Anyone elses private topics just disappear? Yes. The category is gone. AnandTech Moderator

[Haircut]

It seems that the private topics category has just disappeared.

Anyone else got this or just me?

---

Private Topics are gone. Sorry, but members were grossly abusing the Private Topics forum with warez and porn links. We do not allow porn on the forums, and we will not allow our forums to be used to share illegal software.

We know some very good threads and information were lost. We can only blame those who would abuse our forums this way. They spoiled a good thing for evereyone else.

Sorry. It will NOT be reinstated.

AnandTech Moderator

 

[guyver01]

This was a post in Forum Issues:

=======================
can't find it with the search, on my 'today' page or in the private topics forum. Am I hallucinating again?

---

Yes, it was deleted, and so are all Private Topics.

AnandTech Moderator

 

[guyver01]

they probably finally figured out "private" topics are normally used for immoral or illegal material.

 

[Maverick]

damn that sucks...oh well.

 

[Ryan]

I started a thread in FI about it

 

[guyver01]

Here's your answer:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=42&threadid=1095336

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: guyver01
they probably finally figured out "private" topics are normally used for immoral or illegal material.

Defeats the purpose of something actually being private.

 

[loup garou]

I knew that would happen. Talk about a bad idea...

 

[Haircut]

Originally posted by: pulse8

Originally posted by: guyver01
they probably finally figured out "private" topics are normally used for immoral or illegal material.

Defeats the purpose of something actually being private.

Yeah, it was obvious from the start that some people would use them for stuff like that, if it was something that concerned them the feature should never have been activated to begin with.

 

[Czar]

damnit:| I was going to start using it ... for good, not evil

 

[BigSmooth]

That really sucks. I didn't use it for any "unsavory" reason (although we were explicitly told they wouldn't be moderated).
People are dumb for using AT to swap porn and warez, but I wish the mods could just have removed all of the offending threads and posted a warning that Private Topics should not be used in that manner.

Instead, everything has suddenly been deleted. What bothers me is that there were threads with useful information, like the exercise/fitness thread.

<sigh> I understand the reasoning, but I wish it would have been handled a little better.

 

[leung324]

I noticed about the waerz issue too with the BT private topic I had.

 

[Maverick]

This is homeland security in effect

 

[Fausto]

Wow. That sucks. My fitness thread had several regular contributors. :|

 

[RossMAN]

It would have been nice to have some warning but I understand their reasoning behind it.

 

[Haircut]

Originally posted by: BigSmoothI wish it would have been handled a little better.

Like pretty much everything else on these forums. Sometimes it seems that they don't want anyone to come to the site at all the way they treat us :|

 

[Entity]

Originally posted by: Fausto1
Wow. That sucks. My fitness thread had several regular contributors. :|

I just registered http://www.geekfitness.com and will be starting up forums as soon as DNS propogates. Announcement pending.

Rob

 

[GiLtY]

Originally posted by: Fausto1
Wow. That sucks. My fitness thread had several regular contributors. :|

Yeah! I just posted something there last night too..

darn it..

--GiLtY

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Entity

Originally posted by: Fausto1
Wow. That sucks. My fitness thread had several regular contributors. :|

I just registered http://www.geekfitness.com and will be starting up forums as soon as DNS propogates. Announcement pending.

Rob

Nice!

:beer:

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: Haircut

Originally posted by: pulse8

Originally posted by: guyver01
they probably finally figured out "private" topics are normally used for immoral or illegal material.

Defeats the purpose of something actually being private.

Yeah, it was obvious from the start that some people would use them for stuff like that, if it was something that concerned them the feature should never have been activated to begin with.

We can't expect the mods to be fair or reasonable about private topics - they never have been that way before about any issue.

 

[fastz28]

At least move the non-offending thread out to OT so the info isn't lost.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: Entity

Originally posted by: Fausto1
Wow. That sucks. My fitness thread had several regular contributors. :|

I just registered http://www.geekfitness.com and will be starting up forums as soon as DNS propogates. Announcement pending.

Rob

Nice!

:beer:

Damn no one ever told me about a private topic fitness thread!!!

Great domain, I can't wait for your forums to be online and ready.

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: Entity

Originally posted by: Fausto1
Wow. That sucks. My fitness thread had several regular contributors. :|

I just registered http://www.geekfitness.com and will be starting up forums as soon as DNS propogates. Announcement pending.

Rob

:heart:

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: Fausto1
Wow. That sucks. My fitness thread had several regular contributors. :|

Agreed Fausto1. There was some good information in that thread.

 

[shiner]

Seems like a bit of an overreaction to me. If there was a problem punish those responsible. This is just a case of punishing everyone due to the actions of a few.

It sucks, but what are you going to do? These forums are not exactly a democracy.