Resolved Question

Should people be able to delete answers to their questions?

People ask questions and if they get answers that they don't like; legitimate answers that simply take a different viewpoint to that of the asker; they delete the answer.
If people only want answers that tell them they are right, why do they ask the question on a public forum?
I often answer a question suggesting that an oposing viewpoint to that of the asker should be considered. I'm sometimes rewarded for my time and efforts by having my answers deleted. Right is often a matter of perception.
Does anyone agree that people shouldn't be able to delete answers and comments that others have gone to some effort to provide? Or is everyone else happy with a fairy land of pixie dust and angels, where you're always good and right and everyone agrees with you, always?

Posted 4 months ago

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ether83

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

I didn't know you could delete answers (never asked a question) but I agree.

If an answer is totally inappropriate, then the staff should be notified to delete it but giving questioners the option to delete (unrestricted) seems counterproductive to a Q&A site.

Posted 4 months ago

Other 7 Answers to Should people be able to delete answers to their questions?

StarrRavena	Posted Jul 24th, 2009 at 9:39AM There should always be the option, but people shouldn't be so willing to delete because they don't agree. Deletion should be saved for rudeness, extreme cases of insensitivity (and sometimes maybe even for a case of terrible spelling/grammar - just kidding of course) Rated: +3Vote for this!
RedRover	Posted Jul 22nd, 2009 at 11:30AM If it's a legitimate answer to a legitimate question, I'll personally let it stand. If it's a blatantly personal attack that has little or nothing to do with a legitimate question, then it's just an insult, which is why the delete feature is enabled in the first place. Rated: +2Vote for this!
dubkebab	Posted Jul 24th, 2009 at 9:40AM I had my feelings hurt recently when I poured out a personal opinion based on factual experience opposing someone's viewpoint here-ok,I was a bit snippy,but the question was very presumtuious and offensive to me.Instead of debating or even letting my opposing viewpoint stand,this person hit a button and wiped my informed discourse off the map.damn.my first EP feud,what fun.But heck,let 'em edit their posts,I shouldn't care so much or get steamed when some(insert personal swipe here)doesn't want to listen.but I wish others could have seen my straight to the point answer,that would have been healthy.can I retrieve it?still pretty new to EP-and loving it. Rated: +2Vote for this!
soursweet	Posted Jul 22nd, 2009 at 10:39AM Yep, I'm aware this is difficult to keep that site fairly --or fairily-- harmonious, as opposed to other cynical networking sites where people just vent and diss. After all the aim of this site is to help people feel good about themselves, this ,I'm afraid, implies censorship. Maybe a better policy would be to encourage people to talk together, make their statements more explicit when they are considered hurtful, with a symbol like a question mark. Rated: +1Vote for this!
LawRaJayne	Posted Jul 22nd, 2009 at 11:01AM i agree with that yes. but it depends on how people put their point across isn't it. sometimes on my questions, it's nice to have a different view point, sometimes it changes my own views on things, and it helps. But sometimes i get answers with different view points that come across as aggressive, possibly a different subject altogether, and that's annoyin so i'd rather be able to delete answers like that. because answers like that in a way only make me look stupid. Rated: +1Vote for this!
alicia87	Posted Jul 22nd, 2009 at 12:00PM My answers have been deleted before, and personally I couldn't care less. I don't take internet forums that seriously. I estimate that 5% of people are here to actually learn something, and the other 95% just want to hear that they're right. Or cause drama. Or both. Rated: +1Vote for this!
shf84	Posted Jul 23rd, 2009 at 2:50AM I'll leave up opposing veiw points. The problem is that there are too many people with a smart mouth and they leave up a bunch of sarcastic offensive **** that just spoils it for the asker and ohter readers. There has to be a way to prevent this kind of thing so yes answeres must be deletable Rated: +1Vote for this!

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