# "Make my thread disappear"-Is it unusual that this board doesn't work that way? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 17, 2025, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-my-thread-disappear-is-it-unusual-that-this-board-doesnt-work-that-way/1015711 "2025-03-17T08:09:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 47
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2025, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-my-thread-disappear-is-it-unusual-that-this-board-doesnt-work-that-way/1015711/47 "2025-03-21T19:12:56Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > ’m not sure where your antagonism is coming from. I wouldn’t call it antagonism. It’s more that I am annoyed. > [@TroutMan](#): > > **LouMa** is correct that IP addresses are tracked here (as you found in the TOS), and that an IP address can be used to identify you. That is _not_ what they said- > [@LouMa](#): > > Your IP address leads directly to you, lest you use VPN or you log into your neighbour’s IP. In fact those who want to find you, will. I asked (this was before I looked at the rules) > [@DocCathode](#): > > Does the SDMB record my IP address? Do I use a VPN? **LouMa** never actually answered my question. I answered my own question when I quoted the rules. **LouMa** did go on to say > [@LouMa](#): > > Concerning the rules: well yes you didn’t read them otherwise you knew that they don’t disclose that your threads stay forever and you cannot cancel your account. But never mind, you can always take precautions. As the quote from the rules proves- it does indeed say that. > [@SDMB rules 9/12/2023](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-rules-9-12-2023/990013/1): > > We do not delete posts or threads solely because the poster (including the thread starter) or subject of the post or thread finds it problematic or no longer wishes to be associated with the SDMB. > [@TroutMan](#): > > As we have seen in the last few weeks, worrying about consequences from our online presence is no longer paranoia. As I have previously posted, every anti Trump thing I have posted on the SDMB I have posted in other places, sometimes under my real name. I have also said the same anti Trump things, repeatedly and at length, to plenty of people off line. Deleting the entirety of the SDMB- every thread and every post ever will not save me. > [@TroutMan](#): > > I personally won’t modify my behavior here because I have too few fucks to give anymore, but everyone should be making their own decision with a clear understanding of what can happen I agree. I joined twenty five years ago in simpler times. The rules ( I don’t want to search for a post from the year 2000 with the then current rules) were fewer and simpler. Even then, I assumed that my posts would be online at least as long as the Dope endured. > [@LouMa](#): > > I didn’t realize that when I joined the SDMB this was for life, that my account cannot be closed That does bug me a bit. It says in the rules that your posts will not be deleted. It also says in the rules that they record IP addresses. **LouMa** could have answered my question about IP addresses by quoting the rules. I could be wrong, but it seems they still have not read them. > [@TroutMan](#): > > Being antagonistic to people with questions doesn’t help. You have a point. I have been rather antagonistic lately --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-my-thread-disappear-is-it-unusual-that-this-board-doesnt-work-that-way/1015711)._