Short question...

[Vlad]

(and hopefully a short answer) - What's your policy on deleting a post? I don't mean JimF's "See how many people I can **** off in one thread" type of thing; I mean a reply to a thread. If one of your mods/admins/whatever removes a post, does the person get an explanation/pm/anything?

And yes, I know patrolling the forums is an extremely difficult task (sort of the way working at a day care center is) and I can understand if mistakes are made. Anyways, I'd like to know your policy. Thanks.

[Keldyn]

It's a touchy subject really. In the end mods have to use their better judgement. I think its based on a certain "threat factor". If the post or threat is blatantly victimizing, racist, or abusive its a safe bet it will be deleted. Also, if there are links or multiple posts containing warez, pornography etc. Useless posts or threads too will be removed. In most cases the author of the thread or post will be notified of our actions. Usually it is something as simple though as a member double posting.

Often we have members who make a troublesome thread so we delete it. Sometimes they will make that same thread again, or multiple times. These will often be removed.

It is understandable that opinions will differ among staff, what should be deleted and what should not, but we try to keep to a "standard" in the way we moderate.

If for some reason however you feel a post or thread has been removed in error, please contact the mod responsible for that forum so the matter can be discussed.

Thanx

-Keldyn

[Vlad]

Thanks for your reply, Keldyn. I appreciate your straightforwardness and honesty on the subject. I also appreciate the manner in which you run your forums...few message boards are as well regulated as the ones here at neowin (I think that's something to be proud of!).

Recently I had one of my posts deleted and I believe it was a clash of opinions with one of your moderators. I'm not going to pursue it unless it happens again. Just not worth the stress.

Again, thanks for the reply.

[BroChaos Veteran]

vlad, were you notified as to why? i thought that was standard procedure.

[Keldyn]

Originally posted by BroChaos

vlad, were you notified as to why? i thought that was standard procedure.

Yes, you are right. It is standard practice and common courtesy to notify the author of the thread if it is removed. Staff don't make a habit of removing threads without due reason. I apologise that in this instance you were not given a reason. I can only imagine, that it was simply a small oversight on the part of the moderator responsible.

-Keldyn