know I have found more than one of your "no response" posts informative and useful. I use the forum as a kind of repository of useful information that is just a click away.

[bottomleypotts]

100% agree with everything TD says!

[snowsnowsnow]

I think this phenomenon is known as "Bruce's Law".

The problem is that if you post something (on any forum, email, Facebook, Twitter, whatever) and get no response (in a situation where you think a response is warranted), it could mean any of the following things:

1) There was some mechanical problem and the message was never received.  This could be, for example, because the recipient doesn't know how to work their email program.

2) The recipient(s) is/are in total agreement with what you said and feels that no response is needed.   This is, in fact, the most aggravating case, but alas, too common.

3) The recipent(s) is/are in violent disagreement with you and don't wish to communicate with you.  Note that in general, the best response to a post you don't agree with (i.e., don't like) is to just ignore it.  Flaming back rarely accomplishes anything (other than to make you feel good).  So "Just Stop" is usually the best course of action.

[td]

Guilty as charged. I do find that posts I don't agree with can still be useful, whether I engage or not.

[kdmoyers]

I get what OP is saying though.  I've had cases where, after thinking more about it, I realize my question was sort of dumb, and I'd just like to withdraw the question.

When that happens to me, I answer my own question with something like "Oops, I get it now. The framistat is obviously too large for the defarbolator, it simply doesn't fit. Duh. Never mind"

Who knows, maybe someone else will get some use from it.

[snowsnowsnow]

Just to clarify - I.e., I seek validation from an admin-type that this board also works the way I'm about to describe - most boards don't allow users to delete posts  or threads (even their own), but they allow editing.  So, the usual workaround is to edit your post(s) and delete all the text.  Some boards won't let you delete everything - i.e., leave nothing behind - so the workaround to that is to change it all to "X".

Some boards won't let you edit once someone has responded - and although misguided, you can see why they do that - while others allow it but flag it so that it is known that it has been edited after having been responded to.

Personally, I think that a user *should* have (more or less) full admin rights over their own threads (*), but I realize this is a minority view.  The dominant thinking is that there is no such thing as "my" thread; once it is posted, it belongs to everybody (which is to say, really, that it belongs to the admins - and no one else).

(*) I.e., threads they started - for which they are the OP.

[td]

If an OP wishes to delete a thread, they simply need to ask. The forum allows post edits at any time. If that has not been your experience, let us know.  We will try to fix it.

Note: As a proof of concept, I reedited this post to refine the grammar and wording...

[snowsnowsnow]

OK - that pretty much agrees with my experience and beliefs.

I've never had any problems at all on this board, so nothing to complain about there.  Other boards, though, have not been as co-operative.