Question Close, deactivate, delete account

uv90 · 06-22-2013, 11:04 PM

Is there anyway for me to close, delete and or deactivate my account?

Tom S. · 06-23-2013, 04:53 AM

No. Once you make an account, it stays here.

Parallax · 06-24-2013, 08:39 AM

If you wish to leave the forum, that is unfortunate and we wish you well. We do not delete accounts as there is no benefit to either the member or the forum in doing so; nor detriment to either by leaving them intact. You may unsubscribe from emails on PentaxForums.com - Unsubscribe, and then log off.

Kobayashi.K · 06-25-2013, 09:24 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Parallax

If you wish to leave the forum, that is unfortunate and we wish you well. We do not delete accounts as there is no benefit to either the member or the forum in doing so; nor detriment to either by leaving them intact. You may unsubscribe from emails on PentaxForums.com - Unsubscribe, and then log off.

Users should be able to delete their account IMHO. It is the user to determine if an account is a benefit, not PentaxForums. I guess this is mainly a problem for PentaxForums, because it has only a limited number of active users. It would look rather awkward when the larger part of its 50,000+ members shows up in (old) posts with an 'Unsubscribed' label.
Europe is working on a 'The right to be forgotten' proposal exactly because social sites are reluctant to allow deleting accounts. Its better for PentaxForums to have such an option in place not to look disagreeable or before they are forced by law later on.

Parallax · 06-25-2013, 09:33 AM

Originally posted by Kobayashi.K

Europe is working on a 'The right to be forgotten' proposal exactly because social sites are reluctant to allow deleting accounts.

I'll mention that to Adam, just in case he wants to relocate the forum to Europe.

Tako Kichi · 06-25-2013, 10:00 AM - **1 Like**

I'm a moderator on another forum (not photography related although we do have a photography sub-forum too) and I can tell you that one of the main reasons Admins dislike deleting accounts is because doing so royally screws up the forum database system. Once a forum system has been established and in use for a period of time the links between posts and other posts, posts and other forums, posts linked to image hosting sites etc. become very convoluted and intertwined. Deleting an account is akin to cutting a hole in a fishing net and the system has to build new pathways around the hole in order to keep track of it's contents. This can lead to instability and forum crashes.

It is far better to just have the forum member walk away and let his/her posts/account sink into forum oblivion where they will gather dust alongside all the posts that were moved by Admins/Mods for breaking forum rules in some way (rule breaking posts are never deleted either, they are usually moved into a 'holding pen' that only Staff can see).

scratchpaddy · 06-25-2013, 10:08 AM

Good point, Larry. I was going to say, truly deleting things in the network age is darn near impossible. The rule of thumb is, if you don't want something on the internet, don't put it there in the first place.

MRRiley · 06-25-2013, 10:44 AM

Originally posted by uv90

Is there anyway for me to close, delete and or deactivate my account?

You can edit your profile to remove any personally identifying information and then just log off. As has been said, the account is here to stay because deleting it is not practicable. If you no longer want to use the forum after that, just stop coming.

Of course, he's probably already gone so will never see this... LOL

Kobayashi.K · 06-25-2013, 10:46 AM

They can delete the User Control Panel and the e-mail address, and keep the posts intact.

Na Horuk · 06-26-2013, 04:28 AM

Maybe instead of deleting posts the forum could just delete attachments and photos, but keep the posts and rename the user name to "Deleted" and remove all their personal info.
I think the "deleting account" should be an option. And not because this forum is in any way bad, its just a freedom that is always nice to have, and might be important to some users.

Tom S. · 06-26-2013, 10:20 AM

Originally posted by Kobayashi.K

They can delete the User Control Panel and the e-mail address, and keep the posts intact.

Yes, but eventually, someone will find fault with not being able to delete all the posts they made (especially when they were drinking), and the government probably will look into correcting that. Government (as in politicians) needs to understand that it isn't their place to run our lives or protect us from our own stupidity, unless our life is at risk.

Parallax · 06-26-2013, 10:23 AM

Originally posted by Tom S.

someone will find fault with not being able to delete all the posts they made

There's a few bells I'd like to un-ring too, but such is life.

Tom S. · 06-26-2013, 01:18 PM

Originally posted by Parallax

There's a few bells I'd like to un-ring too, but such is life.

I have a hard enough time following some threads as it is. Start deleting posts and it could become impossible.

falconeye · 06-27-2013, 10:35 AM

I noticed that the edit feature expires (I tried to modify the original post in https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/31629-da-lens-...ts-thread.html which is old but still alive and I failed).

Maybe at least, EDIT POST shouldn't expire.

**tomwil** · 06-28-2013, 07:41 AM

Originally posted by uv90

Is there anyway for me to close, delete and or deactivate my account?

Originally posted by Parallax

We do not delete accounts as there is no benefit to either the member or the forum in doing so; nor detriment to either by leaving them intact.

If requested by a member, would a permanent ban be possible, similar to this once-participating member? The ban would cut off all ties with PentaxForums, while leaving the posts intact.

06-22-2013, 11:04 PM	#1
uv90 New Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 2	Close, deactivate, delete account Is there anyway for me to close, delete and or deactivate my account?

