The moderators receive multiple requests every day to remove posts that people regret having put up on the public forums. As the Terms of Service clearly state, we do not honor such requests. Users need to remember that anything they post, whether on this site, Facebook, etc., will always be there.
Here is an example of what can happen if you forget this lesson:
@absentions, here is the relevant section of the Terms of Service, which you agreed to when you signed up on CC:
"Can My Posts Be Deleted?
Posts are editable for a brief period following posting to allow correction of spelling errors, formatting, etc. After that, members may not edit their own posts. This prevents one member from editing an earlier post in a thread, rendering comments by others irrelevant or seemingly inaccurate. Similarly, we cannot delete posts upon request. Doing so would destroy the integrity of our archive and consume a huge amount of manpower. Therefore, please do not post personal data or other information that could prove to be a problem later."
A user requested a link to the Terms of Service. It is currently not visible on the website, but I’m hoping this link works (I can see it, but I’m not sure about others):
I would like to add to this that it may not take too much identifying information for somebody to be able to figure out who you are in real life. I have “recognized” several people on CC, and several have recognized me. People can put the pieces together if they want to.
Hunt, that happened to me, too! One adult figured out who I am - she was fine and I didn’t mind. But a young person also did, and she posted a few mean things. I was able to figure out who she was, and I was really shocked! She was always sweet in person.
I know just by sharing as much as I do about my sons, I’m easily identifiable, but the risk is worth it for me.
But what about making the info about your children easily identifiable and public? That’s where I have difficulty with so much sharing. They might not agree with your views of how much info could be available or may have changing views about how much info they want out there about themselves.
I have had a problem with this too & as a result have altered some data. I don’t feel great about this as it feels like I am lying but I want to protect confidentiality.
This has happened to me as well, but I share your view MaineLonghorn - by posting very specific information about my S we were able to land him in a great school for free, so this loss of anonymity was absolutely worth it (about quarter of a million dollar ) Plus my S always says once you are online your anonymity is lost anyway
I did consider abandoning CC for a while after one of the posters that recognized me became obviously mean, but I lived through it .
As an important issue as this is there should be a huge visible warning to new members that College Confidential dose not honor such requests. College Confidential dose not seem to have concern for it’s members I guess it can afford to as large as it is.
At least the editing time needs to be longer the hour that it is just is not long enough.
Uh, it’s shown clearly in the Terms of Services when you sign up for CC. But that’s why I put up this thread so prominently, for the people who didn’t take the time to learn the rules.
I’m on another forum where people can edit posts whenever they want to. Some people get cute and edit their posts after someone else has already replied to them. It’s confusing and not fair. That is the reason for the one-hour window. You should look at your post as soon as you make it to see if there’s anything that needs changing.
It’s in the Terms of Services, but that doesn’t make it right. The downside (“People will get cute!”) clearly doesn’t outweigh the upside (“People have much more control over the personal information that they have available on the internet”). This decision you guys have made is clearly a net negative for community members and I wonder why you guys are so adamant about it.
Do a poll of community members. See what they prefer.
This is the only board I’ve seen where you can’t delete your own posts. Another one I read discourages it, but members have the ability to do so. It’s full of younger people who post umm, whiny, stuff and they want to delete after they don’t like the responses they get. Usually by that time, someone has “QFP’ed” them anyway - quoted for posterity. That board’s purpose is nothing at all like CC.
) Plus my S always says once you are online your anonymity is lost anyway 
