Archived and Closed
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I went back through my message board posting history in search of a particular thread I started in the Hunger Games message board, only to find that it was not there. Upon further searching, I discovered that every thread prior to February 14, 2013 has been deleted. Is there a particular reason why?
I know that it isn't a board wide issue as some posts of mine from as far back as 2007 are still there.
I know that it isn't a board wide issue as some posts of mine from as far back as 2007 are still there.
Posted 7 years ago
Dan Dassow, Champion
Well, is there any way to have them retrieved, or are they gone forever?
This policy of theirs is rather counter intuitive, if you ask me.
This policy of theirs is rather counter intuitive, if you ask me.
Emperor, Champion
They are gone for good.
What a waste. They really need to rethink this system and fix it. Instead of deleting them forever, they should dump them into a searchable archive.
This is totally unacceptable and bad business practice on their part.
This is totally unacceptable and bad business practice on their part.
Emperor, Champion
I'm not a fan of the policy but don't feel it is worth suggesting just that improvement. What we really need is a completely overhaul of the message board system:
https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/topi...
Which reminds me that I was threatening to post that as a suggestion.
https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/topi...
Which reminds me that I was threatening to post that as a suggestion.
Mine are gone entirely!!! I followed the steps to see my message board history, and there is NOTHING!! Everyone keeps saying to try this & that but there is nothing to try when I can't see them to begin with? I hate that you already have to go to the full site to see your history of posts, but now they aren't even there anymore. My last post was less than 2 weeks ago. What is going on IMDB???????!
bluesmanSF, Champion
The smaller boards need for the activity to not be deleted. No one wants to post in a message board that's a ghost town.
I am fine with boards with lots of activity having their older posts removed.
I am fine with boards with lots of activity having their older posts removed.
bluesmanSF, Champion
I've hit boards where nothing gets deleted and didn't feel like posting because there's little point in replying to a 5 year old comment or starting a new one where there's been no one posting anything for years. So, I don't get that point. It's still a ghost town if no one has posted there for years (which is more of what a ghost town is than a totally empty space).
As a filmmaker I would rather see posts from 2+years ago than have it be completely empty. Bigger movies will always have people coming in to talk about them. The smaller ones don't have that luxury.
bluesmanSF, Champion
You could certainly post on your page once in a while on helpful threads. Active threads don't expire (whatever the rate for that board is, it's only threads with no replies for that period of time that expire). Also, there are threads going back 10 years on some boards. Small, Indie and lesser known titles are not likely going to have threads expire very often. The rate gets faster as traffic increases on a board. So, you're not as likely to be affected by expiry. Commenting in threads on your board will fend off expiry and make discussions far more interesting there.
I think this policy is ridiculous as well. There was a very lengthy discussion on "Somewhere in Time" a couple years ago, and now it is gone and the only remaining threads go back to April 2013. It is not a particularly busy board either, since there are a barely two pages of discussions over the course of less than one year.
The funniest part is that some people are asking the same questions that were already addressed in the older threads that have since been deleted. I think that's kind of counterproducive to force new users start the same topics over and over again just but because IMDB feels the need to keep the boards "fresh". How is that even sensible? The forums have the potential to function as a vast knowledge base of vital movie insights and criticisms, but instead that information is lost. Isn't that the antitheses of the site's namesake: Internet movie database?
There are 2TB+ hard drives being sold nowadays for barely $100, and IMDB can't afford to store plain-text data (which consumes virtually no space in comparison) going back even one year? Meanwhile, YouTube hosts millions of videos many of which are well over 100 megabytes in size -- and they aren't deleted just to conserve memory. Honestly, in this day and age of computing, I've never understood services that have to delete any content that is still relevant. That's so 20th century.
The funniest part is that some people are asking the same questions that were already addressed in the older threads that have since been deleted. I think that's kind of counterproducive to force new users start the same topics over and over again just but because IMDB feels the need to keep the boards "fresh". How is that even sensible? The forums have the potential to function as a vast knowledge base of vital movie insights and criticisms, but instead that information is lost. Isn't that the antitheses of the site's namesake: Internet movie database?
There are 2TB+ hard drives being sold nowadays for barely $100, and IMDB can't afford to store plain-text data (which consumes virtually no space in comparison) going back even one year? Meanwhile, YouTube hosts millions of videos many of which are well over 100 megabytes in size -- and they aren't deleted just to conserve memory. Honestly, in this day and age of computing, I've never understood services that have to delete any content that is still relevant. That's so 20th century.
bluesmanSF, Champion
Since there is no search function, they'd very likely re-ask the same questions anyway (and probably would even with a search function). Several times per day, people ask here how to merge two accounts even though this board automatically searches for them and hands them a list of many threads with the same question and containing the answer (not to mention all you have to do is hit the "help" link on any page of the main site and the answer is right there on that page as one of the most asked questions. So I doubt leaving threads from 10 years ago will keep people from asking the same questions...much.
bluesmanSF, Champion
Bc, expiry is based on the amount of traffic on a board. The more traffic the shorter life for inactive threads. See http://www.imdb.com/help/show_leaf?bo...
