Why can't you delete your own posts (anymore?)

[Brian]

Needs clarification for those who took offense.
Members have ALWAYS been able to edit their own posts. This is necessary to be able to fix spelling/grammatical errors, picture placement or incorrect info. But ALL forums limit the time you can edit for.
This is because there will invariably be people who leave in a huff for some or other reason. Some may be banned, others booted. And you need to prevent them from going back, and editing or removing their old posts, sometimes affecting important posts or threads or adding insults etc. So editing is always allowed only for a short time.
Here, members can edit for 12 hours after posting. As an extra benefit, Gold Members can edit for up to 48 hours, as one of the perks of membership.
NO-ONE was ever supposed to be able to delete their posts though. Across every forum I have come across, this is a no-no for the reasons mentioned above. I have already dealt with the havoc that comes when someone goes back and adds insults or swearing or wipes their post within the allowed time after they storm out. It's not fun, can take weeks to fix.
If people can delete their posts, it would be much worse. They can go back and delete the first post of important topics...deleting the entire thread in the process. They could ruin vast areas of important info.
So on NO forums can people delete posts, just edit them if needed within time constraints.

Recently I discovered by accident that there was a setting for Gold members that allowed them to delete their own posts. Sometimes deleting entire threads. I fixed this. It is a huge danger for the forum. It was a slip-up, and was never intended to be active.
Editing remains as it always was.

So for those who wonder why that isn't an option (and it seems like only a small handful ever even noticed and used it) the answer is above.
For those who take offense to no longer having the option...tough. I'm not opening a dangerous option that can significantly endanger the integrity of the forum so that some can have their way, that isn't even needed. Every forum owner on the net knows this and works pretty much the same. Especially if they want to be around for over 15 years.

Carry on. For most, no change at all. Thank you. This doesn't require debating.