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I posted a question and then deleted it. The text block turned red, and the "delete" button changed into "undelete". Presumably if I click the "undelete" link it will undelete the question; this has worked for me in the past.

But if I visit the same URL in a separate window, I don't see the deleted question or the "undelete" link. Instead, I get "Page Not Found: This question was voluntarily removed by the author – that's you!"

I think I should get the page with the deleted text and the option to undelete.

(The particular post in this case was https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/174286/multiplication-tables-with-all-entries-distinct. I saved the question text locally before I closed the window, so I don't need to have it reinstated, and I don't have any immediate problem that needs to be solved.)

[Addendum: screenshot is here in case it helps anyone else figure out what is going on.]

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  • $\begingroup$ Are you certain that you were logged-in in the separate window/session? If not, you would see the behavior you described. $\endgroup$
    – Bill Dubuque
    Jul 23, 2012 at 18:09
  • $\begingroup$ Completely certain. Look at the error message! It says "This question was voluntarily removed by the author – that's you!" $\endgroup$
    – MJD
    Jul 23, 2012 at 18:10
  • $\begingroup$ Ah, I missed the "that's you". I've never seen that message before. Probably it's because you don't have 10k rep, e.g. see here. $\endgroup$
    – Bill Dubuque
    Jul 23, 2012 at 18:13
  • $\begingroup$ Do you wish for this particular question to be undeleted? If so, I can cast the final undelete vote. $\endgroup$
    – Alex Becker
    Jul 23, 2012 at 22:20
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks, but I deleted it on purpose. As I said, I saved the text, I don't need to have it reinstated, and there is no immediate problem that needs to be solved. I would prefer if it were not undeleted, but if it is, I will delete it again until I am ready to repost it myself. $\endgroup$
    – MJD
    Jul 23, 2012 at 23:28
  • $\begingroup$ Looks like an interesting question. I hope you do repost it. $\endgroup$
    – Gerry Myerson
    Jul 23, 2012 at 23:49
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks, I will. $\endgroup$
    – MJD
    Jul 24, 2012 at 0:03
  • $\begingroup$ Did you ever repost? $\endgroup$
    – Gerry Myerson
    Apr 27, 2019 at 0:17
  • $\begingroup$ Here it is. $\endgroup$
    – MJD
    Apr 27, 2019 at 22:41

1 Answer 1

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See the meta.SO page on deleted questions, in particular this section:

Immediately after you delete a question, it will change color to indicate that it is deleted, and an undelete link will appear. If you have less than 10k reputation, you will not be able to see the link — or any part of the question — after you leave the page.

Opening a new browser window and trying to view the question, even not having left the question in the original window, appears to function as if you were coming back to it after having left.

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  • $\begingroup$ Okay, that is an acknowledgement, but not an explanation, or even an excuse. $\endgroup$
    – MJD
    Jul 23, 2012 at 18:20
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    $\begingroup$ I don't design the site :) You can throw your support behind this meta.SO proposal to let all users see their deleted questions. $\endgroup$
    – Zev Chonoles
    Jul 23, 2012 at 18:21
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks for the link. I see it's yet another case where Jeff Atwood says "It's a bad idea because of X", and then everyone else makes the mistake of thinking that they are involved in an discussion, and refutes X, and then Atwood ignores the discussion and says "Will not get implemented as long as I am still alive to prevent it from happening." How seriously should I take that? Have any of those been implemented anyway? $\endgroup$
    – MJD
    Jul 23, 2012 at 18:26
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    $\begingroup$ Jeff Atwood has left the Stack Exchange company. I don't have any specific examples in mind of cases where the SE team has given in on things like this, but I would be very surprised if there were none. $\endgroup$
    – Zev Chonoles
    Jul 23, 2012 at 18:36

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