I don't know if this belongs under Brainstorm or not, but I really think this is needed. Here it goes.

I believe that thread starters should be able to moderate their own thread. I don't mean moving and merging their own threads, I'm just talking about moderating replies. Deleting inappropriate comments mainly.

Too many times I see people go off on tangents. If a thread starter could moderate their own thread, threads could stay on topic much easier.

But then what is to stop someone from just deleting anything they don't agree with? Usually threads will self-correct, but occasionally they will get seriously derailed and a mod will move part/all to off topic.

I see what you're getting at, but I think it just has far too much potential for abuse.

It'll never work. Actually, I'm sure it would only increase the amount of drama and *****ing seen here.

This will only work if implemented in conjunction with PvP TMO!

Seriously though, i don't like the idea. OP is not always the best person to moderate. This may even start another armed race of thread control competition or some such...

Not enough benefit for the potential chaos that it may generate.

I like the idea, but only to a limited extent. Maybe a way for a "thread moderator" to mark a comment "off topic", then allow people to choose how/if they want to view off-topic replies. You could have a "never show", "always show" and "show placeholder" that has a clickable to show the OT comment when clicked?

That prevents OPs from just deleting content they dislike on their thread, but allows them to "filter" things for people who don't want to read all the OT garbage.

That's not a good idea, its a forum and a place where people share their thoughts and not always on topic which is OK. If you dont like they way TMO operates try Apple's official forum where they remove pretty much everything they want/ dont like

I've mentioned it before in this forum, but I really like the way engadget's comment section works. Posters can vote on the usefulness of a comment and if it receives enough negative votes it will disappear from the active view with the text "This post has been downranked into oblivion" or something like that. It does a really good job of filtering out most of the bs IMO.

I'd like to see a thumbs up/thumbs down approach; any comments that are whiney/b1tchy/offtopic can be hidden/deleted once they reach a certain threshold.

I feel the only moderation should be done by the moderators, it's why we have a "Report This" link on each reply.
Freedom of speak is one of the most important things to have in a free society, people should be alowed to express themselves, if not they might leave and then the community will loose.

I'm not dead set on my idea. I just think an OP should have some control over the direction his post takes. Actually maybe not even that far. Like these other people I also like how engadget's comments work with the ranking and autohiding.

Keep in mind that everyone still has the freedom to speak and start new threads. Its just when one person opens a thread that person can moderate what is said.