tea.mathoverflow.net - Discussion Feed (Why can't I delete my own closed question?)

Scott Carnahan comments on "Why can't I delete my own closed question?" (17285)

2011-11-28T23:12:39-08:00

The person who gave you that negative comment may well have seized the "most abrasive MO participant" throne from some of our younger members.

Ryan Budney comments on "Why can't I delete my own closed question?" (17279)

2011-11-28T14:49:01-08:00

The reason why we have closed questions is to demonstrate a track record of previous community moderation. The whole point of this forum is that moderation is handled by the community, so everyone pitches-in. To do that you need examples -- you need people to be able to read the history of the forum rather than it being a black-box. Some closed questions still garner up-votes and comments. I have a closed question which is one of the most popular questions I've asked.

fthorne comments on "Why can't I delete my own closed question?" (17278)

2011-11-28T14:44:51-08:00

quid -- thank you! Please note that it was a latter commenter, not you, that strongly objected to my question.

I confess I am still confused about the purpose of closing questions if I can't accede to criticism and remove my own post.

quid comments on "Why can't I delete my own closed question?" (17277)

2011-11-28T14:20:03-08:00

While I voted to close as off-topic, I have to repeat I am really impressed you make such an effort for your teaching. Why not preserve the (closed) question as a good example for this. And, if somebody comes along and should know something she or he might answer by a comment.

Ryan Budney comments on "Why can't I delete my own closed question?" (17276)

2011-11-28T14:10:18-08:00

Dear Frank,

Your question will fall off the front page quite soon. Off-topic questions are closed. Questions tend to be deleted only if they contain offensive material, or if their presence would create long-term problems for the forum.

fthorne comments on "Why can't I delete my own closed question?" (17274)

2011-11-28T14:05:25-08:00

Hello all --

I recently asked this question - http://mathoverflow.net/questions/82115/does-anyone-know-if-i-can-i-buy-backwards-15-puzzles-closed - which I judged to be marginally on topic but which was quickly closed. Indeed, one of the commenters was extremely negative about my posting.

I won't argue. Indeed, I went to delete it and I couldn't. I got some message, "Wait two days for votes to reopen." (Just now I flagged it for moderation and asked the moderators to delete it.) Is there some reason for this? If a question is considered unacceptable, then whether I agree or not, I would rather it not stay on the front page with my name on it.

Thank you very much.

Frank Thorne