Bc and rkrause. Keep in mind, if there is helpful or interesting information about a film that has come to light on tBhe message boards, the theory is, it should be submitted to and stored on, the title's page where it's available to all users and not just the relative few that will wander to the message boards. Also, message boards are not searchable. Message boards arensimply not an effecient way of storing data and the site never intended for them to be a storage feature.
Much like "I Need To Know" is just a clever name for the board, which is in fact a film/tv trivia board, GetSatisfaction is the name. It's not meant to mean everyone who posts will get their way. Further, IMDb didn't name it. They use it because it provides better functionality than the old Help Board.
Bc and rkrause. Keep in mind, if there is helpful or interesting information about a film that has come to light on tBhe message boards, the theory is, it should be submitted to and stored on, the title's page where it's available to all users and not just the relative few that will wander to the message boards. Also, message boards are not searchable. Message boards arensimply not an effecient way of storing data and the site never intended for them to be a storage feature.
Much like "I Need To Know" is just a clever name for the board, which is in fact a film/tv trivia board, GetSatisfaction is the name. It's not meant to mean everyone who posts will get their way. Further, IMDb didn't name it. They use it because it provides better functionality than the old Help Board.
'
bluesman ... (anyone else ? )
Sorry, you don't understand the 'set up' or perhaps I didn't explain it properly
Thread was Active and Still In Use ... Very Active and In Use
The most recent posts had been a matter of hours, maybe 6 to 12 max
Am familiar with what you describe, old threads at 'bottom' and how/why they go 'poof' after some period of time ... but this was not that
And this was not the normal 'delete by original poster', which will only remove their Posts and Thread Title ... but leaves remaining Posts/Replies in place
This was something very 'fishy smelly' ...
Thread Title ... CBI Ron and More Chatter (but no wrestling)
Here's original url ...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1196946/board/nest/219508268?p=9&d=222279423#222279423
But that link now returns the standard '404 Error'
However, is reference for search, if able to do that ?
And if can 'Get into IMDb' ... if find an 'Archived Page' ?
Like the pdf copy I have from 2 Dec 2013 ... 9:00 pm (+/-)
(via google's archive ability, last for few days)
Will see with Every Post ...
This message has been deleted by an administrator
And unless an 'outsider' went to a lot of trouble to 'Hack that Board' (and IMDb in the process) ... then had to be someone on the 'Inside of IMDb' who deleted that Thread, either on purpose/design or by screw up accident
And whatever the Reason ?
Fact still remains ...
IMDb Never Responded with Any Explanation
.
So ...
Do you know another 'tree to shake' on this matter ?
And is This Site just some 'fake illusion' of Satisfaction ?
They 'say' we 'get-satisfaction' ... but is that 'empty talk' ?
Complaint/Suggestion Box never read by anyone Official ?
All Postings/Questions simply go straight into some Toilet ?
(flush)
.
bluesman ... (anyone else ? )
Sorry, you don't understand the 'set up' or perhaps I didn't explain it properly
Thread was Active and Still In Use ... Very Active and In Use
The most recent posts had been a matter of hours, maybe 6 to 12 max
Am familiar with what you describe, old threads at 'bottom' and how/why they go 'poof' after some period of time ... but this was not that
And this was not the normal 'delete by original poster', which will only remove their Posts and Thread Title ... but leaves remaining Posts/Replies in place
This was something very 'fishy smelly' ...
Thread Title ... CBI Ron and More Chatter (but no wrestling)
Here's original url ...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1196946/board/nest/219508268?p=9&d=222279423#222279423
But that link now returns the standard '404 Error'
However, is reference for search, if able to do that ?
And if can 'Get into IMDb' ... if find an 'Archived Page' ?
Like the pdf copy I have from 2 Dec 2013 ... 9:00 pm (+/-)
(via google's archive ability, last for few days)
Will see with Every Post ...
