Request: Better deletion options for posts & comments on Lemmy.world
https://lemmy.world/post/44104690
Request: Better deletion options for posts & comments on Lemmy.world - Lemmy.World
I’ve noticed something about deletion on Lemmy.world that’s been bothering me,
and I’m hoping this is the right place to ask about it or suggest improvements.
Right now, when a user deletes a post or comment, the deletion is soft: the
content disappears, but a “deleted” placeholder remains, and some apps still
show the original text in reply previews, and federated copies may persist on
other servers. I understand this is how Lemmy works at the platform level, and
that federation makes true hard deletion complicated. But I’m wondering if
Lemmy.world could offer better user‑side deletion tools, or at least explore
options that give users more control over their own content. Here are a few
ideas that might be realistic, low‑effort, and compatible with federation: 1. A
“Classic Delete” option This would remove the content and replace it with a
simple (deleted) marker — no preview text, no ghost remnants. Even if the
placeholder stays for thread structure, the content itself should be fully wiped
from Lemmy.world’s side. 2. Moderator‑assisted deletion If a user deletes their
own post/comment, moderators could receive a small queue entry allowing them to
manually hard‑remove the content from Lemmy.world’s database. This wouldn’t fix
federation, but it would give users more control locally. 3. A “Close Post”
option Instead of deleting, allow users to “close” a post: hides it from their
profile prevents new replies marks it as closed This avoids breaking thread flow
while still giving the user an escape hatch. 4. A privacy‑focused deletion mode
Even if federation can’t guarantee full erasure, Lemmy.world could: wipe the
local copy send deletion requests to other instances and clearly communicate the
limitations This is still better than the current ghost‑comment behavior.
Now I ain’t saying get rid of achievements, I don’t want to pick fights with achievement hunters! I’m saying add a digital privacy policy term when it comes account or game deletion, yes some sites be it console or PC have the right to hide games, but what about deleting or uninstalling a game you could add ‘delete all achievements’ as well? I guess you could say this is more for those perfectionists, just a thought.
But with mods disabling achievements and Cheat Engine (memory editing on PC), Modded firmware on consoles (rare, risky, bannable), Save file editors, Trainer programs, the data for game developers is faulty when it comes to achievements, isn’t it? I’m not asking to get rid of achievements, I’m asking to add a policy to delete one’s achievement history, the data is already faulty as I see it.
Can you say the same for consoles? PlayStation, Xbox etc. I have yet to see a mod that enables achievements on consoles, but that’s a discussion for another post. This thought is of achievements, should we have the option to delete achievement history? From those who care about achievements (Achievement Hunters), to those who don’t even acknowledge achievements (Modders), and I who is concerned with achievement permanence.
Definitely an age thing, I remember a time video games didn’t have achievements, you played the game 'cause you liked the game, game companies kept track by virtue of their sails, now these days it’s how long a player plays, what achievements have been unlocked etc. I keep thinking that it’s OCD, the permanence of the thing, something I can’t change, but maybe you’re right, maybe it’s old age.
I’m not asking to get rid of achievements, I’m asking for a compromise, I’m just questioning the importance of achievements, there are devices and or cheats to unlock all achievements and those who use mods and don’t care for what achievements they have, that’s not reliable developer data. Like my post states I see many sides of this discussion, pro achievements, neutral to achievements, and I guess in my case questioning of achievements. One’s either pro or neutral two game achievements, in truth I have yet to hear anyone who wants achievements GONE, or at the very least an option to clear or delete one’s achievement history, it’s the permanency of the thing for me you see.
People who mod, people who replay games, people who value privacy, people who don’t want a permanent public record, people who uninstall or refund games, people who don’t want their leisure time turned into a scoreboard, people who feel pressure from completion systems, people who simply want the option to not participate.
