Can we do a cleanup???

Originally posted by TheAvenger
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]

Actually the number stated on the abovetopsecret.com page at the time of posting is 101.099.

However the last member id-number used is 105.869. When you open 'search members' it has 1747 pages each of 50 members, which would make up 87.350 members. Where the differences come from I'm not sure, except anon.posts have been taken out of the memberlist now. Some id-numbers might have been canceled, but the official stated number of 101.099 must still include the anon posters.

Anyhow I did some datamining into the member list using the processor at hand, the ol'greys of mine (so take it with a pinch of salt). The result browsing through by number of post was as follows.

Around page 200 you are down to those who have posted 11 posts. Which means 200x50=10.000 members have posted 11 posts or more.

Around page 330 it's down at 3 posts.

The next 100 pages=5000 members have posted 2 posts.

The next 200+ again=10.000 members have posted 1 post.

On page 708 only members with 0 posts appear, going on for more than a 1000 pages, which means more than 50.000 members signed up have never posted a post.

Why did they sign up in the first place if they never intended to post? To get access to information only avialable for members is the only answer I can find.

What it comes down to --and this is an estimate, merely passed on browsing through the member pages-- 5-8000 are active members posting regulary on the boards.

BUT all of the about 100.000 members listed have the new profile page, banned one as well. Seems to be a lot of server space for nothing.

Why it is so I can only speculate, and sustain from commenting. But 50.000 passive members who never have contributed a single line, and another 15.000+ who have posted next to nothing is a little suspecious.

[edit on 26-3-2007 by khunmoon]

khunmoon,

You see, that's what I mean..what an incredible job you've done and thanks!! That's exactly what I was searching for, something that may just be unknown to the 3 amigos and Mods. This is wheere we can help cleanup and maybe make a great site even greater!

What does it hurt to delete these members who probably have no idea what their own username much less password is anymore!? Anyway, just my opinion to help and not hurt the site.

You are getting my vote for the WATS award for sure for that effort sir!!

Thanks again, Peace..Mondo





[edit on 26-3-2007 by Mondogiwa]

Thank you for your appreciation Mondo.

I'm not sure about the reason the admin keeps up that huge chunk of passive members. That it might has something to do with the rating among boards could be. I'm not sure, but one thing for sure is that advertising revenues are paid according to traffic, and if that's the only factor I don't see any reason to keep up the extended data base of members.

BTW I'm quite sure Skeptic could make a db query that would come up with far more detailed and exact numbers than my manual browsing.

Originally posted by Mondogiwa

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??

In that case most of my threads older than 2 years will disappear I rarely get many replies on my threads. Many threads never got any replies at all. I'll vote that we keep all threads, unless there's something wrong with them (other than not getting replies)

You would be surprised as to how many times I thought I had a new interesting thread to start. Did a search, and found a thread from 4 years back with only two replies and added my article. I think the larger problem is people not searching well enough for original threads.

Also, it was stated about inactive members being released. I joined in 2004. I am a merchant sailor taking college classes. I am gone for long periods of time. I wouldn't want to come back and have to reregister.

cheers

Originally posted by Mondogiwa

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??

YIPES!!! Yegads!!! ....NO!!!!!

Some of ATS best threads are totally before their time - and only re-emerge when the topic hits the mainstream. And many are information goldmines.

Please, please - do NOT purge, remove or otherwise censor information available on ATS!


.

Originally posted by Hellmutt

In that case most of my threads older than 2 years will disappear

I rarely get many replies on my threads. Many threads never got any replies at all. I'll vote that we keep all threads, unless there's something wrong with them (other than not getting replies)

Hellmutt,

Sorry mate, it was a generic number in years and thread replies..nothing intended there really. And, it has actually been brought up now that this would really be a moot point anyway.
No way am I or anybody trying to kill anybody's fun..in fact it's quite the opposite..more bang for the buck so to speak...even thoughit's free (but you get it.)
Just tossing ideas around to see the replies is all, and that one seems to be a poor one.
Til the next idea sir....Peace, Mondo

To all who are feeling that there is ANY change happening!! There is nothing happening, these are just ideas unless Skeptic Overlord or one of the 3 amigos jumps in and says, "yeah, great we are doing that". Gang, I sincerely apologize if you have been made to feel that your registartion or threads are going to be deleted...not gonna happen any time at all yet.
As far as being a merchant marine, the idea of people posting is based on people that have registered and NEVER posted one single thing...why are they there then when they can lurk without joining anyway??
Please, please understand that I am but a mere member as well, and have absolutely no power to change anything (I wouldn't anyway without a lengthy Q and A with the members anyway). I only thought of starting athread to help in the server problems that happened a while back....we all know the 3 amigos put in lots of work here(as do the Mods) and I thought that I may be able to come up with a few ideas to help.

That is all my friends..Peace to you all, Mondo

i am all against purging any threads that didn't get any replies and / or if they are from many years back...

why???

these threads are all a part of ATS history

Let me state it loud and clear, I contributed to this thread on the issue of the member database ONLY.

I certainly would be all against deleting any word contributed, and I'm quite sure even trashed/deleted/banned and removed threads still are in there for closed and chosen circles to view.

As the issue is, we're (again) running out of server space and soon will have to face the costs of purchasing another, my suggestion goes on the member db ONLY. I noted earlier that 50.000 members never have posted a line, but each one of them have now been assigned with a profile page.

Give or take say 10.000 of them are recent (within a year) signed up members who still wait for the appropriate topic to join, it still leaves 40.000 members who never have been active and most likely have forgotten everything about their username etc.

Joined a thread last night, where an old user felt the need to contribute, but had forgotten the username she signed up under, thus had to reregister. Mentioned only to show someone signed up in 2002/03/04 or 05 probably won't have any use of their accounts, should they suddenly wish to join actively, as they would have forgotten their details such as username.

Now I don't know how much space a profile page take up, but for the transparency of a calculation let's say 100K x 40.000=4Mega of space for nothing. What that means for the over all performance I have no idea, except that it is something. Add to that the linking and space taken up in the member db.

I would NEVER suggest anything deleted that has been contributed.

well, maybe people desire to be members just because they desire to experience the full ATS universe (avatars / backgrounds / etc) and not necessarily to post and participate...

i believe that i, right after i became a member, posted a thread about a possible ufo sighting

in fact, i was extremely happy that i became a member that night i joined

i still remember the great feeling...