Just a quick question - would the mods be able to permanently remove any and all threads that I’ve started in the past? I’d like for them to be be unavailable even if someone does a specific search under my username. How would this work?
Thanks.
I think the policy here is “think before you post, because your messages will never bedeleted.” I had a previous request to remove an embarassing post of mine turned down. By asking to have your* threads *deleted, it’s unfair to others that took the time to write a response.
My guess is: they have the ability to, but they probably won’t unless you have a very, very good reason.
This thread in the pit discusses a little bit of why it can be a pain when people suddenly decide that what they’ve put out there shouldn’t be out there any more.
Thanks for the clarification.
And what’s the official answer? Mods?
From the rules:
If you have a particular concern, I recommend emailing an administrator, like TubaDiva.
You are aware that, just by posting this, you have just prompted the teeming millions to do a search for all the threads that you have started, looking for something juicy? (didn’t find it, btw. Whatever it is that you need hidden is not that obvious)
You don’t own the threads you’ve started. Other people might want to preserve the posts they’ve made in your threads. Their concerns override yours (failing a better explanation from you).
We don’t erase posts. The times this has happened are too few to list on one hand. And they were almost literally life and death.
The good news is, Google doesn’t scan the board.
Can there be too few of something to list on one hand? Too many, easily, if the number exceeds five, but too few? 
Sam has hooves.
I’m not allowed to say any more.
Fair enough and thanks again for the clarification. I guess I’ll just have to be a bit more circumspect in future!
I’ve always wondered how/why this board flies under Google radar. Can you give me a brief explanation or point me in the right direction for an answer? Thanks!
One, the pages we read are generated dynamically by the database. I believe google would have to index the archive. I don’t know how much, if any, of a problem this presents.
Two, there was concern when we were on the older, slower servers that the bots crawling the board would slow it down for human users.
Three, once we got newer servers, the board went to the subscriber system. One of the benefits offered to subscribers was search. Allowing google to index the boards would take away that benefit, devaluing (if only slightly) the membership.
Those are the issues as I recall them, I’m sure there are other takes.
Google is not allowed to"spider" the message board.
That being said, you really should read the Rules, espescially this section:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/rules.php?
**Please remember that postings on this board are visible to anyone with access to the Internet, and are retained in a database indefinitely. Please do not post personal revelations or other information that may come back to haunt you. In particular, do not post your telephone number or address. **
Wow. I have been repeated by Tuba herself! Does that make her a coda of me?? 
In terms of strictly how this board “flies under Google radar”, the answer is simple: if you put a certain file on your website telling Google’s robot not to go into certain parts of your site, then once the robot reads that file, it will voluntarily comply, staying away from whatever parts of your site you asked it to.
You realize of course that a good number of us are now going to do a search for threads started by you. 
At least, all well-behaved robots will comply. Fortunately, Google’s robot is well-behaved, but it’s possible in principle for a naughty robot to crawl through anyway.
Naughty robots … :eek:
Thanks for your explanations