Forum Maintenance and Clean Up

[Esbat]

I can easily back up the Master Feedback List and move it to the new forums if its purged. Its a simple copy and paste into a text file. So that won't be a problem.

I'm Pro-purging, it'll actually encourage new members to settle in and reinvigorate the forums without being told that "X thread was already created X years ago". Cap, I'd simply suggest giving people a mass notice to harvest whatever text or pictures or PMs before the switch that way everyone is aware.

[Captain Coder]

For those strongly against the fresh start option, keep in mind, this is purely a poll to get the opinions of the Realm users. It has not been decided that it is going to happen.

Maybe instead of erasing everything on the forums you could do a thread purge.

I think something like this is going to be the best solution. I think the "Trading Post", "Figure Realm News and Comments" and "Off Topic" are the obvious candidates for purging if we don't start over.

Will everything in the custom showcase remains as it is no lost customs etc?

Yes, everything will remain. This only effects posts (which does include Custom comments).

would we have to sign up again for a forum account?

Yes, we would be starting over in the forums.

what if we freeze this site so no one can post but you can still look at everything here

In theory, it is possible, but it would require resources to maintain, and the old software would not be updated, which would eventually lead to bad things like security threats.

I dont want to lose my trading feedback points, can we at least keep that or one of the moderaters put the same credit for everyone on the upgrade

Yes, EsBat's on top of this one if we go the fresh start route.

NOOOOO! not when I'm so close to 1,000 posts!

Hmmm... Sounds like deleting your account might be enough to clean up the clutter. Sorry Top-notch, gotta crack a joke every once in a while.

it'll actually encourage new members to settle in and reinvigorate the forums without being told that "X thread was already created X years ago"

Interesting point...

I'd simply suggest giving people a mass notice to harvest whatever text or pictures or PMs before the switch that way everyone is aware.

That's also the intention of this thread. I will post new news announcements and update the "Official Update" date at the top of the forums when a decision is made.

[yamivash 0]

... question what will this mean for banned users if we reset ?

[Esbat]

... question what will this mean for banned users if we reset ?

Inmates run free?

[BurchCustoms]

there is another option as well. worked well for my old forum (before it was bought by the evil comedy corporation). give people a week or two notice before the change, and give them the option to post "save" in threads they wish to save and then you can just erase everything before that 2 week date. that way some of the fluff from a few weeks ago that no one cares about would be gone too.

one thing that definetly needs purging is the butcher shop. that thread is getting out of control.

personally, i would like to keep my log in and info as is, but if something like that makes your job a lot harder, i can cope easily enough. you do enough for us on this site that we don't need to make things harder.

[Wesr]

I say we do what is easiest for Cap. after all he has to put up with topnotch and yami and that's enough of a headache. I'm glad esbat's going to save the trading stuff as i'm almost in the top 5 traders

[asch]

NOOOOO! not when I'm so close to 1,000 posts!

keep working on that !! ther`s still time!! ... as for cleaning - it`s ok for me

[Top-notch comix]

wow... I didn't think I'd get so much crap for posting that

[Captain Coder]

... question what will this mean for banned users if we reset ?

I believe the banned users should stay banned. I'll keep that list

give them the option to post "save" in threads they wish to save and then you can just erase everything before that 2 week date.

The forums have well over 100,000 posts, so it wouldn't be feasible for someone to manually look through them to see if the word "save", or whatever, exists. Even writing an auto-conversion script would take way too many hours to scan through the posts. It would probably be a good idea for a small forum.

[BurchCustoms]

give them the option to post "save" in threads they wish to save and then you can just erase everything before that 2 week date.

The forums have well over 100,000 posts, so it wouldn't be feasible for someone to manually look through them to see if the word "save", or whatever, exists. Even writing an auto-conversion script would take way too many hours to scan through the posts. It would probably be a good idea for a small forum.

if they post save, and they only have a week window, you could just scrap any posts that had no activity within the last week. i apologize, i should have been clearer. basically you are just looking for the activity, not the actual message.

the forum that did this actually had about 8000 members that liked to talk.... the board was huge. one of the reasons the site was sold. they couldn't afford to keep up with server space.

[Captain Coder]

if they post save, and they only have a week window, you could just scrap any posts that had no activity within the last week. i apologize, i should have been clearer. basically you are just looking for the activity, not the actual message.

Ah, I got you. That's not a bad idea. I'll keep that one in mind.

[MrGore]

I think maybe the section "others" with off topic, and comics corner, and news should restart, as it's maybe not a crucial part of the site, but the other sections contain precious information for customizers, some time someone asks for help, and I have the same doubt I don't bother asking again if someone answered it before, maybe you should give the users a time period to chose what topics should stay open, for example, create a pool in every topic, called "keep this after maintnance", and then you check what can go and what must stay. unless that's to much to ask.

[Shinobitron]

Gonna have to say negative on this one. Theres lots of archived info on here that can very useful to everyone. I do agree though that users who have 0 posts (actually even 1 post. . . freaking bots) should be Xed.

[Bob-a-Ferret]

You know seriously I think that yes it is time to start over here on the forums and clean up the mess it has become. I use to be on all the time commenting. helping and even posting my customs and though I still check the customs the forums are such a mess I don't bother any more. I know several others in the same position as myself a reboot will bring me back and might even bring a few of them back too. Yes I know you have more people saying no don't but it would be foolish not to. But in the end it is your site and your decision and you should do as you see fit.

[SCORPION11.0]

i think that helpful posts, like tuts and such, should stay, basically i agree with the majority of people here, if its 6 months to a yar old and is just taking up space, then it should get the boot, the usless should be cleaned out and make room for the useful future threads