Author Topic: ALL Members please read (Read 1031 times)

Matthew · « **on:** February 07, 2014, 12:44:10 PM »

Apparently, not everyone reads my official forum notices and announcements.

Quote

How come the pm's that were sent by XXX are not on my file in messengers yet all my others are stored.

Apparently that person's PMs were the oldest.

I routinely delete older PMs in a bulk manner every couple of months. It keeps the database smaller, which improves performance. I don't rent my own server, so CPU resources are an issue. I am sharing a server with hundreds of other websites. If my site takes too much of the CPU because the database queries are too heavy, my webhost will force me onto a much more expensive "dedicated server" hosting account.

Then I'll have to pass the hat like Fisheaters, yadda yadda... no thanks.

I like to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". I personally get annoyed that EVERYONE and their grandmother wants my money...which I don't have to begin with! I could list dozens of organizations and individuals that would love some money from me right now -- and those are the good causes that I would actually like to support! *grin* Nevermind all the other ones...

Long story short, EVERYONE is begging for money these days, and the way they've rigged the economy, few people have any spare cash lying around. I'd rather not be a part of the chorus of beggar organizations, if possible.

I'd rather just admit my limitations -- CathInfo isn't your Gmail -- and move on. If I'm going to ask for money, I want it to be for my family or something, not to pay for some webhosting fee.

Especially since this is my line of work. I should be able to use my professional programming/database skills to optimize this site -- which I have done. Clearing out non-essential stuff is part of that strategy.

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2014, 01:51:23 PM »

.

Keeping the Database Smaller
("It keeps the database smaller, which improves performance.")

What about repetitive posts that say the same thing again and again and again?

Or what about threads where repetition is a matter of course due to the practice of the member(s) posting there?

Or what about threads full of stuff that no one is going to read?

Or what about threads where one member posts relentlessly and shuns any reasonable discussion of the material? E.g.

Or what about members whose posts contribute nothing of enduring value to CI?

.

Matthew · « **Reply #2 on:** February 07, 2014, 02:07:03 PM »

Actually, all those examples are at least PUBLIC posts which indeed provide search engine fodder and might bring a few people here.

So they're worth their individual small cost.

You're talking about "content", which is generally a very good thing for a website.

On the other hand, PMs are not public, nor are they indexed by the search engines. They are in the database solely for the benefit of one person. When trying to choose what to cut, someone's personal message archive is going to be one of the first to go.

It's easy to give up on being Gmail.

icterus · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2014, 06:34:31 PM »

Neil wrote:

Quote

What about repetitive posts that say the same thing again and again and again?

Or what about threads where repetition is a matter of course due to the practice of the member(s) posting there?

Or what about threads full of stuff that no one is going to read?

Or what about threads where one member posts relentlessly and shuns any reasonable discussion of the material? E.g.

Or what about members whose posts contribute nothing of enduring value to CI?

Neil. I agree. You should stop posting entirely. All of your reasons for it seem sound. Good luck. I'm sure you'll do fine elsewhere.

:-)