This message has been deleted by an administrator
Post deleted
This message has been deleted by an administrator
Post deleted
This message has been deleted by an administrator
Post deleted
This message has been deleted by an administrator
Post deleted
This message has been deleted by an administrator
Post deleted
This message has been deleted by an administrator
Post deleted
This message has been deleted by an administrator
Post deleted
This message has been deleted by an administrator
... etc etc etcAnd unless an 'outsider' went to a lot of trouble to 'Hack that Board' (and IMDb in the process) ... then had to be someone on the 'Inside of IMDb' who deleted that Thread, either on purpose/design or by screw up accident
And whatever the Reason ?
Fact still remains ...
IMDb Never Responded with Any Explanation
.
So ...
Do you know another 'tree to shake' on this matter ?
And is This Site just some 'fake illusion' of Satisfaction ?
They 'say' we 'get-satisfaction' ... but is that 'empty talk' ?
Complaint/Suggestion Box never read by anyone Official ?
All Postings/Questions simply go straight into some Toilet ?
(flush)
.
I've been around since 2006 and this doesn't seem too unusual to me. I've seen very active threads disappear suddenly. Usually though there is something objectionable that enough people have complained about to trigger the deletion.
bluesmanSF, Champion
Re: "tree to shake.."
No. There is none.
Re: "...get satisfaction..."
That's the name...IMDb does not own the site and did not choose the name.. Like IMDb's "I Need To Know" board which, despite its name, is not for anything you need to know, but a film trivia board. Not everyone will leave this board satisfied. Sometimes policies or procedures will not allow what the user wants.
All complaints and suggestions are read. If they wanted to flush your comments down the toilet they would not have bothered using this board or staffing it.
At one time, I thought, threads in which the OP deleted his/her account got removed completely and showed "deleted by administrator," (if accessed by a direct link) but I am not sure.
But, you're right. Staff does not discuss deleted posts. They also will very rarely replace posts deleted in error or because of abusive reporting (which was changed recently).
No. There is none.
Re: "...get satisfaction..."
That's the name...IMDb does not own the site and did not choose the name.. Like IMDb's "I Need To Know" board which, despite its name, is not for anything you need to know, but a film trivia board. Not everyone will leave this board satisfied. Sometimes policies or procedures will not allow what the user wants.
All complaints and suggestions are read. If they wanted to flush your comments down the toilet they would not have bothered using this board or staffing it.
At one time, I thought, threads in which the OP deleted his/her account got removed completely and showed "deleted by administrator," (if accessed by a direct link) but I am not sure.
But, you're right. Staff does not discuss deleted posts. They also will very rarely replace posts deleted in error or because of abusive reporting (which was changed recently).
(Edited)
Drake and Bluesman ...
Thank you both for your replies, but ... sorry, not sure you 'Get It'
Regarding a Deletion Due to Complaint ...
What is basis of complaint ? (aside from obvious, obscene language etc)
What if someone is just 'complaining' merely for sake of complaining ?
Will IMDb delete the Thread simply because someone DID complain ?
What if complaint is groundless ? ... just someone with 'bone to pick' ?
What is the Definition of a Legitimate Complaint ? ... where is that Info ?
What is the Process for Arriving at any Decision ? ... where is that Info ?
... on and on ... see that Big Picture ?
Tell you this much ... As Fact ...
Nothing in that Thread was 'foul, obscene, rude, etc'
Was 'On Topic' and many were engaged in Conversation
Then ... 'Some Administrator' simply deleted the Thread
So, next step, next questions ...
What is the Definition of Administrative Power ?
Can Any Administrator do whatever they want ?
Are they being Monitored by Higher Ranking Admins ?
What are the 'Rules/Guides' ? ... where are they Published ?
... again .. on and on ... see THAT Big Picture too ?
Then, final step in this process ...
This 'site' or any 'Board Forum' which tries to 'Give Satisfaction', attempts to Manage Feedback and Complaints about any problems/situations
Is it 'real' ? ... or just some Used Car Dealer 1-800 Call Us to Fix Your Problems ? ... if/when an IMDb Admin does read this, will they do anything ? ... make any changes ? ... will those changes be for the 'better' ?
.... on and on ... again, see the Big Picture ?
.
Yes, this is not 'Real Life' ... like when a Cop takes somebody into a back room, beats them up, and no one else knows, no Trial, etc etc
BUT ... let's hope those types of 'Real World Failures' will not be part of the Virtual World of the Internet, and especially at one of the Pioneering Sites such as IMDb
Now ... as an 'idea' ... to plant a seed in your minds ...
Safe to assume IMDb is overwhelmed with 'similar situations'
So ... form 'Volunteer User Admin Groups' for each Particular Board
Could call it a 'Self Policing Neighborhood Watch Program' (so to speak)
Allow the Users in that Board to 'Administer Proper Code of Behavior Conduct'
And have them as a 'Committee Group' who are Known to Others in the Board ... do all that in the 'Open', and under the Authority of Real Admin at IMDb .... but the 'locals' manage the 'initial lower level process' using some 'voting approval system' ... etc etc ... see that 'big picture' ?
