nathank proposes that Trust Level 4 (TL4) users should be allowed to merge posts, as they often have to deal with users posting multiple times in quick succession. Currently, merging posts is only possible for admins, mods, and category mods. Allowing TL4s to merge posts would help keep discussions tidy and organized.
Additionally, nathank suggests introducing a reversible merge feature, which would allow mods and admins to “unmerge” posts if needed. This feature would be particularly useful for TL4s, who would also benefit from the ability to merge posts.
darkpixlz agrees that TL4s should be able to merge posts, suggesting that this feature could be added to the post-wrench menu. not-ethan raises concerns about the potential impact on other users involved in the discussion, but notes that TL4s already have various moderation powers.
The discussion also touches on the technical feasibility of implementing reversible merge, with not-ethan mentioning a pending PR that would solve the issue of TL4s not being able to delete posts.
I’m a TL4 here on meta.discourse.org and I’d love the ability to merge posts. It is quite common to have a user post multiple times in quick succession, when an edit of their first topic would do the job oh so much cleaner. A nice little merge makes a whole lot of tidy, keeping neat freaks like me happy.
It isn’t really feasible to promote those like me to mod, nor is it desirable to have my ilk as a series of category mods (think of the mess on the /about page!).
Merging isn’t (very) destructive, and all the text is retained (also in the edit history). It would seem a nice thing to grant to TL4s.
Part 2 - Reversible Merge
Now as a mod / admin on other forums, I’ve sometimes merged a few posts and then regretted it.
Unfortunately, while possible to unpick (at least partially), it is not pretty. One must move off the posts below, add in a new post, drop in the text, change the owner, and then fiddle with the dates. And still the likes / replies are a bit messed up.
It would be brilliant to be able to ‘Unmerge’. It would also be good for those TL4s above!
Well TL4 can already lock, unlist, archive, edit, make wiki, and some more that can all be seen that they did it by normal users.
Yea I would agree the post-wrench with a button that says unmerge and I would say there should be a popup saying that you want to unmerge to prevent unintended notifications going to the user.
