I might have something. I couldn't find it with the forum search nor on the common suggestions list, so here I'll throw it in the fires of Armorgames, to be flamed at, as there are probally bad sides I just fail to see.
In alot of forums it is possible to make moderators limited. They can do all moderator stuffs, but only in forums assigned to them. I'm not suggesting to make anyone moderator and put them over a category. I was suggesting that creaters of a thread should be able to delete posts in their thread. This would decrease spam, instead of 5 people telling someone that it's spam, it can now be more easily deleted. It should be limited to own thread only, before people will abuse. If you abuse in your own thread, it won't become a good thread, so I don't see why people will abuse in their own threads. I don't suggest though, that the OP should be able to edit any message. That, would give more trouble than good. The delete though might decrease spam. Players might be able to remove their own bad posts, but then, they're probally sorry of it (otherwise they wouldn't remove it, unless to avoid a ban or something.) This is, however, far less serious then when everyone has an edit button in their powers over their own posts. Then they would ALL be able to remove their own bad stuff, etc etc.
If the OP has a serious grudge against a certain user, they'll just delete every post by that user. This is probably a rare case, but I'm sure it will happen.
If it's an opinion-based thread, and it's a newer user who feels very strongly about their own opinion, they might remove any post that they disagree with. This is more likely to happen.
Then there's also the possibility that a user will want his own thread deleted, but he doesn't want to wait for a mod to do it. He will then just delete every post irrationally like it never happened. This is probably the most likely to happen.
That's literally one of the two big jobs of Ag mods (The other is clearing all comments).
I just don't see it... Users who would be applicable for this job would probably be just as good as normal mods in the criterion of trustworthiness. Either they fit in the description and become a mod, or they don't.
Then there's also the possibility that a user will want his own thread deleted, but he doesn't want to wait for a mod to do it. He will then just delete every post irrationally like it never happened. This is probably the most likely to happen.
Those users shouldn't be mods.
You suggested being able to mod over your own threads only. My answer stays the same: And Ernie pointed out little bad-case scenarios, so there's no point listing them.
Ok everyone has pointed out that if the OP was able to control their thread. They will easiely delete other peoples posts for no reason, or a stupid reason. This will mess up their AP, and make that person upset. Thus may result in them leaving AG forever. So this is just not practical.
2nd part is if you can delete or edit your own posts: This can be very bad for people to prove abuse of the forums. If somone posts something offensive, they could just go back and delete or edit it. Thus making it hard, or impossible to prove that they said what they actually did. Making it easier for people to abuse the forums.
In alot of forums it is possible to make moderators limited. They can do all moderator stuffs, but only in forums assigned to them. I'm not suggesting to make anyone moderator and put them over a category.
That can't be the same for AG, since we are on the low-end of mod numbers. They have the freedom to moderate whatever, whenever, wherever.
I was suggesting that creaters of a thread should be able to delete posts in their thread.
Do you trust users enough to allow them to delete their own threads, HealMeal? I don't trust myself. It really just wastes everyone's time to have their posts deleted without legitimate cause. It's a different story when users post in a thread that's in Troll Mode. They know what they're getting into; if they get their AP deleted from that, they only have themselves to blame. This cannot be the case for standard threads.
What about threads that are "answered"? Will users be able to delete threads when their questions are answered?
Where will our links go when we can tell users that this is a duplicate/already-answered thread? They are gone because the user deleted them.
To avoid any trouble, I would suggest lock instead of delete, where the OP can lock their threads and not be able to screw around with the responses. A good chunk of us are able to do this and know when. Not a lot, but a good chunk.
This is, however, far less serious then when everyone has an edit button in their powers over their own posts.
I like a preview option better. There are just so many things that could be corrupt with editing.
How about a voting system for deleting posts then? Based on IPs?
Flagging/Reporting is better. It gets the job done faster, methinks.
Freakenstein has a good idea on letting the OP lock the treads. It doesn't mess up anyones stuff but it makes it easier if they dont want anyone to comment on it because they feel it got answered, or they figured it out.
I just dont trust people being able to delete my posts. One can almost go to far and say something along the lines of: "They deleted it and I have my freedom of speach!" Thus creating more problems. I doubt this would happen but there are some crazy people out there.
And last I really dont get what a preview button could offer, just look over your stuff befor you hit submit. Its not that hard to do. The only thing I can think of that it would help with is using things like bold, italic, ect, to see if you did it right. I know there are many times I've used it and failed and wish I could have seen it befor i posted.
