Deletion of Tchan's recent post

[badukJr]

I see it pretty clearly.

If moderators have the power to delete their own threads to deflect criticism, then ordinary posters should be able to delete their own threads as well. It is disingenuous to separate this power. At least only lock it, so that their folly can be on display.

[Bonobo]

As I see it, Tchan was in a moral conflict and tried to do what s/he thought would do the least damage, and when then the damage done seemed larger, s/he tried to repair it, all in good faith that it would be the best solution. I see no evidence s/he did it in order to deflect criticism, at most the reason was shame, which is painful, as I very well know. I won’t throw a stone here …

And I find it most extraordinary that such a discussion can take place at all and that admins not only allow it but also engage in it lighthandedly, bravo for that.

[Kirby]

I'm also against locking posts, but I didn't realize that ordinary users couldn't delete their own posts.

I'm probably rebellious at heart, so I get angry when stuff is censored by admins. Sometimes I get angry and want to pack up and leave. But it's such a hassle to get a new domain name, get a new server, and have everyone migrate there like we did when we moved from GoDiscussions.com... So all in all, I'm inclined to just go with the flow when it comes to admins locking threads as they please.

I'm all for decentralization of power, but when it comes down to it, it doesn't really matter that much to me.

Ah well, I don't know what I think for sure. I've had a little bit to drink because my son finally fell asleep... ZZZzzzzz....

[tchan001]

I think I'll just do a JF and stay away from the community for a long while and turn my blog private.
You can all thank the wonderful designer of Redstone, Mark Steere, for what he wrote about me on rec.games.go as one of the main factors for helping me decide on making my own material private.

[illluck]

I think I'll just do a JF and stay away from the community for a long while and turn my blog private

Not to judge, but think that you sometimes take criticisms a little bit too personally. I just want to let you know that even though I've disagreed with you on several issues I've enjoyed your blog posts and think that you've made a positive contribution. Hope that you return quickly after the break

[Kirby]

I think I'll just do a JF and stay away from the community for a long while and turn my blog private

Not to judge, but think that you sometimes take criticisms a little bit too personally.

I've been in the same boat. I think that getting angry, announcing your leave of absence, going away for awhile, then coming back again is a rite of passage for active posters. It's a natural process we all go through to grow into grumpy old men (or women). If you haven't gone through this process yet, you should do some serious introspection.

[Joaz Banbeck]

I think I'll just do a JF and stay away from the community for a long while and turn my blog private

...the admins are damned if they do and damned if they don't in these kinds of situations...

[Coyote]

I don't think the lock warning was based on people complaining about thread locking. I think it was the exchange about whether saying something made someone look worse was saying they already looked bad that was the point when this thread went a little of the rails.

Seems back on target, people discussing what their preferences are for moderation, no one criticizing other's ideas, just everyone giving an opinion.

Here's mine.

Locking threads is already preferable to deleting them. If you delete someone's threads who's constantly disruptive, then ban them you have nothing to point to as reason. Sure, people following the situation may agree with the ban, but other's not following the situation may not.

Deleting threads are better for libel, where the existence of the thread itself is damaging an innocent party. Even then I would prefer that the post is edited with a disclaimer explaining why the statements are considered untrue. This way they could form a body of evidence that the innocent party could refer to as proof that someone was trying to discredit their name through false statements.

Transparency is the goal. If someone deserves a ban and their actions are visible people won't question the admin quite so much. If someone's doing something wrong it's obvious to everyone why.

[Joaz Banbeck]

[admin]

...
If moderators have the power to delete their own threads to deflect criticism, then ordinary posters should be able to delete their own threads as well...

I'm also against locking posts, but I didn't realize that ordinary users couldn't delete their own posts...

I was surprised when I found out that you couldn't delete your own posts. It seemed proper that anybody should be able to. I expected that I would just have to toggle a flag someplace to change it. I checked on it, and it appears that phpbb has no provision for it. This, of course means that you can't delete a thread either.

Until somebody writes some custom code, it doesn't look like it will change. Pleas to Kirby or Fwiffo or Adrian or any of the other admins who write php might be the best way.

[/admin]

[illluck]

In my opinion the option to edit is generally sufficient. Giving users the ability to delete their replies and even threads would cause a lot of confusion. It's also kinda annoying to have your replies disappear because the thread has been deleted.

[palapiku]

I just made a post and deleted it, in this very thread...

[illluck]

@palapiku: Good point, that's only an option before there have been any replies if I remember correctly, though.

[Bonobo]

I think I'll just do a JF and stay away from the community for a long while

Nooooooooo I wish you’d stay.

[Bonobo]

[..] I think that getting angry, announcing your leave of absence, going away for awhile, then coming back again is a rite of passage for active posters. It's a natural process we all go through to grow into grumpy old men (or women). If you haven't gone through this process yet, you should do some serious introspection.

I’m not sure Tchan’s reason is being angry, it could as well be feeling hurt. Not necessarily by others here.

Anyway, I know both feelings. More than I’d want to. And bad conscience can sometimes lead to hurting oneself which is a lose-lose game. And although I very well understand the process you describe, Kirby—been there, done that, though not here; am a relatively old man now though not too grumpy, I hope—I’ll refrain from suggestions because…
1) introspection (like therapy) only works if done out of oneself, and, more importantly,
2) Tchan’s utterings give me reason to believe they are the result of introspection.

I also think nobody outside of the person in question is apt to criticize the consequences of such an introspection (except if these touch others).

So I just repeat myself: Tchan, I wish you’d stay.

[hyperpape]

I think I'll just do a JF and stay away from the community for a long while and turn my blog private

I'll just note that John didn't make New In Go private, he left it open, because he thought it was a better forum for his ideas than L19. If you feel compelled to leave, I hope you follow his example and leave your blog open so that people may read it.