Forum members me to delete his account

**openmind** · 04-28-2007, 10:58 AM

Hi,

One of our forum members has asked me via PM to delete his account. I don't want to do this for a number of reason. The question is who owns that member's forum posts and does he have the right to have his account deleted?

**Ashley** · 04-28-2007, 11:24 AM

You are the forum owner. As long as you have/had a disclaimer saying all content belongs to you, then the posts belong to you also. If this user wants their account deleted, just tell them not to log in anymore. If they keep pestering you - delete the account but not the posts. If you haven't done so already, put a disclaimer somewhere. Here's the one I use:

Quote:

All posts made become the copyright-protected property of CompuForums, unless otherwise stated by the user or the contents is already copyrighted.
▪ However, we are not liable for any of the contents of any post, thread, or private message on this site, to the fullest extent of the law.

So, in a nutshell, just decline their request, and point to the rules

**Joy** · 04-28-2007, 12:08 PM

I agree with Ashley.

I have this written into my forum rules so the members know where they stand with regards to deleting their accounts...

Quote:

If you choose to leave the forum please do not ask us to remove your posts. Your posts become the property of Chat Daily once they have been posted. Should you wish to no longer be a member of this site, we will give your account a general nickname and delete all your personal information.

**RedMatrix** · 04-28-2007, 12:15 PM

Yes, this thread also has more opinions on the subject:

Member wants account deleted, and posts

**bcmtouring** · 04-28-2007, 06:36 PM

Don't delete it!

**Ryan** · 04-29-2007, 01:00 AM

I'm like Ashley...Best case scenario is that you don't delete it at all. Next best case scenario is that you rename the account and remove all personal information (this is for the people who are worried about being "traced"). Worst case scenario is that you delete the account but not the posts.

Don't delete the posts

**Moelman** · 04-29-2007, 01:20 AM

I agree with Ryan. Definitely don't delete the posts, and depending on their reason for wanting it deleted is how you should decide whether to delete it or not. I think the idea of renaming it and removing all the info is a good compromise for the user.

**Edder** · 04-29-2007, 07:55 PM

I would first explain the policy to the member in question and then ban his account. Then, change the default usertitle for the "Banned Users" usergroup to Account Terminated and before you know it, his account's gone.

**MissMoke** · 05-02-2007, 03:29 PM

Nope, I no longer delete accounts.

**dojo** · 05-02-2007, 04:30 PM

If you didn't cover this in the rules yet, then you might try to delete so that you won't have any issues with this member. And that means you'll put it in the rules from now on that you don't delete accounts and just redirect the members who want this to the rules they agreed on prior to registering

04-28-2007, 10:58 AM	#1
openmind Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: EU Posts: 55	Forum members me to delete his account Hi, One of our forum members has asked me via PM to delete his account. I don't want to do this for a number of reason. The question is who owns that member's forum posts and does he have the right to have his account deleted? __________________ *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.*

04-28-2007, 12:15 PM	#4
RedMatrix daviddamian.com Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: back in TX Posts: 4,043	Yes, this thread also has more opinions on the subject: Member wants account deleted, and posts __________________ Do you poken? Take a picture and send it to the To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ! Hey, watch youtube here: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ! I got a new and improved blog now. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. !

04-28-2007, 06:36 PM	#5
bcmtouring Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 585	Don't delete it! __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-29-2007, 01:00 AM	#6
Ryan Forum Guru Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 10,256	I'm like Ashley...Best case scenario is that you don't delete it at all. Next best case scenario is that you rename the account and remove all personal information (this is for the people who are worried about being "traced"). Worst case scenario is that you delete the account but not the posts. Don't delete the posts __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Professional vBulletin Skins

04-29-2007, 01:20 AM	#7
Moelman The Webmaster Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,328	I agree with Ryan. Definitely don't delete the posts, and depending on their reason for wanting it deleted is how you should decide whether to delete it or not. I think the idea of renaming it and removing all the info is a good compromise for the user. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - The Largest LucasArts Gaming Community on the Internet To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - tell me your comments! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Your #1 place to discuss all things World of Warcraft.

04-29-2007, 07:55 PM	#8
Edder Rookie Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 18	I would first explain the policy to the member in question and then ban his account. Then, change the default usertitle for the "Banned Users" usergroup to Account Terminated and before you know it, his account's gone.

05-02-2007, 03:29 PM	#9
MissMoke Veteran Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: HOTLANTA Posts: 585	Nope, I no longer delete accounts. __________________ *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.* Coming soon: *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.*

05-02-2007, 04:30 PM	#10
dojo Veteran Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Romania Posts: 708	If you didn't cover this in the rules yet, then you might try to delete so that you won't have any issues with this member. And that means you'll put it in the rules from now on that you don't delete accounts and just redirect the members who want this to the rules they agreed on prior to registering __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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