small and unobtrusive indicator for deleted comments

December 14, 2003 1:55 PM

This has been discussed before, but I think there needs to be a small and unobtrusive indicator for deleted comments, those removed from threads by the hand of God. Today's example in theMr. Mixed Up Bigotry thread. [More Inside]
posted by zpousman to Feature Requests at 1:55 PM (22 comments total)

Just an FYI: I haven't deleted any comments from metafilter today.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 2:02 PM on December 14, 2003

I propose a small (dark blue?) line that just states "comment removed: [reason]." In the event that many comments are removed, as it looks to be the case in this thread, a single indicator is probably enough, though maybe people would like to see a total number.

I believe that this thread is all but un-followable as it is. I think it would be nice if readers were notified that comments were deleted, so that comments that lose their meaning could at least be put into context. Besides, what could anil have said to get a comment axed?

<also>Oh, and a spotted pony, too. Sorry to make a feature request. I fear the pain.</also>

Technical considerations: I don't know how Matt is currently removing the comments. If it's not automated, then this might be more trouble than it's worth. If Matt is just hacking through the HTML in the DB, then this feature request means more work for the Haughey, so I'll stand down. If the deletions could be noted automagically, then I'm all for it.

Social Considerations: I don't think that this should or would become a way for Matt to chastise us or mother over the threads. It's just a way to know that a single comment or multiple comments were deleted. I am not even sure that having [reason] explanations is even necessary.

I do think that the deletion notice should not go at the top of the thread, where deleted threads are shown. It should be called out at the position of the deletion. Perhaps a single line of asterisk for a single deletion and three asterisks in a row to denote multiple missing comments (of any number greater than one).

[On preview: Oh. Hrm. Then that thread is just plain wierd I guess. But still, I want a pony.]
posted by zpousman at 2:09 PM on December 14, 2003

zpousman, it's actually a reference to anil's link to the story from his own blog.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 2:15 PM on December 14, 2003

who the fuck is anil?
posted by eastlakestandard at 6:25 PM on December 14, 2003

anvil.
posted by pemulis at 6:42 PM on December 14, 2003

who the fuck is anil?

just another famous-for-no-reason blogger. he lives in NYC. i guess that gives him cred.
posted by quonsar at 6:55 PM on December 14, 2003

Come on you guys, where's your holiday spirit? Anil is good people, most of the time, anyway, and knows a lot about blogging & other aps. IIRC, he works for Ben & Mena now.
posted by Lynsey at 9:18 PM on December 14, 2003

*inserts finger in mouth, makes popping sound and whoop-tee-do motions*
posted by quonsar at 9:29 PM on December 14, 2003

And yet, quonsar, your endless, inane, and patently ridiculous thoughts somehow warrant posting, everyday, repeatedly?

Learn something new everyday.
posted by BlueTrain at 10:41 PM on December 14, 2003

choo-choo!
posted by quonsar at 11:58 PM on December 14, 2003

IIRC, he works for Ben & Mena now.

WOW! What A Guy, That Changes Everything!

*inserts finger in mouth, makes gagging motions*
posted by Dreamghost at 12:35 AM on December 15, 2003

What did the poor guy do but exist? quonsar, I might have to start capitalizing your name if this sort of thing doesn't stop.
posted by konolia at 4:01 AM on December 15, 2003

who the fuck are Ben and Mena?
posted by eastlakestandard at 12:48 PM on December 15, 2003

ben and mena brought the world the joys of mass "blogging", by combining breakthrough technology like textarea tags with a stunningly sublime implementation of FTP (gasp!) and a mindblowingly clever link to a database so that those with nothing to say could say it to lots of people who aren't reading what they don't have to say. now all those people don't need to know anything to say whatever unimportant comes to "mind".
posted by quonsar at 1:30 PM on December 15, 2003

But at least it keeps them from saying it to you directly, quonsar, so you should be more grateful.
posted by dg at 1:55 PM on December 15, 2003

are you kidding?!?! the loss deprives me of great material!
posted by quonsar at 2:06 PM on December 15, 2003

just another famous-for-no-reason blogger.

Whereas I'm a not famous-for-no-reason blogger, of course.
posted by feelinglistless at 2:20 PM on December 15, 2003

Anil Dash is quite important to many in the blogging community.

I agree with BlueTrain, which is no common thing. Quonsar, why be so nasty?
posted by Kafkaesque at 3:11 PM on December 15, 2003

because people keep capitalizing my q.
posted by quonsar at 6:14 PM on December 15, 2003

Anil Dash is a guy?
posted by angry modem at 9:12 PM on December 15, 2003

I don't know, is he?
Wear your "I don't even know the gender of a-list bloggers" badge with pride, citizens.
posted by Jimbob at 11:29 PM on December 15, 2003

In terms of LOTR, Anil is one of the Fellowship. You and I are nameless Orcs.
posted by thirteen at 11:18 AM on December 16, 2003