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"Don't Delete My Annotations" Account Destruction Option

 A different approach to others not being left in the dark...
  (+12)(+12)
(+12) 		  [vote for,
against]

I previously posted an idea proposing a way to make annotations automatically be deleted if they were previously responding to annotation that was deleted. However, many other halfbakers expressed their opinions, and I don't think others would like it. I'm going to try one other approach. I believe that a lot of the time, an annotation goes missing in an "account migration", when one user destroys their account and starts it again in order to "clean up". I'm not sure why they do this, but I'd say that sometimes a user wishes their annotations to various ideas could remain. I propose that on the account destruction page, the one that says "Are You Sure?" (I'm guessing about that, I've never done it) that there would be two check-boxes under the "Yes" and "No" buttons. The option would basically be like "Destroy my annotations, too. (Yes/No). If a person did destroy their account and turned the option for the annotations to remain on, the annotations would remain, but the username would be bordered in red. If a person followed the username link to their profile, it could lead to a page saying "Account no longer in existence" or something. Of course, this might lead to cluttering. I'm not sure. Let me know what you think.
—fogfreak, Jul 29 2003

Where's waugsqueke? http://www.halfbake...27s_20waugsqueke_3f
This discussion has already been done. [waugsqueke, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

[link]






       I guess the value of this idea depends on why people destroy their accounts. I shall now ask. Why do people destroy their accounts?
—Worldgineer, Jul 29 2003
   

       I think we'd run into the multiple identities problem even more, but I quite like it.
—neilp, Jul 29 2003
   

       Well, if the system determines that an account created again was done by the same person (same IP address, password, etc.) it could make the annotations look like regular ones again, and take away the red bordering.
—fogfreak, Jul 29 2003
   

       Perhaps they delete their accounts because of generalized shame - shame so great that deletion of one or two shameful annotations will not suffice. In this case, the annotations could stay but the name be removed, or changed to something like "deleted account".
—bungston, Jul 29 2003
   

       Um, I deleted mine because I am an idiot.
Whether or not a second check box would have prevented my, uh, mishap is, I suppose, entirely academic.		   

       There is already a 'halfway house' option: blind edit your password, which freezes your account and lets you get on with the real world.
—my face your, Jul 29 2003
   

       The data is still in the db, I presume? Just the header info is blown away?
—UnaBubba, Jul 29 2003
   

       Oh, that kind of gone? I've set up "deleted" on my database apps so it's just invisible for the moment, not GONE. We were paranoid about perhaps wanting it back, and space is cheap.
—UnaBubba, Jul 29 2003
   

       I don't see how the reason why people destroy their accounts is pertinent to this discussion.   

       Anyway, this whole thing was already covered extensively on the 'Where's waugsqueke?" idea. For the record, I disagree with this. Deleted's deleted and so it should be.
—waugsqueke, Jul 30 2003
   

       What is your point, Kreuner?
—waugsqueke, Jul 30 2003
   

       [waugs] I never brought up why people delete their accounts in the first place. Also, I've never seen the idea that you linked to. As this idea was only discussed in the annotations to the other idea, and nowhere in the idea itself, I beleive that this idea is in no way redundant, at least to that one. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.
—fogfreak, Jul 30 2003
   

       I did not say it was redundant, fog. I was merely directing you to another idea that had this conversation. And my statement about reasons for deletion not being relevent was directed towards World's first anno, which seemed to set the stage for that thread.
—waugsqueke, Jul 30 2003
   

       Oh, ok, sorry.
—fogfreak, Jul 30 2003
   

       [waugs] I guess you're wanting a reply from me then. I think reasons behind deleting an an account are highly relevant to designing an interface for that process. If you feel I'm mistaken please explain what factors should instead be considered.
—Worldgineer, Jul 30 2003
   

       // i gather from that that you think if somethgn has been deleted it should remain so, never to return. //   

       You misunderstand me, and I suppose that's understandable. Deleted is deleted as far as the halfbakery functionality is concerned. I mean that the halfbakery itself should bear no responsibility to retain/replace deleted stuff. If someone wants to repost, I have no problem with that.   

       World, I say that the reasons are not relevent because I do not think the HB should have this functionality at all, no matter why an account was removed.
—waugsqueke, Jul 30 2003
   

       [waugs] Gotcha. I personally would like as little as possible to change here, mostly out of fear of disturbing the enjoyable dynamic environment that is the hb. That being said, I value information and debate.
—Worldgineer, Jul 30 2003
   

       I fear change.
—gnomethang, Jul 30 2003
   

       Someone wrote that they value information. I value shiny things but information is good, too.
—bristolz, Jul 30 2003
   

       Oooh. And shiny things. I forgot shiny things. And lasers. And donuts.
—Worldgineer, Jul 30 2003
   

       I NEVER said for the halfbakery to retain deleted things. Once it's gone, it should be, I agree. However, it should give the option of WHAT to delete. Get it right.
—fogfreak, Jul 30 2003
   

       Well said [Rods]!
—gnomethang, Aug 01 2003
   

       Swiss cheese is an amusing thing but I really miss some of the ideas and annotations that have fallen by the wayside. I like this idea a lot (+)
—madradish, Aug 01 2003
   

       How about "Don't Delete My Votes" Account Destruction Option?
—FarmerJohn, Aug 02 2003
   

       That's the most ironic thing I've read all day! in a discussion regarding the avoidance of lost dialogue on the halfbakery due to the deletion of accounts [gnomethang] comments that a comment [Rodstiger] made was "well said!", but his account has been deleted and his comment is gone! Oh the irony!
—cuckoointherye, Jan 28 2005
   

       This particular aspect of the HB has been the takeoff point for many deep thinks on my part. It has sharpened my realization that in real life, a created thing immediately has a life distinct from its creator. This is obviously true of a baby, but also true of ideas, writings, practices, structures or anything else. Consider a Michael Jackson song - no matter what Michael does now, if he goes to jail, is hated by all, if he joins a cult and disavows all of his music, if he becomes demented and dies, some of those songs will still be good to listen to. They reflect how he was at a certain period of time, and that is permanent.   

