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Bizarre event relating to a deleted member

Sporadic Sparkly

Yesterday, I had been reading a post in the forums that had been started by a deleted member. 

Based on things I've read here on this site, if a member e-mails communitymanager@NAS.org.uk requesting their account be deleted, they will be given the choice of having their account permanently closed, which, unless I'm mistaken means that their member profile is removed from the site. Alternatively, they can choose to have their account 'paused', in the event that they may want to return and reactivate their membership at a later date.

Now, I am aware that due to a design flaw, it is possible for members to create the impression that they are a deleted member, simply by changing their NAS username to 'Deleted User'. However, I was somewhat surprised, to say the least, when I suddenly noticed the deleted member was online. The green light signaling that this member was online was a bit of a giveaway.

Obviously, it is none of my business how other members wish to use their accounts unless the members are in fact spambots, or just want to deliberately cause trouble. However, it just struck me as rather odd that a member who had gone to the effort of creating the impression they were a deleted member, would then actively choose to 'blow their cover' by appearing online. To my mind, if someone has gone to the effort of creating the illusion they are no longer an active member, it tends to suggest that (for whatever reason) they don't want other members to know they are still here. Hence why I found it so odd, and dare I say disconcerting.

Edited to add: I feel it would be wise not to speculate on the identity of the deleted member. Also, even if you're certain you know the identity of this member, please can I request that no mention is made of anything they may have stated in the posts they had created elsewhere on the forums, as I do not feel it would be helpful. Thank you!

  • Sometimes if a person can't get back into an email account that was linked to the account on here they may have to just delete  and start again..its happened to me on a few sites.

  • I noticed this too and yes should not be able to happen ideally, hopefully mods will tweak system so it can't happen in the future.

  • For the benefit of those who have already commented here, I have edited my original post, which now includes a request. The purpose of my post had not been to draw attention to the deleted member, as such, but more to focus the attention on behaviour that I had found rather baffling.

    I would like to thank for making some good points.

  • in reply to Caelus

    Maybe some water under the bridge would be best for now, bearing in mind *everyone's* mental wellbeing. Please? We have a chance here to let things settle.

  • yeah they are still here, i looked at their account during a argument with what i assume was their other multi-accounts and realised it isnt a deleted user it just changed the name to deleted user.

    also their entire arguments of them and their suspected multi-accounts were full of plot holes... which i kept calling out as i found it suspicious, ontop of their blanket accusations they all spouted that the nas community in general was bullying them, without evidence or clarification of who...

  • Just want to say that while I can see Sparkly's good intentions here and understand the query, maybe it's best just left alone on this occasion. I have a feeling that the person in question just wanted to signal via their changed user name that they presently intend to no longer actively/publicly post, just be 'still here, but quiet' (as Dogtooth once put it) - and I suspect largely absent while recovering from some relived trauma - but would still like to have the option to keep in contact with a private online friend or two who they'd prefer not to entirely cut themselves adrift from. 

    To that end, maybe we should just take the situation to be the same as 'hibernating' or 'away' or any of the other built-into-the-name signifiers of present coping mode that have harmlessly denoted open ended dormancy but in this case with the door left only lightly ajar. Where these potential lifelines are concerned, perhaps we should just tread carefully, let them fade into the collective background on the public side unless and until they change the name again. Does that sound reasonable?  

  • Well...... I appear to have two accounts too, as I could never sign info my old one after the rules were changed. I'd be happy for Nexus9 to be retired for good, then I could rechristen This current one as nexus9.

    Someone here had a real go at me a couple of years out of the blue. I was trying to sign off for good too, but another member got in touch over that. It seemed almost impossible to be deleted, I must say.... 

    I saw the thread where these issues were being fought out yesterday was pulled, after returning later, but maybe..........

    Ours is not to reason why 

    If it got sorted out. And it does appear to be sorted out. 

    I agree, it does look pretty dodgy if it is possible to just called yourself 'deleted member' as a moniker, if in fact you are still very much here. But us could be that this is indeed a out someone just taking a break. 

    Sparkly, have you expressed these concerns to the powers that be? 

  • in reply to Roy

    Yes, I'm 99.9% sure that you do know the account I'm referring to. Wink

    Also, I am inclined to agree with the rest of your comment.

  • in reply to Robert124

    In the 12 months or so that I've been here, there has thankfully only been one occasion when I seriously contemplated requesting my account be deleted. I'm glad I didn't. Like you, if it gets too much, I try to take a step back and hibernate.

  • A glitch in the system allows more than one account with the same name, I think I know the account you mean. That person I also think is using two accounts. The giveaway is if you click onto the name the friend list is still active and their points. The green light is another indicator of use, I would prefer a deleted user name be used just by the mods for deleted accounts.  Thinking autistic people won’t look into something in detail is often a mistake.

  • This situation has been repeated many times over the years.

    I myself have felt like leaving this site and deleting my identity because I've been so upset by the comments of the people here.  In the end I just didn't visit the site for a few days/weeks.