Provide reasoning for post deletion

[Mao]

I see that everyone is agreeing with dcc, maybe even a bit too vehemently. I would like to bring a couple more things to light:

Mods don't get paid, everything is purely voluntary. Other than the power to delete/lock/edit/ban on an Internet forum, there really isn't anything else going for it.

And not everyone can be trusted to be mods. And everyone who has been picked for moderatorship has the sensibility to understand and appreciate the 'common sense' aspect of the CoC and did what they believe was right.

If it was hard work by you to answer a question or a serious post on topic, it would never have been deleted in the first place. Otherwise, ask yourself why it should have been there in the first place. But if it bothers you enough that you have to go to the argument's most basic elements, to compare a pruning process based on common sense to Nazi Germany, then please, get real. Maybe it's time to move on.

I do not quite understand why this topic evolved into an argument as seen, it is a good suggestion, but probably not doable considering we are using SMF.

[hard]

i agree with d to the c to the c

[shinny]

If it's too hard to ask of the moderating team then maybe with a few more moderators the job could be divided up a bit more.

I honestly don't think that's much of an issue. If a mod doesn't have the time to write out the reason, leave the post alone and another mod can take care of it. If other members want to help make this system work though, use the report to mod button with a well-worded reason, and us mods can just copy-paste that into the edit box. It'll take like 10 seconds to deal with reported posts in this way. Simply doing this will avoid the need for more mods. If you guys want this system, then I assume you wouldn't mind helping to make it work.

[NE2000]

How many posts are deleted each week on average?

[ninwa]

Mods don't get paid, everything is purely voluntary. Other than the power to delete/lock/edit/ban on an Internet forum, there really isn't anything else going for it.

And not everyone can be trusted to be mods. And everyone who has been picked for moderatorship has the sensibility to understand and appreciate the 'common sense' aspect of the CoC and did what they believe was right.

Firstly, when we accepted the offer of modship, we knew perfectly well that it wasn't paid and had pretty much nothing going for it. That's not an excuse. If you were not prepared to volunteer our time for no more than a few thank you's now and then, then you should not have accepted in the first place.

Secondly, we're not perfect. What we believe is right, or what our common sense says is right is not always the majority view. Deleting things merely because we think it is "right" opens the way to abuse of power - not that I can imagine any of the current mods abusing their power, but it may eventually lead to a mistrust of moderators. And that is definitely not what we want.

[shinny]

I do not quite understand why this topic evolved into an argument as seen, it is a good suggestion, but probably not doable considering we are using SMF.

I thought we were just sticking with an edit system? As in like, instead of deleting the post, just edit the post with a standard format instead giving the reason and perhaps moderator name also (although this comes up on the edit tag regardless).

[NE2000]

I do not quite understand why this topic evolved into an argument as seen, it is a good suggestion, but probably not doable considering we are using SMF.

I thought we were just sticking with an edit system? As in like, instead of deleting the post, just edit the post with a standard format instead giving the reason and perhaps moderator name also (although this comes up on the edit tag regardless).

And if you delete a series of posts then you can just edit the first one with those details, delete the ones in between and perhaps just edit the last one with 'end deleted section'. So at least we know what's happened. It's a bit weird to come and see a whole group of posts just disappear. In terms of information given you can just say post(s) deleted. Reason: whatever it may be. Just a short sentence even as in 'refrain from going off-topic' and if there's any disagreement about whether said posts were off-topic we can pm the mods to discuss it further, in which case I guess the mods should be ready to explain their interpretation of the bounds of that topic. All that does is add accountability and transparency...although it does add to your workload (which is why I asked how many posts are deleted per week).

[shinny]

although it does add to your workload (which is why I asked how many posts are deleted per week).

Varies quite considerably, but I don't think it's that much, especially if you guys help to report posts in the manner I said above.

[/0]

But if it's just the odd MSN-style post here and there, then if it is simply edited rather than deleted then the post is still 'physically' there, occupying space.

[TrueTears]

POST DELETED: Off-topic

[/0]

POST DELETED: Off-topic

[TrueTears]

POST DELETED: Off-topic

[/0]

POST DELETED: Off-topic

[shinny]

But if it's just the odd MSN-style post here and there, then if it is simply edited rather than deleted then the post is still 'physically' there, occupying space.

Makes it easy to quickly scroll past them anyway though. Look below your post =P

[enwiabe]

But it makes reviewing the situation a nightmare. If you'd deleted the posts, shinny, I'd be able to see what happened. You are removing accountability of yourself. Now it's "his word against yours" for both /0 and TrueTears that you were justified in deleting their posts. If you are going to post reasons for deleting people's posts (something you're more than entitled to do shinny), you are NOT to edit the posts to remove content. It prevents me from ensuring that the situation was handled appropriately. If either of them has a complaint or query about it, I have no way of verifying anything.

Next time, delete the posts and post "posts deleted for being off-topic" if you absolutely MUST provide a reason.