# So About Those Threads That Are Deleted **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 10, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-those-threads-that-are-deleted/293838 "2005-03-10T15:11:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-those-threads-that-are-deleted/293838/1 "2005-03-10T15:11:34Z")
Sometimes there’s enough of a brou-ha-ha that it’s easy to satisfy one’s curiousity, but what about the smaller disappearances? A thread was opened in which a woman talked about her husband’s recent death. I posted in that thread and I’d like to know if the OP wrote any more, whether she’s feeling any better as a result of posting. I have no idea why the thread was deleted. Is there a way to find out without being uncouth? Do the Mods want us to email them to ask? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-those-threads-that-are-deleted/293838/2 "2005-03-10T18:38:34Z")
If a thread disappears without any obvious reason, it’s almost always an indication that the OP was banned for trolling. If there’s no obvious reason for the banning, it’s almost always an indication that the member in question was a returning troll previously banned. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-those-threads-that-are-deleted/293838/3 "2005-03-10T20:28:55Z")
If this is the thread I’m thinking about, didn’t the OP say right at the first that she had formerly posted on the SDMB and was now returning as a guest. If she used a different username, that’s prima facie evidence for banning. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-those-threads-that-are-deleted/293838/4 "2005-03-10T23:33:39Z")
The problem with trolls is that we don’t want to encourage them. Simply posting an explanation and then closing the thread is not good, gives them too much attention (which they take as encouragement.) The whole purpose of trolling is to get attention. Hence, some threads are simply deleted, with no public explanation. Similarly, BTW, we delete spam (advertisements, for instance) without bothering to explain. If you are dying of curiosity, you can email a Moderator and we’ll (usually) be happy to explain. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-those-threads-that-are-deleted/293838/5 "2005-03-12T10:44:03Z")
Also, with things like deaths, threads have been hidden while the veracity of the OP is confirmed and then reinstated. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-those-threads-that-are-deleted/293838/6 "2005-03-12T11:55:33Z")
Yes, fair enough, **Quartz**. Sometimes we hide a thread for a short time, in order to investigate. We’ve also done that with suspected spam, for instance, or suspected socks, and then restored them when we’ve cleared away the suspicions. We try to do that as efficiently as possible, but most of us are only human. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-those-threads-that-are-deleted/293838/7 "2005-03-12T13:38:15Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > … but most of us are only human. And the rest of you are … ? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Sample\_the\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sample\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sample_the_Dog)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-those-threads-that-are-deleted/293838/8 "2005-03-12T15:53:07Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > And the rest of you are … ? :dubious: Cecil. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-those-threads-that-are-deleted/293838/9 "2005-03-12T17:20:56Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > And the rest of you are … ? :dubious: According to rumor, **Coldfire** is Dutch. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-about-those-threads-that-are-deleted/293838/10 "2005-03-12T23:14:15Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > And the rest of you are … ? :dubious: My home town is R’Lyeh. 😃