From d1e52a2a4240e76b2dae39714124e705e06ca6f8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: per1234 Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2025 08:42:37 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] Document account deletion prohibition in dedicated "Policies" section of "Moderator Instructions" post Previously, this policy was only documented in an admonition in the "Suspend User" procedure. This information will be more effectively communicated by placing it in a dedicated section of the document. That will also establish infrastructure to use when documenting other policies. --- .../_topics/moderator-instructions/1.md | 31 ++++++++++++++++++- 1 file changed, 30 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/content/categories/staff/moderation/_topics/moderator-instructions/1.md b/content/categories/staff/moderation/_topics/moderator-instructions/1.md index a1f9af65..05793f91 100644 --- a/content/categories/staff/moderation/_topics/moderator-instructions/1.md +++ b/content/categories/staff/moderation/_topics/moderator-instructions/1.md @@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ For an overview of the Discourse moderation system, see the "[**Discourse Modera +- [Policies](#policies) + - [Do not delete accounts](#do-not-delete-accounts) - [Flags](#flags) - [User-submitted flags](#user-submitted-flags) - [Review flag](#review-flag) @@ -59,6 +61,33 @@ For an overview of the Discourse moderation system, see the "[**Discourse Modera --- + + +## [Policies](#policies) + +Arduino Forum provides a powerful and flexible moderation interface. You may notice that there are other ways to accomplish a given moderation task than the procedures described in this document. In general, you are welcome to use the procedure that is most convenient to you. However, it is essential that all moderation actions are performed in compliance with our policies: + +--- + + + +### [Do not delete accounts](#do-not-delete-accounts) + +The Arduino company has [a policy](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/about-user-account-deletion-and-user-content-deletion/627095/5) against deleting user accounts. + +--- + +⚠ The "**Delete User**" options the Discourse moderator interface sometimes presents _**must not**_ be used. + +--- + +[Account suspensions](#suspend-account) are used instead of deletion. Suspension accomplishes the same result of preventing an account from using the forum. In addition, suspension is technically superior in several ways: + +- **Reversible:** In the event an error is discovered, suspensions can be easily reversed. Conversely, deletions are irreversible. +- **Records:** Moderators can see valuable information about a user account which may facilitate later moderation work. This information would be lost if the account account was deleted. For example, it is common for users to create a second account to circumvent disciplinary action. The information associated with the previous account allows identification of the second account. + +--- + ## [Flags](#flags) @@ -815,7 +844,7 @@ Account suspensions are used when the intention is to permanently exclude the us --- -⚠ Arduino has [a policy](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/about-user-account-deletion-and-user-content-deletion/627095/5) against deleting accounts, so you must not use the **Delete User** options the Discourse moderator interface often presents. Account suspensions are used instead. Suspensions are reversible in the event an error was discovered, which allows the moderators more freedom to take swift action. +⚠ Arduino has [a policy](#do-not-delete-accounts) against deleting accounts, so you must always suspend instead of deleting accounts. ---