Again, just an Idea
But confident 'something like that' could be 'Very Workable'
And maybe provide a 'Better System' than what's now in use
( ¿ flush ? )
.
Thank you both for your replies, but ... sorry, not sure you 'Get It'
Regarding a Deletion Due to Complaint ...
What is basis of complaint ? (aside from obvious, obscene language etc)
What if someone is just 'complaining' merely for sake of complaining ?
Will IMDb delete the Thread simply because someone DID complain ?
What if complaint is groundless ? ... just someone with 'bone to pick' ?
What is the Definition of a Legitimate Complaint ? ... where is that Info ?
What is the Process for Arriving at any Decision ? ... where is that Info ?
... on and on ... see that Big Picture ?
Tell you this much ... As Fact ...
Nothing in that Thread was 'foul, obscene, rude, etc'
Was 'On Topic' and many were engaged in Conversation
Then ... 'Some Administrator' simply deleted the Thread
So, next step, next questions ...
What is the Definition of Administrative Power ?
Can Any Administrator do whatever they want ?
Are they being Monitored by Higher Ranking Admins ?
What are the 'Rules/Guides' ? ... where are they Published ?
... again .. on and on ... see THAT Big Picture too ?
Then, final step in this process ...
This 'site' or any 'Board Forum' which tries to 'Give Satisfaction', attempts to Manage Feedback and Complaints about any problems/situations
Is it 'real' ? ... or just some Used Car Dealer 1-800 Call Us to Fix Your Problems ? ... if/when an IMDb Admin does read this, will they do anything ? ... make any changes ? ... will those changes be for the 'better' ?
.... on and on ... again, see the Big Picture ?
.
Yes, this is not 'Real Life' ... like when a Cop takes somebody into a back room, beats them up, and no one else knows, no Trial, etc etc
BUT ... let's hope those types of 'Real World Failures' will not be part of the Virtual World of the Internet, and especially at one of the Pioneering Sites such as IMDb
Now ... as an 'idea' ... to plant a seed in your minds ...
Safe to assume IMDb is overwhelmed with 'similar situations'
So ... form 'Volunteer User Admin Groups' for each Particular Board
Could call it a 'Self Policing Neighborhood Watch Program' (so to speak)
Allow the Users in that Board to 'Administer Proper Code of Behavior Conduct'
And have them as a 'Committee Group' who are Known to Others in the Board ... do all that in the 'Open', and under the Authority of Real Admin at IMDb .... but the 'locals' manage the 'initial lower level process' using some 'voting approval system' ... etc etc ... see that 'big picture' ?
Again, just an Idea
But confident 'something like that' could be 'Very Workable'
And maybe provide a 'Better System' than what's now in use
( ¿ flush ? )
.
DavidAH_Ca, Champion
I believe that when a User Account is cancelled, all their posts are removed automatically. And because it is automated it shows as "Removed by an Administrator", whether the Account was cancelled by IMDb for bad behavior or by the User themselves, This might account for the multiple removals.
Wouldn't I have been notified that I was on a naughty list? Besides, I'm hardly offensive, probably one of the more tamer posters. Also, if I go in to a post that I remember posting in, I still see mine, they don't say post deleted. Thanks for the suggestion though.
@ C.D.: Your posts can still be seen on the boards, but they are not listed in your account profile's posting history? Are you sure that you are logged into the correct account?
I only have one account. I followed the directions to the T, and they are not there. They used to be there up until about a month ago.
"... if I go in to a post that I remember posting in, I still see mine ...."So your posts are not really gone, but as you said they are not listed in your Boards Profile history.
Just to make really sure that you are logged into the correct account, take another look at one of your posts and see if the "Edit" option is present.
If the "Edit" link is there, you are logged into the account in which you wrote the post. If the "Edit" link is missing, then either you are not logged into the account in which you wrote the post, or something else has gone wrong with the login.
Have you tried logging out and clearing your browser's
"cache" and "cookies" and then logging back in?
You can also try asking staff for help via this contact form:
http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/contact_form?subject=GS+fallback
(Edited)
I have every option but edit.
OK, I'm not an expert but if the Edit link isn't there, then my guess is that you're not properly logged in to the account that created the post, or something is wrong with the login.
You've tried clearing the browser's cache and cookies and then logging in again?
Maybe try a different web browser?
You've tried clearing the browser's cache and cookies and then logging in again?
Maybe try a different web browser?
I'll try those too. