Inactive User Purge - PLEASE READ

[GP403]

I don't know if you've seen any of the board stats lately, but I am considering doing an "inactive member purge" to try and eliminate some of the cruft around here. I have some big plans for the 10th anniversary of the site, and want to start "cleaning house" soon.

What user accounts will be purged:
- user accounts with ZERO posts AND
- a last active date of December 31 2012 or before

Meaning if you posted at least once, you're safe. If you have zero posts, but have logged in since 12/31/12, then you're safe.

When this will happen:
I haven't set a time yet. Probably when I go through the database and figure out what all has to be deleted without messing anything else up.

CURRENTLY: If you register an account but do not activate it within 90 days, I randomly purge those already.

This should free up around 4,200 (!!!) user accounts that are registered with no posts and no activity.

If anyone can think of a good reason this should not happen, speak now or forever hold your pieces.

 

[GP403]

Also: IF I can find a way to slowly drip out reminder e-mails to those users, I will do that first. That might be a bit trickier though. I just thought of that, might be a little more considerate then just deleting them altogether without notice, but would definitely require more work.....

EDIT: I'm going to test this out on a block of users from 2005... I discovered the board software has provisions to deactivate, and then send reminders... so it may not be as hard as I thought. stay tuned!

 

[GP403]

Nope, not going to mess around with this. The accounts will just go away. No notifications. I'm sure I'll get several "whahappen?" e-mails, but that's how it goes. Starting right now.

 

[GP403]

Currently purging users who signed up prior to Jan 1 2013, and activated, but NEVER logged in....

 

[online170]

Hmm didn't see this till today.

I still belong to several boards which I probably haven't checked in on for roughly 2 years. Or rather, "posted" in roughly 2 years. I still refer to them, or check in, but not necessarily sign in. I would probably be pissed if I came back and my account was gone. However, I can see it from your point of view too.

Some things to consider.

1) Lets say I contributed a very helpful thread like "how to make carbon fiber door skins for $20 in your basement", and it was all the rage, and excellent info. If you close my account, does that info disappear? The user might get over it, but I think data is more valuable on forums.

2) If the user says WTF Happened? Can they come back as the same name? They would probably lose their seniority, but they might appreciate having the same identity. Similarly, lets say you have a wonderful seller and he isn't active anymore, can someone else who is out to scam everyone allowed to come back with his name? Probably not fair to everyone else.


The reminder e-mail thing sounds like a good idea. 2 years seems too recent for complete deletion.

 

[GP403]

A) If you've ever posted, even once, ever, your account would be safe. As long as your profile doesn't show zero posts. I want to keep the information in the posts, and where it came from.

B) The board keeps track of the last time you visited while logged into your account. Even if you have zero posts, but have logged in after the cutoff, I'll keep the account, because obviously you're still interested.

Agreed that the cutoff of 12/31/2012 is probably too short. UNLESS you activated the account and walked away, never logging in ever. Then I'm still doing it today.

Obviously there is a point where you're not coming back, though. Either you've completely forgotten your login info, your e-mail address has changed since then, whatever.... the account probably won't ever be logged into again. What is that magic number? Not sure.

I'll do a little more research into how to send the reminders. First I thought it was going to be a pain, then I thought well it might not be so bad, now I think it might be somewhere in the middle... Once the current op is done, I will wait on the rest until I figure something out.

Hmm didn't see this till today.

Because I just posted it. 😉

 

[BPTTONE420012]

hell, i say have at it... i know i have an old account that i couldnt remember my login info to so it ended up drifting off into cyber space, never to be seen again.(except by you when you delete it) lol... i have seen quite a few "new member from..." threads and then never seen another thing from those new members...

 

[rustyroger]

"One and done'ers" is the term applied to the members you are targeting in other forums I use.
One point made was the sponsors of some forums (who make the sites free to users) use the total member count to assess whether or not to keep supporting the site through advertising. Much like a tv channel I suspect, channels with high viewing figures attract more advertising revenue that ones with fewer viewers.
Maybe the sponsors monitor activity, I know most sited I use have a hard core of frequent posters using the site partly as a social media , plenty of occasional posters with technical or buying/selling agenda, and a lot of members who almost never use the site.
If you delete the last category how many members will be left?.

Roger.

 

[GP403]

Like I said, I can tell the last time someone logged into the site with their username. I'm not talking about deleting ANY accounts that are active, at all. I'll probably take that limit back to five years. So:

-- if you've EVER posted to the forums, even ONE time, your account will NOT be deleted.
-- If you've signed up seven years ago, NEVER posted, but you logged in yesterday, your account will NOT be deleted.

-- If you haven't logged in to your account in five years, and have ZERO Posts..... I'm going to delete it.
-- If you signed up before Jan 1, 2013, but never even logged into your account, not even once, sorry guys, its already gone.

Sponsors aren't interested in "no shows." Its the active user base, in unique users (whether they are logged in or not), and exposure. The rote number of users isn't that important, especially if they're not utilizing the site. Even the "one and done" users took the time to contribute something... so for that reason I will leave their posts and accounts intact. Plus they've added content and pages to the site, which does help me out.

I'm not doing this to be spiteful or trying to get people to take action or anything. It's merely housekeeping. Zero posts and no login activity in five years? I'm going to roll the dice and say that's not going to change. If you realize this applies to you, and you really want to keep your account (that you haven't logged into in five years) then log in! Problem solved!

I'll wait until the end of the week to do the last cut. Plus we can keep this discussion rolling a while.

 

[BPTTONE420012]

one suggestion, if there are accounts that have one post, and one login, they should probably go too... not the new ones, but the ones that are a few years old... alot of people make an account, make one "hi, new member from" thread, and never return again... personally, it doesnt effect me, but i'm sure getting rid of those would help you clear up a ton more space