That damnd Delete button

[Bobskink]

I've done it again, I clicked the x Delete button instead of the " Reply button. I don't know if others have the same problem, but it's maybe the third time I do this. Why do these buttons have to be so close next to each other, why is there even a Delete button in the PM itself?

I don't think I'm that clumsy, it's just when typping and comunicating to fast you quicky scroll down and click that button in the right corner.

Luckey I'm ussing Firefox and I'm able to recover and restore most of the message that is gone, but still, links for example seem to get lost.

Do other members hae the same problem / frustration?

I don't know if it's possible, but can't the Delete button be moved to the left, so that they aren't that close to each other?

Thanks,

[Sandy]

It hasn't happened to me, but I totally sympathize with you.

Also, I can't believe there isn't a delete option for members to get rid of their own posts. This is the only forum I've ever visited that doesn't have that.

So, perhaps these flaws in the interface could be dealt with? Pretty please?

[Jipay]

It hasn't happened to me, but I totally sympathize with you.

Also, I can't believe there isn't a delete option for members to get rid of their own posts. This is the only forum I've ever visited that doesn't have that.

So, perhaps these flaws in the interface could be dealt with? Pretty please?

It obviously won't because we always encouraged people to think first, then hit the "post" button. I many cases people used to write something, then people commented, then they edited their posts, and then no one could understand a damn of the conversation. Let's be mature and post accordingly (like you always did ).

As for the dreaded delete button, I think it could be considered as a matter of paying attention

[Shadows]

Also, I can't believe there isn't a delete option for members to get rid of their own posts. This is the only forum I've ever visited that doesn't have that.

So, perhaps these flaws in the interface could be dealt with? Pretty please?

The latter isn't a flaw.

When regular users can delete their own posts, they play games. Example: User 1 posts something horrible in response to a thread. User 2 comes along and yells about it. User 1 deletes the post then replies that they think User 2 is being mean. User 2 looks bad.

Edit is just as bad, which is why the lower ranks can't edit without it being denoted in the post.

If people didn't play games, it could all be different.

[Darth Legolas]

Actually, I hit that delete button by accident trillions of times, but there's no problem for me because I always get my PM's in doubles.

Weird huh?

[Sandy]

When regular users can delete their own posts, they play games. Example: User 1 posts something horrible in response to a thread. User 2 comes along and yells about it. User 1 deletes the post then replies that they think User 2 is being mean. User 2 looks bad.

Edit is just as bad, which is why the lower ranks can't edit without it being denoted in the post.

If people didn't play games, it could all be different.

Wait, what? Wasn't this board supposed to be for mature people to begin with?

Honestly, I think you're making this a bigger problem than it really is. I've frequented many boards, and nowhere this has been a real problem. I say these immature members who "play games" are a very, very small minority of the user base, and thus unnecessary restrictions shouldn't be made just to keep them at bay. Or has there been some serious issues with them in the past? Just curious...

Anyway, the ability to edit and even delete posts are important functions for message board users, since sometimes we write things in a hurry, or accidentally misunderstand something (which happens to me sometimes, too, because of language differences), and then it's important that we can correct our mistakes.

Also, just because a member is new to the boards, it doesn't automatically make him or her a kid or an immature person who needs to be restricted. And I surely hope the staff of this board doesn't think that way, either. Precautions are good things to have, but sometimes those can go a little overboard.

[Toa of Whimsy]

Wait, what? Wasn't this board supposed to be for mature people to begin with?

Honestly, I think you're making this a bigger problem than it really is. I've frequented many boards, and nowhere this has been a real problem. I say these immature members who "play games" are a very, very small minority of the user base, and thus unnecessary restrictions shouldn't be made just to keep them at bay. Or has there been some serious issues with them in the past? Just curious...

Anyway, the ability to edit and even delete posts are important functions for message board users, since sometimes we write things in a hurry, or accidentally misunderstand something (which happens to me sometimes, too, because of language differences), and then it's important that we can correct our mistakes.

Also, just because a member is new to the boards, it doesn't automatically make him or her a kid or an immature person who needs to be restricted. And I surely hope the staff of this board doesn't think that way, either. Precautions are good things to have, but sometimes those can go a little overboard.

This is a quality post. It is made of valid points and correctness.

EDIT: In the scenario IS posted, User 2 can quote the post that User 1 posted and thus make User 1 less capable of escaping the responsibility for it. Also last I checked, deleting posts doesn't remove the posts from your list of "posts made by user" on your account

Edited April 26, 2009 by Toa of Whimsy

[Millacol88]

This is a quality post. It is made of valid points and correctness.

EDIT: In the scenario IS posted, User 2 can quote the post that User 1 posted and thus make User 1 less capable of escaping the responsibility for it. Also last I checked, deleting posts doesn't remove the posts from your list of "posts made by user" on your account

Good point. However, I'm anticipating that soon a root admin will come along and tell you all it's to hard to implement.

