How to delete a post.?

[Dan Noci]

Can i delete a post.

Thanks

Dan

[Joshua Dorkin]

We don't delete posts.

[Steve Babiak]

Although @Joshua Dorkin has correctly stated that posts aren't deleted, they can be hidden when they have some forum rule violation or when a post is a duplicate. When you see such posts, you can use the "Report Abuse" link alongside the post to bring it to the attention of a moderator. 

[William A.]

I hope you fix this sometime in the future.

[Dawn Anastasi]

Originally posted by @William A.:

I hope you fix this sometime in the future.

 What is there to fix?

[Sam Hodgett]

I think most people are used to other forums and social networking sites where it's possible to delete a post once it's posted (THANK GOD this is a feature on Facebook!!!).

I can think of a few BP-specific cases where the ability to delete a post makes sense:

• Noobs don't usually get the '@' feature right the first time, so I am constantly seeing double-posts so that they can properly call out the person.  I did this my first time.
• Someone says something in a post that they didn't mean, or later found out wasn't true or factual, etc...

...among others.

[William A.]

Originally posted by @Sam Hodgett:

I think most people are used to other forums and social networking sites where it's possible to delete a post once it's posted (THANK GOD this is a feature on Facebook!!!).

Exactly!!

[Joshua Dorkin]

Most forums don't allow the deletion of posts because it disrupts the flow of a conversation.

[Andrew S.]

I agree @Joshua Dorkin 

 Deleting posts is not needed.  Posts can already be edited and/or amended, if necessary.

[Sam Hodgett]

@Andrew S. - except when the only way to "amend" a post is by marking it as abusive?  I sure don't want to consider myself an abuser of this forum, and therefore don't see that as a proper solution.

Nonetheless I do agree with @Joshua Dorkin that it can disrupt the flow of conversation... but I don't agree that most forums act this way; I've been a member of multiple forums, and most of them have options to delete posts... rather than contacting support or marking your own post as abusive.

I digress... I love this forum and community so much that this is just a little matter; thanks for everything Josh & gang!

[Account Closed]

@Sam Hodgett 

Most of the forums I have been on also have options to delete a post. 

I think are benefits/drawbacks to both scenarios. 

[Andrew S.]

Originally posted by @Sam Hodgett:

@Andrew S. - except when the only way to "amend" a post is by marking it as abusive?  I sure don't want to consider myself an abuser of this forum, and therefore don't see that as a proper solution.

Nonetheless I do agree with @Joshua Dorkin that it can disrupt the flow of conversation... but I don't agree that most forums act this way; I've been a member of multiple forums, and most of them have options to delete posts... rather than contacting support or marking your own post as abusive.

I digress... I love this forum and community so much that this is just a little matter; thanks for everything Josh & gang!

 You can "edit" your post for the first 15 minutes and then the "edit" button (top right of your message) turns into an "update" button where you can add additional info, corrections, retractions, whatever to the post.

[William A.]

I respectfully disagree with @Joshua Dorkin  as well. Most forums and social networking sites DO allow deleting of post. Likewise they allow you to delete, hide, or inactivate your account.  I see no such option on this site either. 

[Jon Holdman]

@William A.  you do have the ability to close your account at any time.  That won't remove your posts but will change your name to "account closed".  Members can generally not hide or remove posts once made.  There are no plans to change that.

Further, it won't help.  Search engines index the site VERY quickly.  Anything you post here or ANYWHERE on the internet is preserved almost immediately.  All internet search engines have complete copies of anything you write anywhere.  It can be returned by a search and the cached copy of what you wrote is visible to anyone.  Any ability to delete a post give you the illusion of removing it.  But its only removed on that one site and not from searches or viewing via search engines.

[William A.]

@Jon Holdman  a good reason to always use fake names on the internet.  Of course, I am sure nobody would do that on this site since that would violate the terms of service!

