# Deleting a user vs suspending?
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/deleting-a-user-vs-suspending/75671
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [08.Декабрь.2017 06:38:34 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/deleting-a-user-vs-suspending/75671 "2017-12-08T06:38:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dylanh724](https://meta.discourse.org/u/dylanh724)
#### Post date: [08.Декабрь.2017 06:38:34 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/deleting-a-user-vs-suspending/75671/1 "2017-12-08T06:38:34Z")
I’m surprised that “delete user” comes up instead of “suspend”. If I delete them, since they aren’t suspended, they can just come back right?
Generally when I catch a spammer, I’d assume suspend/ban would make more sense 😛 but I’m going to guess I’m missing something I’m not understanding.
---
### Author:  [@Mittineague](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Mittineague)
#### Post date: [08.Декабрь.2017 07:07:05 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/deleting-a-user-vs-suspending/75671/2 "2017-12-08T07:07:05Z")
Deleting an account puts the IP, email address and URLs they may have posted into the corresponding Screened Logs.
AFAIK:
pros - the IPs and email addresses in Screened are used to help stop new accounts from registering using the same IP or email address
cons - the “paper trail” of evidence is gone
The IPs can “roll up” to block IPs within ranges and email addresses have a levenshtein setting.
---
### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [08.Декабрь.2017 07:19:48 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/deleting-a-user-vs-suspending/75671/3 "2017-12-08T07:19:48Z")
> [@dylanh724](#):
>
> I’d assume suspend/ban would make more sense
Why? Then you would carry that account around forever in your site database. Why would you want a spammer in your user list, in any form?
---
### Author:  [@dylanh724](https://meta.discourse.org/u/dylanh724)
#### Post date: [10.Декабрь.2017 13:01:40 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/deleting-a-user-vs-suspending/75671/4 "2017-12-10T13:01:40Z")
> [@codinghorror](#):
>
> Why? Then you would carry that account around forever in your site database. Why would you want a spammer in your user list, in any form?
Delete implies nothing else happens, while suspend implies blockage. That’s pretty much it. If it blocks them in the same sense from creating a dupe account, then perhaps “Delete & Blacklist” sounds more upfront of what it does. Or a tooltip.
---
### Author:  [@ljpp](https://meta.discourse.org/u/ljpp)
#### Post date: [11.Декабрь.2017 19:55:31 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/deleting-a-user-vs-suspending/75671/5 "2017-12-11T19:55:31Z")
To keep a record.
Since IP is hardly any use in identifyining misbehaving individuals, our moderators have developed Sherlock Holmes quality skills in detecting them by usage/writing patterns. Reoccurring issues, themes, slang words, typos…
They have caught a dozen offenders by comparing old and new posts. Having the user handle in the database helps one to remember the case. Some are so stupid that they use similar user handle compositioning with their new accounts.
We always suspend for 9999 days and never delete.
---
### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [11.Декабрь.2017 20:37:01 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/deleting-a-user-vs-suspending/75671/6 "2017-12-11T20:37:01Z")
The delete process for spammers blocks the ip and email, so those can be viewed in Admin, Logs. There is also a staff action logged as well with more info.
That said, what you are describing is griefing, not spamming per se. different scenario.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://meta.discourse.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [12.Февраль.2020 22:56:41 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/deleting-a-user-vs-suspending/75671/7 "2020-02-12T22:56:41Z")
---
### Author:  [@Justin\_Vega](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Justin_Vega)
#### Post date: [13.Февраль.2020 21:53:25 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/deleting-a-user-vs-suspending/75671/8 "2020-02-13T21:53:25Z")
> [@ljpp](#):
>
> Поскольку IP-адрес практически бесполезен для выявления нарушителей, наши модераторы развили навыки детектива Шерлока Холмса, распознавая их по стилю общения и манере письма. Повторяющиеся проблемы, темы, сленг, опечатки…
>
> Сравнивая старые и новые сообщения, они уже поймали дюжину нарушителей. Наличие имени пользователя в базе данных помогает вспомнить дело. Некоторые настолько глупы, что используют похожие конструкции имён для новых аккаунтов.
>
> Мы всегда блокируем на 9999 дней и никогда не удаляем аккаунты.
Я встречал несколько троллей, которые совсем не так глупы (далеко от этого). Если бы я начал подробно объяснять их методы, я бы писал об этом уже давно.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://meta.discourse.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [10.Январь.2024 11:29:51 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/deleting-a-user-vs-suspending/75671/9 "2024-01-10T11:29:51Z")
---
### Author:  [@JammyDodger](https://meta.discourse.org/u/JammyDodger)
#### Post date: [10.Январь.2024 11:32:08 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/deleting-a-user-vs-suspending/75671/10 "2024-01-10T11:32:08Z")