Should members have the ability to delete posts?

Well, I know I'm against this idea because I believe only staff members should be able to delete posts, and not members because if you tick off a member, they could just delete their posts - and imagine if that user was active with thousands of posts.

How do you feel about this?

 

If the edit time limited effected the ability to soft delete a post or not I'd enable it.

 

I think the edit button should be limited to about 2 weeks.

 

I limit it to 24 hours on one board where most members are trust worthy. If there's ever an issue vB has the post history feature now.

 

We do not give members the option to edit or delete their posts.

 

Same here,
I'm fine with members soft-deleting posts between the time period they posted and 24 hours.

If they're leaving and deleted all of their topics/posts, it can surely leave the forums in a mess,

 

I've never given members the options to delete their own post.

 

Absolutely not. Once posted, posts/threads are the property of the website. Like you said, imagine a disgruntled, long term member. deleting hundreds (thousands) of posts. In my opinion, not worth taking the chance that someone will swiss-cheese your forum.

 

No, no, no [insert a gazillion of no's]

I had people delete their posts years ago. I had people edit their posts until it was impossible for me to follow their arguments. These are the troublemakers who'll do their best to ruin your community or 'pay' you back for warning them. In my forums NO ONE deletes posts but me and all members can edit a post for 30 minutes since posted. Afterward I'm the only one to work on their content, edit or delete.