[Karen Margrave]

@William A.  If the original poster were allowed to delete their post, none of the posts following it would make any sense! If you want to change something, do an update, or another post clarifying your position or changes, etc. 

Biggerpockets members are pretty easy going, nobody is going to be making any judgments if you mess up and post something silly, etc. Another thing, the threads move down the forums rather quickly because it's so busy, so the odds of your post being seen for long by very many people is minimal. 

So relax, and don't take yourself so seriously! We don't!

[Account Closed]

Originally posted by @Jon Holdman:

@William A.  you do have the ability to close your account at any time.  That won't remove your posts but will change your name to "account closed".  Members can generally not hide or remove posts once made.  There are no plans to change that.

Further, it won't help.  Search engines index the site VERY quickly.  Anything you post here or ANYWHERE on the internet is preserved almost immediately.  All internet search engines have complete copies of anything you write anywhere.  It can be returned by a search and the cached copy of what you wrote is visible to anyone.  Any ability to delete a post give you the illusion of removing it.  But its only removed on that one site and not from searches or viewing via search engines.

Well put Jon, and exactly why people should think long & hard before using their last name online.  I know it is strongly encouraged here for "credibility" reasons, but I personally think that is a bunch of bull.  Of course a member shouldn't conduct business with another member without doing their due diligence, but there is no reason why that can't be done privately.

I personally know two women that were stalked because of their open membership on an internet forum.  I also was harassed offline once by someone that I encountered online. 

I am not saying I am totally against people using their last name on the internet.  It is certainly a great way to network.  I just think there is a trade off that people need to consider, and their credibility shouldn't automatically be questioned if they choose privacy.

[Karen Margrave]

@Account Closed It's not so much using your last name on BP for credibility for me. HOWEVER; if you aren't going to use your full last name, then it's important to upload a pic to your profile (which you have) The reason being, when someone has a common name, with an initial and you are trying to @mention them, if you have a list of 5 David R's with the stock icon, it's impossible to know which is the correct one. 

I totally understand people hesitation in putting their full names down. 

[Account Closed]

@Karen Margrave 

I agree 100% about needing a profile picture to differentiate common names. 

That is why I chose to upload a picture of my dream home.   :)

[Dan Noci]

thank you i got ti

[Amanda Hoening]

You can't delete them so you can watch yourself grow. Two Years from now you can go back and look at the "stupid" questions that you asked and remember that everyone starts somewhere :)

[Nichole Wall]

That is very true Amanda!!

However, I just answered my own question right after I posted, so I really want to delete my post so when I look back in 5 years I won't hit myself in the head for not figuring it out before posting. :)

[Steve Babiak]

@Nichole Wall - when you discover the answer to your question before anybody has a chance to answer, you should post YOUR answer! That is the decent (and courteous) thing to do, so that others won't spend time to write an answer, and so that others who search out an existing topic can see that answer. 

No need to delete those IMO, even if it is FAQ. 

[Nichole Wall]

I def posted my answer! :)

[Daniel Bonnell]

Originally posted by @Andrew S.:

I agree @Joshua Dorkin 

 Deleting posts is not needed.  Posts can already be edited and/or amended, if necessary.

 I would be happy to edit, but I am not seeing how too do this. could you help me.

[Andrew S.]

Originally posted by @Daniel Bonnell:

Originally posted by @Andrew S.:

I agree @Joshua Dorkin 

 Deleting posts is not needed.  Posts can already be edited and/or amended, if necessary.

 I would be happy to edit, but I am not seeing how too do this. could you help me.

 The date of the post is in the top right corner of the message box.  For your own posts, there will be the word "edit" or "update" to the left of the date.

You can edit for about an hour or two after your original post.  After that "edit" turns into "update".  If you click that, you will be able to amend (i.e. update) your original post.  However, the original post cannot be changed.  That's only possible during the "edit" phase right after the original post.  For a example of what an "updated" post looks like, see my post in this thread.

Hope this helps