Can we do a cleanup???

Hello, especially to the mods (Skeptic Overlord!!)

I was on the chat while the boards were on standby mode late last night. We, Zaphod58, Ed Littlefox, and Defcon5 were talking about how and why they have been down lately. They mentioned that SO was on the chat and explaining sort of why there have been some problems of late. We all thought that maybe there could be some general housecleaning done to help out. we came up with a few suggestions of clearing older threads that have a minimum of replies??? Maybe from 2 years and back and have less that 5 replies would clear up some room and speed??

Anyway, I just wanted to let people know that although we are part of ATS on the outside, we also want to contribute to make it an efficient, friendly, and clean site as well. Just thought people may want to add some ideas that the mods could take to SO and talk about!

Thanks for your time and replies and great efforts...Evereybody., Peace, Mondogiwa

I have previously noted that there are members listed on the rolls who have not posted in several years. They should be purged after a reasonable amount of time. I realize that everyone wants a large member base, ad revenues etc. For example if only 3/4 of a site's membership has posted in the past three years, it is mental masturbation to say that a site has 10,000 members.

[edit on 3/24/2007 by TheAvenger]

Wouldn't it take a hell of a long time to go and delete every thread that has a little amount of posts from the 261275 threads though?


Hell, give me a delete button and I'll do it. I have nothing better to do


[edit on 24/3/2007 by enjoies05]

You see, I hadn't even thought of those, man this is going to be a great refernce for ideas for the mods! Enjoies, I can help too, I work mostly nights and have time in the mornings to lend a hand if it works out. TheAvenger, that's a great idea...trim the branches so to speak. I don't really know about the ad revenues but most sites, even email accounts have a non-use expiration date usually, right?

Anyway, great ideas you guys, Peace....Mondo

P.S.

12m, thanks for the props!!!

Well, I think they are both bad ideas.

Just because a thread did'nt have alot of replies, does'nt mean it's not
important and should be deleted, and besides that it's not unheard of
for an old thread to come back to light later on.

As for members, well just because someone does'nt post alot, does'nt
mean they are'nt actively reading the forums, and really, I'm sure
there are alot of them who just don't read alot of threads where they
have anything to say.


However, deleting the members who were'nt approved, when we were
doing the approval for membership thing (which I think was a good idea
that should be brought back), I think would be good, considering that
they are'nt really members, and other people may want the name, but
not be able to use it since an unapproved had it.

Iori,

Sorry man, you must have misinterpreted what was meant I think..if not, my apologies! I think the idea about the members who do not post was referring to members that have not posted in a couple years, not just the lurkers. If all a person wants to do is lurk and not add, then they don't have to become a member!? That way they can lurk all they want still, right?
As for the old threads that are good ones...totally cool man. Again, that idea was based on deleting a thread that generated no real interest and was in the past a couple of years, that's all.
This is just an ideas thread anyway, there's no notion that I know of yet to do any of the above mentioned things. It was created in response to the boards crashing and a possible solution to help alleviate the problem...it may not even be necessary!?
If an old thread was that interesting and important, it will have generated at least a few responses and will therefore not be considered "trash" to be deleted!?

Anyway, take care man, Peace...Mondo

I agree with deleting or at least disabling certain accounts after a period of inactivity. How about after a year of not posting, the account is put on hold where they must email ATS to have it activated and another year after that before it gets completely disabled and/or deleted? I know it is a open and free forum, but the 3 amigos shouldn't have to pay for space not being used.

You guys are great, don't get me wrong, for such an honorable service to the community by having such a great community free of charge. If I could give you all WATS, and if you cared about them, I would .

bs

Originally posted by Mondogiwa
I think the idea about the members who do not post was referring to members that have not posted in a couple years, not just the lurkers. If all a person wants to do is lurk and not add, then they don't have to become a member!?

What about those who join to make a post in a thread that has piqued
there interst, but don't have anything to say in other threads.

Basically your wanting to delete there membership because they don't
have anything to say.

Originally posted by iori_komei

What about those who join to make a post in a thread that has piqued
there interst, but don't have anything to say in other threads.

Basically your wanting to delete there membership because they don't
have anything to say.

I agree, I doubt there is a major problem from members who post infrequently, there "digital footprint" would be quite small.

I am sure that the 3Amigos will come up with a solution as the site grows...

I saw jsobecky suggest selling shares to help defray the costs of upgrading the hardware, I would be open to hearing more on that subject.

I don't agree with deleting inactive accounts. They don't eat up bandwidth. Neither do inactive posts.

One little 4GByte drive could archive all that stuff, and have absolutely no impact on traffic. I think it's important to keep all posts, as a way of preserving ATS' history.

To Iori et al..

Listen gang, this is just an idea thread! Maybe the idea of deleteing an account is bad or threads as well, but that's what this is for...to throw ideas around. As far as the bandwidth that it eats up..I have no idea, but as you have pointed out, maybe it's not a big deal?? This thread/idea is not intended in the least to boot anybody out at all!!! Please don't take it that way gang. I was only trying to help provide some possible solutions. It makes sense to me that if you can clean up quite a bit of small stuff that need not be there maybe, then it would help the whole out better!?

