Miruvor posted in another thread...



It has been discussed on many occasions and one reason for not deleting them is that it would screw up members' post numbers.

However, my own opinion is that many of the general chat threads are waaaay too long now. This site is a Tokien site with discussions and resources and anything else is just fodder as far as managability is concerned. If those threads are too long and unwieldy then they can be 'culled' without harm to the site. Yes, people's post numbers will change but that is a small price for a tidier more manageable site. They are not Tolkien related, they have had their day, no one ever reads back and they are repetitive, if at times funny. They do serve a purpose and I am in no way suggesting that the threads be stopped but I would be happy for them to be thinned out.

That is my view and I don't yet know the views of other Council Members but if we discuss it my vote would be to thin the threads unless there is a valid reason not to (apart from post numbers).

Any comments?

It certainly could be an incentive for members to post more in the Tolkien threads. And does it really matter how many posts one has? Quality, not quantity should be the important thing. If the Council does decide to thin some threads perhaps a mention in the FAQ would be in order... "Posts made in non-Tolkien discussion threads may be subject to deletion due to space/resources/manageability...."

I don't think people post in the taverns merely to increase their post number. The taverns provide an easy chatting group of forums for people. It keeps traffic through the site during barren times and helps members to become familiar with others. Having said that, it would be no great loss to lose a few of the earlier posts.

As far as I know steps are still being taken to retrieve your posts and any others that were lost.

Morambar, Vee has a very vaild point - there are no free speach issues at hand so taking a more respectful tone when replying to her would be desirable if not required!

Vee do we need to lock some of the mega threads again - i'm thinking of things like finish the sentance fool and the re-letter game?

Grep, I don't think Morambar was being disrespectful about my views but I do think that we should respect the taverns for what they are - chat and fun (mostly) and accept that the taverns are here for the very purpose of posting non-Tolkien general chit chat, conversations etc.

I do not have a problem with the taverns or the type of posts in them it is just that there are so many of them and many tavern threads have hundred of pages. I would not advocate deleting posts from a discussion thread.

As for site management I have no idea if it would make it easier but I feel it would make navigating the threads more efficient without three hundred pages staring at you. I don't think locking current threads would help.