When you reach 10k rep, you get to see other users deleted answers. I just think it's dishonest as a system to call a feature "delete," but show that to totally random strangers in the backroom. Due to the nature of the rep, given enough time, all of the regular users would eventually reach 10k rep, no matter how insensitive or jerk they are.
There's usually a good reason why people hit "delete" to their own work. They regret writing something totally bullshit or maybe they spoke too much about their own work that they shouldn't have.
First of all, is there really a practical reason why 10k rep user should view self-deleted answers?
Does the benefit really outweigh the creepiness? (Imagine if total strangers could see your deleted messages in Gmail?)
What suggestions could we make to change it?
Borrowing from the email metaphor, I think it makes sense for users to "empty trash" so the items gets seriously deleted. Imho, however the deletion is implemented is not important. It could be a soft delete, SQL Delete, or physical destruction of metal plates as long as the user or the 10k rep user no longer sees the deleted item.
What are the workarounds, if we can't change the behavior?
The least we could do is stop calling it "delete" if it's actually not a "delete." Call it "hide from public" or "actually not delete" or something.
Related user voice:
- Remove ability for 10k+ users to view self-deleted posts (declined)
- Implement "empty trash," or rename "delete" to "hide from public"
Edit: Recovery of a deleted-but-good answer is a practical benefit for the community, but I see that as creepy dangerous feature. IMHO, each user should have the rights to take back his or her perfectly good answer, and that the protecting privacy outweighs the benefit or creepiness.
I understand that it's all possible to find things out from Google cache or wherever, but why promote this as default behavior? As 10k rep user, I see others deleted answers by default. @codinghorror wrote:
But like any version control system, deletions are illusory.
Anything and everything that's implemented by human is more or less illusory including phone system and the medical records. Should the government start tapping into phone lines and scanning for words? Remember, this is a question of should had we given the opportunity to design a system.