Obligation to remove an ex-member's postings?

Question

Someone just left a group I "own" and moderate in a huff and asked me to remove all his postings. I said I have no such obligation. Do I?

He's inferring that by going to Yahoo to have them remove the postings he'll cause a commotion and have the whole group taken down. Here is a quote from his last email:

---begin quote

"As to the question of what your obligations may or may not be, I may not be the best person to pick a fight with regarding the enforcement of obligations.

But realistically. It was not an unreasonable request and furthermore, you don¢t own the forum. So do you really what me to make the request to Yahoo, which does own it? They might decide they¢re just going to shut the whole thing down. I would not want to precipitate that.

---end quote

What say you all? Obligation or not? Mind you, he removed himself, not I.

Answer 1

It is your group, not that persons, so you can do what ever you want to.  If that means deleting the messages, then feel free to do so.  If not leave them there.  To me this guy is just trying to scare you.  Just ignore him.  In my dealing with Yahoo and groups, they never do anything.  I would just ignore him and leave the messages there.

Answer 2

I would tell him that he should have removed his posts before he left the group.  Members are allowed to do that (delete their own posts) and you have no obligation to do it for him.

Answer 3

you wouldn't have to remove the posts however if they are of no real value to the group, just delete them. Yahoo isn't going to get involved in these things each person threatens, and I doubt they delete a group over it or that it's a TOS violaton if you didn't delete them. no oneleaves a group and thinks to delete their posts first- and owners certainly do not delete each members posts of those who leave nor are they required to.

next time someone leaves in a huff and you get an e-mail as such, ignore it and to not reply back.