Delete threads or just remove from public view

[Beverly]

On one of the forums I manage as admin, we use Xenforo software, which gives the option to permanently delete a thread or just hide from public view.

I don't like having to sort through threads which were deleted by mods and then hidden from public view. Even when hidden, these discussions are viewable by staff and annoying to deal with. I can understand why some forum owners leave the 'hidden from public view' as an option as it gives the forum owner or admin a chance to review what mods are deleting.

On my own personal SMF forum, this isn't an issue as all deleted posts and threads go into a recycle bin where they can be permanantly deleted or dealt with. So basically the recycle bin is just a hidden subforum (folder) on the forum which is not viewable by members.

Anyway, how do you deal with the issue of threads being deleted? Do you permanently delete or just remove from public view?

 

[Red Herring]

I and my staff simply remove them from the public eye, typically in a trash / archive forum of some sort. I'm quite a bureaucratic individual, and prefer to have that information available in the event of a dispute or general fact-checking.

Information should never go to waste. Not even bad information. Especially not bad information.

 

[Venom]

I move all 'deleted' posts to a staff only trash forum, however spam gets completely deleted. I think its good to keep true stats and not have lots of spam posts bloating the forum's post count.

 

[Migi]

I prefer to delete spam threads as they are completely not contributive at all, as well as deleting the spam bots accounts. But for other kind of posts or threads, it may be necessary to keep them at a separate, hidden section accessible to only staff members as proofs in case debates were to come up. As long as such threads or posts don't hinder the discussion, it will be okay.

And that is also why I love vB's soft and hard delete options.

 

[rottenforums]

I keep a forum called "Graveyard" admin only..

spam gets 100% deleted on site.

 

[Venom]

I prefer to delete spam threads as they are completely not contributive at all, as well as deleting the spam bots accounts. But for other kind of posts or threads, it may be necessary to keep them at a separate, hidden section accessible to only staff members as proofs in case debates were to come up. As long as such threads or posts don't hinder the discussion, it will be okay.

And that is also why I love vB's soft and hard delete options.

Apparently phpbb will be getting such a feature as default soon.

 

[Nebulous]

We have a hidden trash forum and "deleted" threads get moved there for a while... Until I clean out the trash can forum (delete all the posts in there), then the threads are deleted for real. I like a tidy forum. 🙂

 

[Migi]

I prefer to delete spam threads as they are completely not contributive at all, as well as deleting the spam bots accounts. But for other kind of posts or threads, it may be necessary to keep them at a separate, hidden section accessible to only staff members as proofs in case debates were to come up. As long as such threads or posts don't hinder the discussion, it will be okay.

And that is also why I love vB's soft and hard delete options.

Apparently phpbb will be getting such a feature as default soon.

That's nice to know. I find the function of soft delete is very handy for posts located at the middle of conversation. Splitting it off may make us confused about its original place, but with soft delete it's not a problem. For threads it can be moved to trash bin where it's hidden so it's not too demanding, haha.

 

[dirvine.com]

My own threads and old threads relating to the forum that no longer apply (eg. old rules), I move to invisible archives. The rest are physically deleted. I often get e-mails asking me to remove a certain link, in that case I delete physically as well.

 

[Violetstar]

I move all 'deleted' posts to a staff only trash forum, however spam gets completely deleted. I think its good to keep true stats and not have lots of spam posts bloating the forum's post count.

I do this too unless it is out and out trash spam and such

 

[Chadook]

I have a hidden place where i trash all spam topics, bad information, or old topics and competitions.

 

[Scribbler397]

I just delete posts altogether. I don't have to delete posts very often. Really just when spammers get through. It is easier to just delete them than to have them clogging up your database. I only have one other staff member, and I trust them to make the right decision.

 

[J Greig]

Well I use MyBB and I have a plugin installed so that all deleted threads are placed into a 'trash' forum. This is extremely useful because threads can be viewed if you ever need to reference something at a later date, and it also stops threads from being deleted accidentally. The good thing is, you can then delete certain threads from that forum, or you can clear the whole forum out, all with a click of a button. So it's not like your keeping spam threads, and it's not as if your clogging up the database.

I always have deleted threads saved in a trash forum, it wouldn't be wise to have nothing as a backup. Believe it or not but it is quite easy to delete a thread by mistake.

I can see why having them as 'hidden' would be annoying for staff as you would still need to sort through them amongst other threads.

 

[Deleted member 7467]

Honestly, I prefer to simply hide the posts/topics and leave them where they are at. On the server I admin/admined, my moderators simply soft delete content. The owner and I were the only ones allowed to hard delete

 

[Elenitsa]

I archive, but I never remove from public view. Unless it's spam, which gets quickly deleted.

 

[karateninja]

I have a trash forum because deleting posts just screws up the post count.

 

[Nebulous]

I have a trash forum because deleting posts just screws up the post count.

Screws it up because your overall forum post count goes down slightly? :shrug: