[RFC] Remove unnecessary permissions

[A_Jelly_Doughnut]

There is AND logic between the setting and whether the user has the specified permission (i.e. the user must have the permission AND the setting must be on AND the user must have censoring disabled in order to not filter words).

A few others for consideration:

Can Save Drafts (u_savedrafts) [if you can post/send PM, you can save a draft]
Can Alter Jabber Settings (a_jabber) [suggest: merging with a_server]

Perhaps merge some of the PM permissions with their posting brethren?
For example, merge u_attach with u_attachpm?

[imkingdavid]

Can Save Drafts (u_savedrafts) [if you can post/send PM, you can save a draft]
Can Alter Jabber Settings (a_jabber) [suggest: merging with a_server]

Added to first post.

[t_backoff]

I'm surprised to see team members here "yaying" the u_chgcensors removal (especially since it's used at .com). I would perfer to keep it, because an administrator might want to allow only certain users to change word censors and not others.

I'm game for the others though.

[imkingdavid]

I'm surprised to see team members here "yaying" the u_chgcensors removal (especially since it's used at .com). I would perfer to keep it, because an administrator might want to allow only certain users to change word censors and not others.

I'm game for the others though.

Well technically, the permission does not allow users to "change" the censors, only disable it. I just don't see the need to keep people from disabling it on an individual level. But if we want to leave it in, that's fine. I just wanted to point out any permissions I found extraneous.

[DavidIQ]

I don't really see the point of disabling a user's choice of them disabling their own censoring settings. And no we don't use that permission on phpbb.com unless you call "using" it having it set to something other than the default (allowing users to disable word censors for themselves). You can find his setting under "Display Options" in the UCP.

[t_backoff]

And no we don't use that permission on phpbb.com unless you call "using" it having it set to something other than the default (allowing users to disable word censors for themselves)

I apologize, I don't remember having the option to disable word censors before I was promoted to the Support Team. I'll take your word for it. Thanks for the clarification!

[Oleg]

I don't know about removing f_subscribe. Maybe some BOFH-type admins actually use it?

With the censors I think we can always allow users to view uncensored board (i.e. remove the permission and operate as if it was set to "yes" for everyone).

[Oleg]

I think the question here is whether we want to remove meaningful, if obscure, permissions vs only removing permissions that make no sense and/or are entirely pointless.

Pointless permissions:

u_pm_delete - its only use is to play a cruel joke on someone
f_print and u_pm_printpm - one can always print the page, print it without a stylesheet or print it with their own stylesheet
u_pm_forward - if one can send messages one can simply create a new message with desired recipients and content

Permissions that do have a purpose:

u_savedrafts - I almost put this into the previous category because one can always save drafts in their favorite text editor, but then I remembered that drafts take up server space.
f_subscribe - if one can't subscribe they have to physically visit the forum to see if anything got posted, which some admins may find desirable
u_pm_download - for whatever reason we treat attachments in private messages differently from attachments in posts, to the point where I believe attachments in private messages are not even allowed by default.
u_chgcensors - if one runs a board for pg-13 audience one may want to prohibit everyone from seeing censored words. Also, there are boards in competitive settings where they censor their competition, in such cases admins may not want to allow users to uncensor the board.

[imkingdavid]

u_savedrafts - I almost put this into the previous category because one can always save drafts in their favorite text editor, but then I remembered that drafts take up server space.

I hadn't considered that, but it's a good point.

u_pm_download - for whatever reason we treat attachments in private messages differently from attachments in posts, to the point where I believe attachments in private messages are not even allowed by default.

Attachments in private messages are harder to regulate since only the sender and recipient can see them, so I suppose it makes sense to be able to turn it off for users in PMs but not necessarily in posts as well.

u_chgcensors - if one runs a board for pg-13 audience one may want to prohibit everyone from seeing censored words. Also, there are boards in competitive settings where they censor their competition, in such cases admins may not want to allow users to uncensor the board.

If you want to prohibit it, disable the setting, but there's no need for a permission as well.

[t_backoff]

u_chgcensors - if one runs a board for pg-13 audience one may want to prohibit everyone from seeing censored words. Also, there are boards in competitive settings where they censor their competition, in such cases admins may not want to allow users to uncensor the board.

If you want to prohibit it, disable the setting, but there's no need for a permission as well.

No, because as an administrator, I may want to see the uncensored words while prohibiting normal users from seeing them. I feel really strongly about this permission!