# Disappearing Threads **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 26, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-threads/197775 "2003-08-26T16:32:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-threads/197775/1 "2003-08-26T16:32:22Z")
Can moderators delete entire threads? I seem to remember that I posted to a thread last week, and a few hours later, I could find no record of that thread existing. Was it wiped out, or was I halucinating because I ate the tuna sandwich I had left on my dashboard all afternoon? ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-threads/197775/2 "2003-08-26T16:41:11Z")
Yes, they can delete entire threads, or remove them from public view. Without knowing what thread you are talking about, it’s hard to speculate on whether it was removed or eaten by the hamsters. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-threads/197775/3 "2003-08-26T16:41:32Z")
They can definitely delete them, but it’s far easier to close them, I think. If you’re missing a thread, chances are greater that it just plain disappeared than it was deleted. ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-threads/197775/4 "2003-08-26T18:15:51Z")
Threads started by blatant trolls and spammers are often deleted in their entirety, so as not to encourage them. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-threads/197775/5 "2003-08-26T18:24:13Z")
That’s probably what it was, then. The link posted in the OP of the Thread That Never Was looked to be questionable. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-threads/197775/6 "2003-08-26T18:28:30Z")
I’ve seen pile-on behavior when it’s plain as day that the person posting the thread is going to be banned and the thread pulled. It’s a sinking ship orgy sometimes. I was in on one of those last week and noticed a little later that thread and poster were pfffft. Self-immolation almost. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-threads/197775/7 "2003-08-26T18:40:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zeldar \* > \*\*I’ve seen pile-on behavior when it’s plain as day that the person posting the thread is going to be banned and the thread pulled. It’s a sinking ship orgy sometimes. I was in on one of those last week and noticed a little later that thread and poster were pfffft. > > Self-immolation almost. \*\* Was it something about finding eternal life? Maybe that was the same thread… ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-threads/197775/8 "2003-08-26T19:24:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Casey1505 \* > \*\*Was it something about finding eternal life? Maybe that was the same thread… \*\* Yes, in fact, it was. Some funky link to some dude’s eternal life toy or something. I had seen that same link a while back and didn’t spend enough time to get the whole thrill of it. Best I can recall the poster was xxxx. That ring true to you? ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-threads/197775/9 "2003-08-26T19:34:35Z")
That was it! I was pissed, I actually got off a pretty good line using the current SDMB 1920’s style reference of the week, and the thread got deleted. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-threads/197775/10 "2003-08-27T09:42:49Z")
OK, this is screwed up! The hamsters are pulling pranks. I got this e-mail notification: > [@](#): > > Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2003 18:39:22 -0500 (CDT) > To: [casey1505@yahoo.com](mailto:casey1505@yahoo.com) > Subject: Reply to post ‘Disappearing Threads’ > From: “Straight Dope Message Board Mailer” \<[webmaster@straightdope.com](mailto:webmaster@straightdope.com)\> | This is spam | Add to Address Book > > Hello Casey1505, > > kimd has just replied to a thread you have subscribed to entitled - > Disappearing Threads - in the About This Message Board forum of Straight > Dope Message Board. > > This thread is located at: > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=207268&goto=newpost](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=207268&goto=newpost) > > There may be other replies also, but you will not receive any more > notifications until you visit the board again. I don’t see **kimd** ’s post. What gives? No one ever said the boards were haunted. ---
**Author:** ![teleute12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@teleute12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teleute12)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-threads/197775/11 "2003-08-27T09:55:22Z")
It’s trolls, and our fabulous mods delete the posts between the time you get the announcement thingie, and the time you get to the thread.