Ability to delete your own comment.

(24 Posts)
puds11isNAUGHTYnotNAICE Sat 26-Jan-13 18:14:08

What would be the problems with being able to delete your own comment if you changed your mind after posting?

LesBOFerables Sat 26-Jan-13 18:19:12

Because then none of us would be able to point and laugh? grin

You can ask to withdraw your post though- they are usually pretty prompt, unless it's silly o'clock.

puds11isNAUGHTYnotNAICE Sat 26-Jan-13 18:20:32

Well thats the things, recently when I have asked for a post to be deleted, nothing seems to have happened.

I was just wondering if there was any major reason why we couldn't delete them ourselves.

EduCated Sat 26-Jan-13 21:46:06

Because it would be an absolute minefield. Threads would end up with more holes than a mouse eaten swiss-cheese, they wouldn't make sense. People would post inflammatory stuff then delete it, but not before goading others into replying. Etc etc.

puds11isNAUGHTYnotNAICE Sat 26-Jan-13 23:37:07

Very true Edu

FaceLikeAPickledOnion Sun 27-Jan-13 00:03:13

This is the only forum I've been on where I can't edit or delete my own posts. It's never caused me any problems on other sites I'm on and saves the mods time too.

EduCated Sun 27-Jan-13 00:59:33

Personally I like it. When I use other forums I find edited posts ruin the flow of a thread, especially if you have to keep checking back to see if something's changed etc. I tend to associate it with sites that have loads of flashy emoticons and avatars and I find them all rather cumbersome and trying.

The only time I've seen that feature work is if you are only allowed to edit your post if no one else has replied after you. Problem is the site is too fast moving.

FaceLikeAPickledOnion Sun 27-Jan-13 07:14:44

Tbh the editing is mostly used for typos.

SnowLiviaMumsnet (MNHQ) Sun 27-Jan-13 09:13:19

Just down there, next to the post button, there's another button, called Preview.
Saves all sorts of typos and everything.


Tee2072 Sun 27-Jan-13 09:24:43

Yeah. No.

And they won't delete a post unless there is a good reason. That's probably why your requests for deletion have not been acted on.

RooneyMara Sun 27-Jan-13 09:30:09

I think preview doesn't work in the case of anger/poster's remorse situations where you wanted to let it all out but then regret it.

I would love to be able to delete my own posts.

Tee2072 Sun 27-Jan-13 09:43:38

Also, Snow...January 2013 award for most passive aggressive post. grin

amillionyears Sun 27-Jan-13 10:10:07

It probably depends on your reason for asking for the deletion.

I have only asked for 2 of my posts to be deleted.
One was, because I knew the poster[she didnt know me] and realised I had said something about her, that I couldnt remember if she had posted on MN.

The second one, because, I put something in for googling, that named a High street store, that I knew something bad about but posted it by accident. And although the information had been substantiated, I wasnt intending to name the store.

On both occasions, I reported three times and emailed MNHQ.
They deleted the posts within 20 minutes.

usualsuspect Sun 27-Jan-13 10:21:23

I think a timed edit button would be a welcome edition to MN.

I use other sites where this is possible,and it causes none of the problems that posters on here think it does.

Fenton Sun 27-Jan-13 12:44:14

I agree usual, that would difinitely be useful.

When I was new here many moons ago I asked MN to delete a post of mine - I had kind of missed the point of something and said something really unfortunate which I was worried would cause offence, - by the time they replied it was too late and my stupidity had been seen , thankfully the other posters accepted I misunderstood and I didn't get called a cunt. - I could have done with a 'quick I didn't mean that please don't let anyone see it' button.

Fenton Sun 27-Jan-13 12:45:21

Like I could have pretended I knew how to spell 'definitely' for example.

Tee2072 Sun 27-Jan-13 13:04:18

Actually, I agree with a timed edit button. Like 2 minutes. The boards move too fast for anything else, really.

cumfy Mon 28-Jan-13 12:27:12

There would be many problems.

1. Everyone would do it.

2. All the time.

GetOrf Mon 28-Jan-13 12:31:22

I don't go on any other forums (I am not saying fora, sorry).

But don't you get people saying horrible things directed at someone and then going back to delete it and then look all innocent when they are called on it?

It would end up with loads of threads saying 'post deleted' which is pretty annoying when MNHQ do it, so to increase the volume of that would be a PITA I think.

MNHQ have deleted some of my posts when I have posted something without really thinking about it, and think I have shared too much in the cold light of day.

I think it works well as it is.

cumfy Mon 28-Jan-13 13:12:47

Tee the way the site is responding currently, the preview button is effectively a 2 minute edit button.

Be careful what you wish for!grin

KateSMumsnet (MNHQ) Tue 29-Jan-13 14:18:30

Maybe I'm being incredibly dim, but what's the point of having a timed delete button?

Fenton Tue 29-Jan-13 14:22:52

So that, if you are uncharacteristically snippy and immediately wish you hadn't been, you have a two minute window in which to delete what you've said and limit the number of other posters who see you for the mardy bint you really are.

I agree, though, it could get messy if the thread is moving fast grin

Isabeller Tue 29-Jan-13 21:43:25

This is me making it more complicated. My best skill.

Could we have the ability to add to rather than edit a post, perhaps in italics only? limited to one line of text? This would enable minor spelling corrections ie stationery to be added at end of post also ie sorry now realise BU

Advantage: less oops posts and less taking offence at something someone had already reconsidered.

Just a thought....

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