[Shadows]

Wait, what? Wasn't this board supposed to be for mature people to begin with?

Have you looked around? This is a thread based on the inability to click the right button in a row of clearly marked ones.

I've frequented many boards, and nowhere this has been a real problem. I say these immature members who "play games" are a very, very small minority of the user base, and thus unnecessary restrictions shouldn't be made just to keep them at bay. Or has there been some serious issues with them in the past? Just curious...

Honestly, frequenting boards and working on one are very different things. The majority of problems that occur are only seen by a small number of people, thus it gives the appearance of not happening. Truth is, until someone sees it from this end, they have no idea what they're talking about and attempting to apply logic based on non-factual estimations of the amount of potential/real problems is pointless.

Anyway, the ability to edit and even delete posts are important functions for message board users, since sometimes we write things in a hurry, or accidentally misunderstand something (which happens to me sometimes, too, because of language differences), and then it's important that we can correct our mistakes.

Everyone can edit. Deleting is not nearly as common as you might like to believe. I'd suggest you just check the other major LEGO forums and see how many allow it.

Also, just because a member is new to the boards, it doesn't automatically make him or her a kid or an immature person who needs to be restricted. And I surely hope the staff of this board doesn't think that way, either. Precautions are good things to have, but sometimes those can go a little overboard.

Yet everyone griped that new members shouldn't be able to PM because a very small number spammed. Instead of just deleting the spam, they complained in long threads saying, "I GOTS SPAMZORD TOO! OMG!". So there is a dual example of why sometimes people have to be restricted, and why we can't rely on maturity in all situations.

EDIT: In the scenario IS posted, User 2 can quote the post that User 1 posted and thus make User 1 less capable of escaping the responsibility for it.

If the original post was offensive, let's say pornography, and user 2 quoted it including the images, they would be in trouble for doing so. It isn't a perfect solution. Not having the button is. Plain and simple, and despite claims, I could point to forum after forum that wouldn't consider allowing people to delete their own posts.

Also last I checked, deleting posts doesn't remove the posts from your list of "posts made by user" on your account

Another reason that delete is bad, people could use it to increase their post count, thus reaching new ranks. As it is, people spam for that purpose, but as long as the post still exists, we know they're doing it. If it appeared and disappeared quickly, we'd have to watch the logs constantly for something that just doesn't need to be allowed.

Silly topic.

Good point. However, I'm anticipating that soon a root admin will come along and tell you all it's to hard to implement.

Don't hold your breath, it isn't effort that prevents it from happening, and it wouldn't be any major effort.

[Ricecracker]

I GOTS SPAMZORD TOO! OMG!

You did?

[Toa of Whimsy]

If the original post was offensive, let's say pornography, and user 2 quoted it including the images, they would be in trouble for doing so. It isn't a perfect solution. Not having the button is. Plain and simple, and despite claims, I could point to forum after forum that wouldn't consider allowing people to delete their own posts.

User 2 can still edit out the images by replacing them with the URLs of the images

[Shadows]

User 2 can still edit out the images by replacing them with the URLs of the images

We would prefer not to see that either. The only thing someone should do in that case is hit report. Even replying just pushes it back to the top and causes more people to see it. Same with dangerous links and even plain spam.

[Sandy]

Honestly, frequenting boards and working on one are very different things. The majority of problems that occur are only seen by a small number of people, thus it gives the appearance of not happening. Truth is, until someone sees it from this end, they have no idea what they're talking about and attempting to apply logic based on non-factual estimations of the amount of potential/real problems is pointless.

I used to be a moderator on another board for a long time, plus my boyfriend is an administrator of Finland's largest Harry Potter fansite (that has a large forum as well), so yes, I am very aware that moderating is a crappy job with lots of responsibilities and few real benefits.

I'm not saying I know better than you what the member base of this forum is like, but I can say what it looks like from my point of view. And during the year I've been here, I can tell you that I've seen very little spam and met many, many well-behaved and polite people. Compared to the message boards I've frequented before, I still dare to say that EuroBricks has things quite well.

But this isn't about that. This is about providing a user-friendly interface for the members of these boards.

[Sir Dillon]

Honestly, I think you're making this a bigger problem than it really is. I've frequented many boards, and nowhere this has been a real problem. I say these immature members who "play games" are a very, very small minority of the user base, and thus unnecessary restrictions shouldn't be made just to keep them at bay. Or has there been some serious issues with them in the past? Just curious...

I suppose I could just be ignorant, but I don't see why a delete button would be an important feature to every member. You have the ability to edit your posts, so besides a few rare occasions, the most common use would be deleting double posts. If you did need to delete one of your posts, you could just edit it blank, and ask an admin to remove it.

In the end, there would be a small amount of people benefiting from the ability, and a small amount of people using it to cause trouble. In this case I feel the trouble would outweigh the good, making a delete feature unjustifiable.