Are achievements still relevant in 2026—especially when mods disable them?
https://lemmy.world/post/44049361
Are achievements still relevant in 2026—especially when mods disable them? - Lemmy.World
Playing Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition on PC and I hit one of those classic
“Bugthesda” moments: last time this level crashed to desktop with no warning,
and today my screen randomly auto‑adjusted mid‑game and threw my aim and
immersion completely off. I did the usual ritual: check for updates → Microsoft
Store updates → verify game files → repair the library. You know the drill. But
honestly, that’s not the part that’s really stuck in my head. What’s been
gnawing at me is this: in 2026, are achievements still relevant in the way
platforms treat them—especially when mods disable them anyway? A few things
bother me: Mods disable achievements (even on consoles now in some cases), so
for a lot of players they’re already meaningless mechanically. There’s no way to
opt out. If I don’t want a permanent public record of what I did or didn’t do in
a game, tough luck. Even if I uninstall or refund a game, the partial
achievement list just sits there on my profile forever like a half‑finished
diary I never agreed to publish. What I wish existed is something like: a “no
achievements” mode where I can play purely for the experience, and my
achievement list just shows as “inaccessible/opted out” to others or at least
the ability to hide or erase achievements for specific games if I decide I don’t
want that history attached to me anymore I’m not pretending I can change the
minds of big companies who still design like it’s 2005, but I am genuinely
curious what different types of players think: Achievement hunters: Do you care
if others can opt out, or does that not affect you at all? Mod users (PC and
console): Since mods often disable achievements, do they still matter to you in
any way? Everyone else: Do you ever think about the permanence of your
achievement history, or is it just background noise? Is it time for platforms to
give us a real opt‑out or ephemeral play option, or am I overthinking something
that most people are fine with?
The future of online identity: could Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) finally replace usernames?
https://lemmy.world/post/43903775
The future of online identity: could Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) finally replace usernames? - Lemmy.World
Across the internet, usernames have become permanent markers — even when
accounts are deleted, the names are burned, frozen, or locked away to prevent
impersonation. This creates a strange kind of digital permanence: even when a
person wants a full erasure, a trace of their identity still lingers in the
system. A growing movement in digital identity research is exploring
alternatives. Technologies like Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs), Self‑Sovereign
Identity (SSI), and Verifiable Credentials (VCs) propose a different model where
users control their identity cryptographically instead of relying on
platform‑owned usernames. These systems offer possibilities that current
platforms can’t easily support, including: identities that can be deleted
completely identifiers that can rotate without leaving a permanent trail
impersonation protection without burning usernames user‑controlled identity
wallets platform‑independent authentication Smaller privacy‑focused projects are
already experimenting with these ideas, but major platforms still depend heavily
on usernames for moderation, analytics, and advertising. Moving to DID‑based
identity would require a major shift in how online identity works. As
decentralized identity standards evolve, it raises a cultural question for the
future of the internet: What would online communities look like if usernames
weren’t permanent anymore?
Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) could replace usernames entirely — but major platforms aren’t ready
https://lemmy.world/post/43903616
Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) could replace usernames entirely — but major platforms aren’t ready - Lemmy.World
A growing movement in digital identity research is exploring systems that could
eliminate traditional usernames altogether. Technologies like Decentralized
Identifiers (DIDs), Self‑Sovereign Identity (SSI), and Verifiable Credentials
(VCs) allow users to control their identity cryptographically rather than
through platform‑owned accounts. These systems offer features that current
platforms struggle with, including: complete identity deletion rotation of
identities without leaving permanent traces prevention of impersonation without
burning usernames user‑controlled data storage platform‑independent
authentication Smaller privacy‑focused projects are already experimenting with
these models, but large platforms like Reddit, Facebook, and X still rely
heavily on usernames for moderation, analytics, and advertising. Transitioning
to DID‑based identity would require major architectural changes and a shift in
how platforms handle user data. As decentralized identity standards mature, it
raises an interesting question for the future of online platforms: Will the next
generation of social systems move beyond usernames entirely?
