Staying on topic- threads in general

Which is why we dont want those who run internet sites deciding what speech is ok, we mostly know nothing about the values of those people.

trisher
What’s the difference between God and the moderators on GN.
God knows he’s not a moderator.

In general, no, of course a thread shouldn't be deleted because it has changed direction.
Anyone who wants to get back onto the topic can post to say so. If others still don't want to get back to it, so what.
It's not a book, or a dissertation, it's just a conversation among random people on the internet.

If it's deleted because of 'breaking talk guidelines' that should be made clear.
Although it seems that GN is usually reticent about which talk guidelines have been broken, so we don't necessarily know where we went wrong.
It's a bit like being 6 again, with confusing adults around.

Good post FarNorth your last sentence is so true.

I don’t really care if threads go off the original topic, sometimes the new direction is interesting and the original topic has been flogged to death. I suppose if it annoys you you could always write a post back on topic rather than silently seethe!

Don’t they just delete any threads that they think might gain unwanted attention from TRA’s?
I tend to think that it might be quite commonplace after all of the bother on MN.

If so FannyCornforth that is giving in to bullies.
If there is anything in the thread that GNHQ takes exception to, they need to tell us.

FannyCornforth

Don’t they just delete any threads that they think might gain unwanted attention from TRA’s?
I tend to think that it might be quite commonplace after all of the bother on MN.

It is obvious isn't it? I do wonder if they are being reported by stealth though but I don't suppose they'll tell us

To be fair to MN ths is the only place you can talk about this subject, as Jane has demonstrated, I think MN are incredibly brave on this topic.

I'd hazard a guess it's people who feel they're not winning the argument that report and want threads deleted.

I'd hazard a guess that you're right Rosie51. Childish and immature but it happens.

I haven't reported a single thing, just so that is known. Not a single thing on any thread or topic. Full permission to anyone who would like to report this comment to gransnet and have the same answer from them

I’m disappointed that the word ‘mother’ isn’t being replaced by the word ‘mither’ in Scottish documents.

Threads meander as do face to face conversations, telephone conversations and in our family the WhatsApp Group is often so far off of the original question it’s hilarious.

Unless there is a constant breaking of Guidelines (whatever they are on the day?) I cannot see any reason to delete an entire thread because it has deviated from the OP. I think if this was to become common practice the majority of the News and Politics threads would be deleted by post 100.

I do wonder if there’s a silent reporting minority of Gransnet members - people who don’t post, or post very little, but take it on themselves to be the censors of those who do. If that’s the case, they are cowards who don’t have enough bottle to say what they really think publicly?

Also reporting and bringing threads to the attention of gransnet could come from anyone, not just those who are "losing the argument" who may not even see it that way depending on the topic lol

Rosie51

I'd hazard a guess it's people who feel they're not winning the argument that report and want threads deleted.

I certainly hope GNHQ doesn't delete a thread on the basis that someone doesn't like the opinions on it.

On that thread I am not sure it was meandering that caused a deletion...more likely to be about things getting personal about posters opinions of each other and arguments about that. But I don't know if that was the case!

I don't think anyone is suggesting who may or may not have reported that or any other thread, either on that thread or this one VioketSky. Presumably accusing anyone of reporting would promptly be deleted anyway.

Casdon in the past I have seen posters be open about what they think, say that they will be reporting...and then been bombarded with some fairly unpleasant stuff as a result. Not seen it recently, maybe because I haven't seen anyone say they are going to report recently!!

This thread is a good example of how thread discussions meander from the original OP.

Even if some posters are throwing rocks at each other on a thread, that doesn't mean the whole thing should be deleted.
Posts can be deleted and posters can be warned.
I'm on another discussion board where that is what happens and whole threads are not deleted because that is unfair to those who took time and effort to post in good faith.

On that subject farnorth?

PS, Occasionally, on that other board, threads are locked so that no more posts can be made.

Galaxy

Which is why we dont want those who run internet sites deciding what speech is ok, we mostly know nothing about the values of those people.

I'm surprised they deleted the thread - someone must be awake then at GNHQ!

I've asked twice for a post of mine to be removed (another thread) but have been ignored. I just assumed that GNHQ were asleep/on holiday/stuffing themselves with cake

On any subject.

Madgran77 I've seen someone post they don't like the tone or direction a thread is taking and that they will be asking for it to be deleted. Not a common occurrence, and not one I necessarily agree with, but I admire the honesty. I'd imagine there are others who would take that line but not post they were going to do so, and they'd maybe not even have made one post on the thread.