Anyway, I sense that there is some personal feelings involved and I never intend to offend anybody...seriously. So please, just take this as a suggestion thread and nothing more.

Thanks y'all...Peace, Mondo

Originally posted by Mondogiwa
Thanks y'all...Peace, Mondo

By no means did I think that was your intention, I know you were tossing out an idea and I applaud that, just had to throw mine is as well.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the future..

--Jack

[edit on 2007/3/24 by JacKatMtn]

I doubt deleting data that isn't frequently used would be that helpful. I think upgrading to a better RDBMS system like ORACLE would be better, but that would cost an arm and a leg.

I also think that a delete button would be a bad idea. But hay, u could try it...!
peace

Who's to say there are any problems with the server, database, infrastructure, etc anyway? I think this board runs great, and the 3 amigos do a great job keeping her running. I don't think cleaning anything up would improve anything.

All great info and thoughts!

I can see where Mondo is coming from though. In wanting to keep a clean house etc. I guess the idea of ATS and the fact that it does keep basically all information submited to the site. Its a good way of building a database of threaded and submited info.

Maybe the suggestion is a way of identify old threads or to cataloge them (not saying this isn't done). I guess though these are all just thoughts though so no one needs to start gettin offended by them etc.

I guess for myself it would be nice to have either a better search function (to look or locate old info in the avaition threads) try searching F-18 nothing comes up but thats how we label things in those threads. Anyways I guess it just how will I even know the info is there otherwise and the whats the point in keeping it. Its a matter of do you store and bring it out went needed or is it just fadeing away and never able to even be found again. How many repeated threads are there on the same old B-2 anti grav tech its a matter or policy which so far no one who has responded as the "authority" to create that policy, not that openions shouldn't be voiced. Everyone can help mods etc get the over all feel of the boards and thats a good thing

I guess the the point is it unused and unable to be located for any practical use and thats what Mondo was bringing up. Just a concern and its one that I think could be addressed in a U2U or a responce from a Mod/Skeptic. After all the motive is not evil, but a caring concern for a site that all of us enjoy. Anyways thanks for the thought Mondo and I hope you get a response from someone who is involed with this stuff.

Peace EH

[edit on 22/08/06 by Canada_EH]

Institutional Memory

I'm part of the camp which believes one of ATS' greatest strengths to be the persistence of the data we entrust to it.

After all, some threads are timeless in what they cover. Additionally, being able to compare notes between information received today and what was posted years ago has tremendous research value.

I'm also a major fan of data mining the forums and offering information to members in new and innovative ways, and personally consider the "immortality" of my posts to ATS to be a major selling point, because nothing sucks more than to contribute your best to a board only to have it shut down and disappear from the 'Net.

So deleting old data would definitely not be the way to go, if I had anything to say about it. :shk:

Much greater amounts of data are handled every day by MySQL servers around the world, many of them in mission-critical environments, and MySQL is well-known for its efficient performance, so I doubt a flight from MySQL will be required.

Rather, I think the current hiccups are just that -- hiccups -- and am confident that the future will see ATS continuing to grow, with (despite some hiccups now and then) its server capacity keeping pace.

And though no system can ever promise to be free of trouble, I think it's going to be all right.

Majic,

I am hopeful that you are correct in your thinking. You are a Super Moderator and probably know better than all of us what the status really is!? I am the first person to admit that computers and computer savvy are not my forte, so I was only throwing out a few ideas that made sense to a lehman like me. So far, it seems from the responses that there really is no need for anything, as technology will change and advance, so will the capability to incorporate more and more data.
I value the database of older information as much as anyone, it was only a thought as far as space and minimal to no responses on very old threads....never meant to decide what was important or not to anybody.

Anyway, good to hear your thoughts, Peace...Mondo

Just putting out ideas. I see no reason to keep someone listed as a member who responded to one post in 2002 and has never signed in again. They probably don't even remember their user name/password. Do we really want members
here who don't participate more than one time in 5 years? Lurkers can lurk
to their heart's content as it is.

I agree with Majic's thoughts on the issue. His mention though of a resurfacing old matter is what I struggle with in the aviation function as most of what I look for is quite specific and it has to be.

Its an intersting idea Avenger but those inactive accounts dont really eat up much space. In the new ATS of today with the amount of info we put in and can put in though it could be a different issue.... BUT what also can be done is create a data base of sorts of the people that have walked these "halls" and get a look into a part of the world/american mindset etc and people who raise good questions. In a sence what the amigos have and I think are realizing or already know is they have a community under them that have some great critical and not so critical thinkers and its a document of interaction.

Anyways its way up there stuff but maybe its worth keeping all that info. If push comes to shove your probably on the right path but the feeling I'm getting from Mods etc is that ATS is "fine" right now. If we hit a problem sure you probably right but until then we can enjoy the info thats at our finger tips per say.