Allowing deletions on a discussion board is a bad idea. A dissatisfied person should not be able to trash context and history and public conversations going back years in some misguided attempt to reclaim privacy that never existed in the first place.
This sounds harsh but I've been in one too many old forum posts that were rendered incomprehensible due to some selfish person. Think before you post and it'll never be a problem.
> in some misguided attempt to reclaim privacy that never existed in the first place
From the Guidelines: "Don't say things you wouldn't say in a face-to-face conversation."
With a face-to-face conversation you have better privacy after the conversation is over than you do on HN. I would prefer a forum that offers this privacy. I'm ready to join one.
This sounds harsh but I've been in one too many old forum posts that were rendered incomprehensible due to some selfish person. Think before you post and it'll never be a problem.