Account Deletion of Member

[sss24]

According to my security log, a member just deleted their account. Their posts are all still there but they're no longer a member. I'm not sure if they managed to do this by accident or if they were mad about something.

I really don't want my members being able to delete their own accounts, only I should be able to do that. Is there any way to keep other members from doing the same?

[Craig]

Hi,

Unfortunately, the ability for one to remove one's account needs to be there. However, it is hard to delete by mistake as there are a couple of confirmations needed for the delete account to proceed.

[moonbeam]

I don't think so, and I don't think PB would even allow what you're asking. Every member has the right to delete their account if they choose.

[sss24]

That just doesn't seem fair, other forums have it to where the moderator can only delete their account. If a member with hundreds of posts deletes their account then it just messes up the entire forum.

But oh well...

[Baller95]

Interesting. Had an issue like this come up on another forum I'm on - www.djforums.com/forums/showthread.php?14538-Change-username-Delete-account

[Craig]

Not sure why it is unfair for someone to be able to remove their account if they want to. Not sure why you would want to force someone to stay somewhere they don't want to either.

[sss24]

Aug 9, 2013 7:00:24 GMT -8 Craig said:

Not sure why it is unfair for someone to be able to remove their account if they want to. Not sure why you would want to force someone to stay somewhere they don't want to either.

Because account deletion is pointless and childish. If someone wants to quit, they can just sign out and never come back. Deleting their account basically just means they can never log-in again, their posts remain.

On most other forums, only the moderator can delete accounts. That's how it should be. It's not about "forcing" others to stay. They're welcome to leave any time.

[Craig]

If i leave a site, i want to remove my data. It is not at all childish. If i have no intention of ever going back to a site, i don't see the point in leaving an account with my information there. I guess it's subjective.

[sss24]

Aug 9, 2013 7:06:05 GMT -8 Craig said:

If i leave a site, i want to remove my data. It is not at all childish. If i have no intention of ever going back to a site, i don't see the point in leaving an account with my information there. I guess it's subjective.

You might have a point there if their posts were also deleted.

Oh well, at least the posts remain. It just seems like only the moderator should be able to do something like that...

[moonbeam]

Aug 9, 2013 6:43:41 GMT -8 sss24 said:

That just doesn't seem fair, other forums have it to where the moderator can only delete their account. If a member with hundreds of posts deletes their account then it just messes up the entire forum.

But oh well...

How does it mess up the forum? The posts are still there- they just say guest. Conversation continuity is preserved.

I also disagree that "most" forums disallow members to delete their own accounts. I've been on many over the years, and only know of ONE that didn't. All the others recognize that it's a member's right to delete I'd they want to.

sent from my Galaxy S4

[Baller95]

Aug 9, 2013 7:06:05 GMT -8 Craig said:

If i leave a site, i want to remove my data. It is not at all childish. If i have no intention of ever going back to a site, i don't see the point in leaving an account with my information there. I guess it's subjective.

Craig, I agree with you but like sss24 said, it's not much use having an account deleted whilst the posts remain. If a member is concerned about their info they can get a forum staff do delete everything or they can edit out their personal information. It's not a bother to me but maybe if a member had an issue and contacted me about deleting their account, I might be able to resolve the issue and they'd no longer want to go whereas if they can just leave, there's no second chance for us/them.

[Mabel Pines]

Account deletion isn't really a "right" in my opinion, it's a privilege. If it were a right then I'd expect all forum software to include an option for members to delete their accounts, but most don't. And if it were a right, I'd expect a lot more posts and accounts would be missing. Ever seen a member throw a tantrum and decide that they want to delete everything? They often end up coming back anyways...

This is yet another question of who should have more rights over content posted on a forum, and in the end there really is no "right" or "wrong" way to go here. Allowing deletion of member content and not allowing it both have their ups and downs. Personally, I have posts on some forums that I'd like to just have disappear, but at the same time I accept that those posts were made by me and that the feelings I have about them now are the rightful consequences of my past actions.

In the end though, it really depends on how the content is licensed. If users retain all the rights to their content then I suppose it's only fair to let them edit, delete or wantonly deface it at will.

[sss24]

Aug 9, 2013 7:45:52 GMT -8 moonbeam said:

Aug 9, 2013 6:43:41 GMT -8 sss24 said:

That just doesn't seem fair, other forums have it to where the moderator can only delete their account. If a member with hundreds of posts deletes their account then it just messes up the entire forum.

But oh well...

How does it mess up the forum? The posts are still there- they just say guest. Conversation continuity is preserved.

I also disagree that "most" forums disallow members to delete their own accounts. I've been on many over the years, and only know of ONE that didn't. All the others recognize that it's a member's right to delete I'd they want to.

sent from my Galaxy S4

Are those forums you visited proboards forums? Because I've been to many other forums run by different webhosts and NONE of them allowed users to delete their own accounts or even their posts.

I don't say this to be critical of proboards, my point is that proboards is the first forum host I've seen that allows it.

[David Clark]

Just posting to confirm that users indeed have a right to remove their data from a forum if they wish. As of now it is only possible to delete a forum account from Edit Profile > Settings, but soon it will be possible to delete forum accounts from the global account settings page.