Conor

Actually, I only discovered the 'delete thread' function pretty recently....I used to delete individual posts at one time to cover my ass if I said something inflammatory or which could get me in trouble. I'm trying to be better as a person (and my sense of right and wrong has improved a bit with the halving of my Xanax dosage). Nowadays, if a thread has gone someplace that I feel is either overwhelmingly negative, or if it has veered so far off the original point as to no longer constitute the intent of the topic, or if it's a thread which on reflection had a flawed premise from the outset (which is most often the case), I delete it. I consider it an act of self-moderation, which shows discipline on my part. Sometimes a thread needs to be aborted after the fact. Sometimes going back and looking over a thread reveals it shouldn't have been made; that the topic only invites division and/or scorn. The forum has this function for a reason...Why shouldn't it be used? If a thread of mine has devolved into a circle-jerk of me being attacked, and defending myself, then for the good of the forum it should be removed. It's neither Orwellian, nor is it reckless or done thoughtlessly on my part. I'm trying to be, as I said, a better person, and also a better poster and member of this forum. It takes work.
 

Deleting posts/threads won't make you a better person.

" .I used to delete individual posts at one time to cover my ass if I said something inflammatory or which could get me in trouble. 

Nothing is more pathetic, than deleting posts in a forum.