06-25-2013, 10:44 AM	#8
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275	Originally posted by uv90 Is there anyway for me to close, delete and or deactivate my account? You can edit your profile to remove any personally identifying information and then just log off. As has been said, the account is here to stay because deleting it is not practicable. If you no longer want to use the forum after that, just stop coming. Of course, he's probably already gone so will never see this... LOL Last edited by MRRiley; 06-25-2013 at 10:52 AM.

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06-23-2013, 04:53 AM	#2
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	No. Once you make an account, it stays here.

06-24-2013, 08:39 AM	#3
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	If you wish to leave the forum, that is unfortunate and we wish you well. We do not delete accounts as there is no benefit to either the member or the forum in doing so; nor detriment to either by leaving them intact. You may unsubscribe from emails on PentaxForums.com - Unsubscribe, and then log off.

06-25-2013, 09:24 AM - 2 Likes	#4
Kobayashi.K Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 716	Originally posted by Parallax If you wish to leave the forum, that is unfortunate and we wish you well. We do not delete accounts as there is no benefit to either the member or the forum in doing so; nor detriment to either by leaving them intact. You may unsubscribe from emails on PentaxForums.com - Unsubscribe, and then log off. Users should be able to delete their account IMHO. It is the user to determine if an account is a benefit, not PentaxForums. I guess this is mainly a problem for PentaxForums, because it has only a limited number of active users. It would look rather awkward when the larger part of its 50,000+ members shows up in (old) posts with an 'Unsubscribed' label. Europe is working on a 'The right to be forgotten' proposal exactly because social sites are reluctant to allow deleting accounts. Its better for PentaxForums to have such an option in place not to look disagreeable or before they are forced by law later on.

06-25-2013, 09:33 AM	#5
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	Originally posted by Kobayashi.K Europe is working on a 'The right to be forgotten' proposal exactly because social sites are reluctant to allow deleting accounts. I'll mention that to Adam, just in case he wants to relocate the forum to Europe.

06-25-2013, 10:00 AM - 1 Like	#6
Tako Kichi Veteran Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: SW Ontario, Canada (ex-pat Brit) Posts: 1,296	I'm a moderator on another forum (not photography related although we do have a photography sub-forum too) and I can tell you that one of the main reasons Admins dislike deleting accounts is because doing so royally screws up the forum database system. Once a forum system has been established and in use for a period of time the links between posts and other posts, posts and other forums, posts linked to image hosting sites etc. become very convoluted and intertwined. Deleting an account is akin to cutting a hole in a fishing net and the system has to build new pathways around the hole in order to keep track of it's contents. This can lead to instability and forum crashes. It is far better to just have the forum member walk away and let his/her posts/account sink into forum oblivion where they will gather dust alongside all the posts that were moved by Admins/Mods for breaking forum rules in some way (rule breaking posts are never deleted either, they are usually moved into a 'holding pen' that only Staff can see).

06-25-2013, 10:08 AM	#7
scratchpaddy Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Phoenix Posts: 3,361	Good point, Larry. I was going to say, truly deleting things in the network age is darn near impossible. The rule of thumb is, if you don't want something on the internet, don't put it there in the first place.

06-25-2013, 10:46 AM	#9
Kobayashi.K Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 716	They can delete the User Control Panel and the e-mail address, and keep the posts intact.

06-26-2013, 04:28 AM	#10
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Maybe instead of deleting posts the forum could just delete attachments and photos, but keep the posts and rename the user name to "Deleted" and remove all their personal info. I think the "deleting account" should be an option. And not because this forum is in any way bad, its just a freedom that is always nice to have, and might be important to some users.

06-26-2013, 10:20 AM	#11
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	Originally posted by Kobayashi.K They can delete the User Control Panel and the e-mail address, and keep the posts intact. Yes, but eventually, someone will find fault with not being able to delete all the posts they made (especially when they were drinking), and the government probably will look into correcting that. Government (as in politicians) needs to understand that it isn't their place to run our lives or protect us from our own stupidity, unless our life is at risk.

06-26-2013, 10:23 AM	#12
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	Originally posted by Tom S. someone will find fault with not being able to delete all the posts they made There's a few bells I'd like to un-ring too, but such is life.

06-26-2013, 01:18 PM	#13
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	Originally posted by Parallax There's a few bells I'd like to un-ring too, but such is life. I have a hard enough time following some threads as it is. Start deleting posts and it could become impossible.

06-27-2013, 10:35 AM	#14
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	I noticed that the edit feature expires (I tried to modify the original post in https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/31629-da-lens-...ts-thread.html which is old but still alive and I failed). Maybe at least, EDIT POST shouldn't expire.

06-28-2013, 07:41 AM	#15
tomwil Site Supporter Join Date: May 2009 Location: Maryland USA Posts: 778	Originally posted by uv90 Is there anyway for me to close, delete and or deactivate my account? Originally posted by Parallax We do not delete accounts as there is no benefit to either the member or the forum in doing so; nor detriment to either by leaving them intact. If requested by a member, would a permanent ban be possible, similar to this once-participating member? The ban would cut off all ties with PentaxForums, while leaving the posts intact.