       The HB is different. The existence of an idea is linked to its creator. It is a whole different concept of creation. Maybe it is good to think about creativity in this different way.
—bungston, Jan 29 2005
   

       The site owner has stated many times that the words we post are our own. If you no longer wish to or have the ability, time or resources to tend your words, then why should anyone else assume the duties?   

       You want your words to stay, then you stay with them. Easy enough to delete any posted ideas and clear your profile. As for those who have a difficult time catching up because someone left a hole in the conversation last year, find a site that better suits your mental prowess or lack thereof.
—ato_de, Jan 30 2005
   

       I think I may have found a solution, that is easier, less controversial, and more willy-nilly.   

       If one awakes in the morning in a pissy mood, feeling uncomfortable in their skin, shakey in their boots, and paranoid to look in the mirror, they fall out the left side of the bed.   

       Next day, things seem brighter, a smile teases you to release it, and insteasd of left, you lean right. After moments of quiet introspection, you roll over and plop down on the right side of the bed.   

       There can be some cheating, but not much, and either way ,your mood is now scientifically determinined.
—blissmiss, Jan 30 2005
   

       I think that trying to walk through the wall beside my bed might not improve my mood.
—Detly, Jan 30 2005
   

       No, but the image massively improved mine.
—david_scothern, Jan 31 2005
   

       Hi, this is a ways off topic, but:
1. Has anybody made annotations which intentionally made it look like they were responding to someone else's (imaginary) deleted annotations?
2. Is there an idea around here where people have discussed the ethics of taking other people's annotations out with your idea or account?
—tiromancer, Jan 31 2005
   

       1. See [po]'s comment above.
2. Ethics? I see no issue in destroying other people's annos when your idea/account goes phoof. If you're really attached to your annos, click File...Save As...
—Worldgineer, Jan 31 2005
   

       1. Damn you to hell, [World]...
—Detly, Jan 31 2005
   

       1. :-P
—Worldgineer, Jan 31 2005
   

       1. Yeah, I fell for it too. And I TOLD myslef to expect it when I asked...
2. I'm not trying to take a stand, I was just wondering if it's been addressed. I get the impression the delete/not to delete issue comes up regularly, but I haven't seen much discussion about this aspect of it.
—tiromancer, Jan 31 2005
   

       2. We've deleted it all.
—Worldgineer, Jan 31 2005
   

       I felt bad about making other people's annotations look like nonsense when i last deleted my account. I was also embarrassed about some of my annotations, and i wouldn't have wanted to leave them there, but i would've liked the option of having my annotations made anonymous by deleting my account and leaving the annotations, if i'd had the option. As it was, i was a bit disturbed that i had no option but to leave huge holes in other people's postings, which felt almost like vandalism.
—nineteenthly, Jan 31 2005
   

       Well, my excuse is that it was 2am. What's yours? :P
—Detly, Jan 31 2005
   

       How about an account deletion option where:
1.Annotations aren't deleted.
2.Ideas aren't deleted.
3.Votes aren't deleted.
4.User account is not deleted.
   

       There, that should do it.
—Ling, Feb 14 2006
   

       Done!
—jutta, Feb 15 2006
   

       Wow. Nice work, both of you.
—bristolz, Feb 15 2006
   

       All we need now is for someone to test it...And then come back and tell us how it went. Sounds almost messianical.
—zen_tom, Feb 15 2006
   

       There shall come a man who deletes his account yet his ideas shall abide. He shall die for our fishbones but will find life everlasting in the Halfbakery, and he shall come again in glory to judge the [m-f-d]'s as a moderator.
—wagster, Feb 15 2006
   

       Turmoil
—Ian Tindale, Feb 15 2006
   

       I'd like a 'Kamikaze' option on account deletion, where you get to choose one other user's account to take out at the same time.
—DrBob, Feb 15 2006
   

       Or maybe just allow us to vote people off the island.
—DrCurry, Feb 15 2006
   

       [zen_tom] I don't believe it when people say they've had an "out of bakery experience"
—hippo, Feb 15 2006
   

       [Ian] that reminds me of Armando Ianucci, who, when someone mentioned that something reasonably mundane was 'the most traumatic thing imaginable' replied that no, actually, the most traumatic thing imaginable would be to awaken at home, in the middle of the night, with everything appearing normal, only to turn on the light to discover a biblical number of bats have congregated and arranged themselves on the ceiling to spell out the word "Turmoil".   

       And, having considered it a little, I think he might have been right.
—zen_tom, Feb 15 2006
   

       If the bats spelled out my name it'd trouble me more.
—bristolz, Feb 15 2006
   
      
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