how to cancel threads??

[sapphire68]

How do I cancel a thread that I've started if it's no longer something I wish to discuss?

[sereneiders]

You cannot.

A forum purpose is to gather the collective experience people share and publish it for others who may come afterwards having a similar problem to face.

This is usefull because not allways the ones able to give a valuable hint are there to answer your specific question, and even so they have the chance to add their two cents afterwards. Besides this, most of us aren't here to spend time dealing with problems on an one to one basis, starting over again for with the next one bringing the same questions. What makes our effort valuable is the fact that our comments will remain there, and hopefully, will be helpfull to many other people besides the original poster.

But, just FYI, this is something you'll find out in most, if not all, the forums in the Internet, because it's a resource meant to squeeze up to the last drop of juice from people's experience.

And I guess our host, Julie, would say something pretty close to this. Am I wrong?

[sapphire68]

Originally Posted by sereneiders

because it's a resource meant to squeeze up to the last drop of juice from people's experience.

I don't feel that is what I was doing.

Most message boards I am a member at do have an option to cancel threads. But that's fine. I'll just unsubscribe if I have to.

[good times]

Sereneiders is correct, we do not delete threads. And while their probably are other forums that have a way for you to cancel or delete your thread, most don't. The reason for that is when a person answers someones question or comments on a thread or post he not only does it for that person in particular but also for anyone else who may have the same question, now or in the future. If we deleted threads it wouldn't be long before no one would waste there time posting anymore. Lets face it, one on one interaction is much more efficiently accomplished over the phone or in person than on an internet forum.

[JustAskJulie]

Sereneiders pretty well summed it up. The idea is that while you may be "done" with a thread, it may still help others in the future. Threads generally are not removed from this site for any reason. If it's an issue where you don't want to get email notices that there are new posts you can turn that option off by unsubscribing to the thread.

[LikeMinds321]

I would also like to add that it is extremely helpful to every member when you can look back on a member's previous posts. It let's me know more about them and how to better understand who they are, where they have been, and how they are changing in their experiences and views.

It helps me know how to better answer questions posted in new threads they start too, because I've often discovered there can be more to the story if you can review a person's past issues relayed in their previous posts.

LM