How are deleted accounts handled?
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I see a few posts from “A former user”. I think I can infer from context who these users are, but sometimes it makes a thread pretty hard to follow, especially if there are more than one deleted users posting in one thread.
I don’t know if these users were banned by admin/mod or if they deleted their own account.
I don’t think I’ve seen another forums software that removed people’s names this way when they were deleted. I don’t think it’s necessarily the best approach since it messes with the readability of old threads. What would work better would be to keep displaying their user name, but put a label or suffix somewhere that marks them as deleted. That way, we avoid people replying to them and expecting answers.
What do you think about this, @administrator ?
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A single user (I think) got banned, but since he was a prolific poster, there are now many many threads that are more or less unreadable because his name is stated as "A Former User"....
I would urge you @administrator to change the forums code so it displays the real user name but somehow indicates that he is no longer a member.
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@jolter So far, one member got banned for abusive comments, and one or two left of their own for other shores.
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@barliman2001 If I am not mistaken, the banned one here also got a vacation at TrumpetMaster for tthe same reason.
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@rowuk As usual, you are correct.
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@barliman2001 Thank for the info.
To be clear, I don’t have any problem with the moderation or administration of the forums. Banning abusive members is unfortunately part and parcel of running any community.
This thread (complaint, if you will) is only about the technical implementation. I don’t think the software should hide the user names of banned users. That’s all!
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I believe the "hidden" usernames are users who voluntarily deleted their accounts. I could be wrong, but these are likely permanent deletions and not a temporary "ban."
Only a few "non-bot" users have been permanently banned.
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@administrator I’m specifically talking about Dr. Mark who has left marks all over the forums. I don’t know if his account was deleted by himself or you.
Even for deleted accounts, does it make sense to hide their names? It’s a bit of a usability problem for subsequent readers. Are you legally obligated to delete their record from the user database or something?
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@jolter said in How are deleted accounts handled?:
@administrator I’m specifically talking about Dr. Mark who has left marks all over the forums. I don’t know if his account was deleted by himself or you.
Even for deleted accounts, does it make sense to hide their names? It’s a bit of a usability problem for subsequent readers. Are you legally obligated to delete their record from the user database or something?
It's a function of the software. I don't recall ever being given the choice.
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There are laws about retaining data when membership expires. Most software gives the user(member) a choice of just leaving or removing all traces. If someone leaves mad, the chance of them caring about their footprint in this or any other forum is about zero. That is why we need positive interaction between us. Then if life determines that we have no time - or ambition, we remain a member but simply do not visit.
Now, banning does not delete an account. It just removes someones ability to post. I know of no admins that delete more than abusive posts.
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@rowuk said in How are deleted accounts handled?:
There are laws about retaining data when membership expires. Most software gives the user(member) a choice of just leaving or removing all traces. If someone leaves mad, the chance of them caring about their footprint in this or any other forum is about zero. That is why we need positive interaction between us. Then if life determines that we have no time - or ambition, we remain a member but simply do not visit.
Now, banning does not delete an account. It just removes someones ability to post. I know of no admins that delete more than abusive posts.
Yes, I believe this is correct. I can delete your data IF you request it according to law in whatever jurisdiction you are located.
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