Why did all my posts disappear?

[OnTheRoad]

I have been on the board for a week or so now, and for the second time, all of my posts and threads have disappeared, and my profile says I have zero posts. Did I do something wrong to make this happen? Did I do something that triggered a deletion?

[Jeremy Kelsall]

Chances are good that your posts were in a thread that got deleted...therefore resetting your post count.

[Alexa Smith]

Jeremy's probably right, but I think you need to open a Helpdesk ticket to ask, perhaps, rather than inviting other members to guess?

[I.M.Retired]

Were your posts one or two words only? If you posted something like 'interesting' or 'will consider' or other such non-contributing remarks, chances are someone reported you and the posts were deleted.

Many new people come to the forum and try to boost their post numbers by adding a response to a thread that doesn't contribute anything to the thread being discussed. This is a real no-no on the Warrior Forum. Other members will report these posts and the moderator will remove them.

If you posts contain self promotion, advertising, or affiliate links, they will also be deleted.

Otherwise, what Jeremy suggested could be exactly what happened.

[Rapido]

Where your posts one liners?

I haven't been here long, but having read a few threads, it looks to me that adding helpful and constructive content is the order of the day.

People who post one line junk to boost their post count seem to have been a real problem.

Rapido

[BrianMcLeod]

MOST LIKELY: Threads you posted were either deleted or a moderator zapped a string of one-liners (new members do this to run up their post count).

[seasoned]

Originally Posted by alexa_s

Jeremy's probably right, but I think you need to open a Helpdesk ticket to ask, perhaps, rather than inviting other members to guess?

WE have to guess because we didn't see the other posts. I bet one really hits home with OnTheRoad though. If that is the case, s/he should leave the helpdesk alone.

OnTheRoad,

If it is likely to cause a lot of fighting, spam, doesn't add ANYTHING, or in a thread with those, it may get deleted. Add something worthwhile, to a worthwhile thread, and posts will stay.

Steve

[Barbara Eyre]

Also, any posts made here in the Off Topic forum are not added to your post count.

[seasoned]

Originally Posted by Barbara Eyre

Also, any posts made here in the Off Topic forum are not added to your post count.

That explains why my post count hasn't gone up much. 8-(

[OnTheRoad]

Oh ok, so it sounds like if I just said, "This is helpful information, thanks" then the post might have been deleted? Didn't realize that thanking someone made me a spammer......I guess I'll have to be more wordy in my responses to people. Am I understanding that correctly?

[Michael Oksa]

Originally Posted by OnTheRoad

Oh ok, so it sounds like if I just said, "This is helpful information, thanks" then the post might have been deleted? Didn't realize that thanking someone made me a spammer......I guess I'll have to be more wordy in my responses to people. Am I understanding that correctly?

If you just want to say thanks, click the Thanks button, that's why it's there.

It's great to express gratitude. Agreeing with a post just because you agree? Click the Thanks button. However, if there is a specific reason why you are grateful, make a comment.

Not so good: Thanks, that makes sense.
Better: Thanks for that tip. I've been beating my head against my monitor for the last three days trying to figure that out. It will really come in handy when I try setting up my next squeeze page.

~M~

[OnTheRoad]

Originally Posted by Michael Oksa

If you just want to say thanks, click the Thanks button, that's why it's there.

It's great to express gratitude. Agreeing with a post just because you agree? Click the Thanks button. However, if there is a specific reason why you are grateful, make a comment.

Not so good: Thanks, that makes sense.
Better: Thanks for that tip. I've been beating my head against my monitor for the last three days trying to figure that out. It will really come in handy when I try setting up my next squeeze page.

~M~

Ok, this all makes sense, and I appreciate the clarification. I'm still confused though, because most of my posts (and I'm talking about a total of maybe 10+) were more along the lines of "does it make more sense to advertise for writing jobs here or on elance or a place like that?" which seems to me to be a valid question for discussion?

[R Hagel]

Originally Posted by OnTheRoad

Ok, this all makes sense, and I appreciate the clarification. I'm still confused though, because most of my posts (and I'm talking about a total of maybe 10+) were more along the lines of "does it make more sense to advertise for writing jobs here or on elance or a place like that?" which seems to me to be a valid question for discussion?

I didn't see your posts, so I can't comment directly. However, based on what you said above, then it's likely they were deleted because they looked like thinly veiled advertisements.

See, we get lots of folks here that say something like:

"I have this GREAT ebook that will teach you how to make $10,839.28 within the next 24 hours. It will freakin' BLOW YOUR MIND -- and just wait until your banker sees the big hordes of cash you start depositing! So... can I sell my secret system here?"

Naturally, that kind of post gets people replying and asking for more information about the system. And the thread turns into an advertisement for the product with people asking for the order button, etc. In other words, the person is practically running a WSO.

So, maybe your posts were leaning that way.

Again, just guessing as I didn't see them.

Cheers,
Becky

[seasoned]

Yeah, some here assume a LOT of stuff is advertisements.

Because of all the spamming here, you can ONLY advertise in your sig and EVEN THERE it should be normal print, no more than a few lines, and have no affiliate links.

So does it make sense to advertise here? SURE, but your ONLY avenue right now is the sig line, and it doesn't make sense to ask if it is better. TRY IT! If you fail, you have lost NOTHING.

BTW some consider even ONE, in this case, spamming. NOBODY would think 10+ were anything BUT spamming.

Steve

[OnTheRoad]

I think I understand what you're saying, but it would be pretty hard for me to be selling something, since I have nothing to sell. Obviously i can't show you these posts, as they've been deleted now, but I'm pretty sure that you wouldn't think these were spam. Didn't mean to imply that I'm talking about ten identical posts - I meant ten different posts. No offense guys, but this feels like a sort of secret club where everyone is selling each other something, but there are secret rules to keep new people out.

[Kay King]

There are rules - and many start posting without reading them. There are some unwritten rules, too, and if you are posting what you think is a simple question and elaborate too much, it may be seen as an ad.

I saw one thread like that yesterday - don't know if it was yours or not. The poster talked about his experience, his pricing, etc and it came across as an ad for his services, not a simple question about placing an ad. I didn't zap it but wouldn't be surprised if other writers did.

You'll do better if you participate in discussions here before trying to sell to members as people buy from those they've come to know and trust. It's not unfair - it's the way things are.

You need to realize that a common practice on forums is to join and immediately start trying to promote a product or service - and the posts get zapped. You must not have done anything terrible - because sometimes the people get zapped, too - and you are still here.

kay

[seasoned]

Originally Posted by OnTheRoad

No offense guys, but this feels like a sort of secret club where everyone is selling each other something, but there are secret rules to keep new people out.

It WAS!!!!!! TODAY, it is simply not secret, but there are MORE rules because people abused it! Try running a decent forum YOURSELF, or take a look at some others, and you will see! I am in one forum, for example, that some IDIOTS always SPAM with "OEM" software ads, and certain drug ads.

BTW ONTHEROAD! ANOTHER set of rules was passed TODAY!

1. You MUST be a PAID member, OR....
2. NO WSOs!
3. REDUCED PMs.
4. etc....

Steve