Deleting first post of a thread

[dern]

Can we make it impossible to delete or radically edit the first post of any thread? It's that post that sets the context for the entire thread and renders the thread incomprensible if deleted.

[Mrs Trackside]

Or maybe delete the whole thread if the first post is removed?

[dern]

Mrs Trackside said:

Or maybe delete the whole thread if the first post is removed?

Imagine how irritating that would be if you'd spent a significant amount of time (i.e. any) contributing to it. Eventually you'd just stop contributing.

[Big Al.]

This has been discussed on numerous occasions over on the Mods forum.

IMHO am a great believer of you reap what you sow! If you're going to put something down in print on a public forum then you must accept the responsibility and consequences of that action.

If you really do have a problem and need assistance with your post press the report button and ask for assistance.

Just for clarification of the above these are my personal views and not necessarily the views of my fellow moderators.

[Don]

dern said:

Can we make it impossible to delete or radically edit the first post of any thread? It's that post that sets the context for the entire thread and renders the thread incomprensible if deleted.

[RacingPete]

Tis a good point, I will add it to the list of improvements to the forums.

How about this (off the top of my head). You can delete any reply apart from the first one. The first one will allow you to report to the Mods why you want it removed.

[TonyHetherington]

Surely, though, they'd just edit it to say " . " if you don't allow them to delete it?

I agree, you reap what you sow!

[David Godfrey]

A number of threads have been made completely useless when a poster that has contributed numerous times and got numerous replies deletes there comments.

Don't think there is a good solution imo.

Edited by David Godfrey on Thursday 27th September 14:26

[RacingPete]

I knew that.. off the top of the head.. wouldnt work

[dern]

How about keep the threads and the ability to delete/edit as normal but preceding the thread is displayed the orginal post as it was originally posted in its own div just like you do with news stories... if you see what I mean. You could also remove the 'post' button from the new thread processing and force them to review it and only then enable them to post it. Should be pretty easy to modify the code to do that, you'd not lose any ability to change your mind if replying, people would take more care starting a new thread and you'd lose all of these trolls who start a thread and after a while dissassociate themselves with it.

[SpeedyGonzales]

dern said:

Mrs Trackside said:

Or maybe delete the whole thread if the first post is removed?

Imagine how irritating that would be if you'd spent a significant amount of time (i.e. any) contributing to it. Eventually you'd just stop contributing.

Its all part of the PH history and none of the threads should be removed, as thread could be helpful to another PH, when they are searching a specific topic.

[Don]

dern said:

How about keep the threads and the ability to delete/edit as normal but preceding the thread is displayed the orginal post as it was originally posted in its own div just like you do with news stories... if you see what I mean. You could also remove the 'post' button from the new thread processing and force them to review it and only then enable them to post it. Should be pretty easy to modify the code to do that, you'd not lose any ability to change your mind if replying, people would take more care starting a new thread and you'd lose all of these trolls who start a thread and after a while dissassociate themselves with it.

Like this idea. Why not have the original post in an invisible DIV and provide a link so you can "click to see original version of this post". You'd only need to keep the first one rather than every edited version - this is a forum not an accounting system!

[tallbloke]

SpeedyGonzales said:

dern said:

Mrs Trackside said:

Or maybe delete the whole thread if the first post is removed?

Imagine how irritating that would be if you'd spent a significant amount of time (i.e. any) contributing to it. Eventually you'd just stop contributing.

Its all part of the PH history and none of the threads should be removed, as thread could be helpful to another PH, when they are searching a specific topic.

Bearing in mind that threads which get the OP deleted were contoversial b*ll*x which no-one has any use for later anyway.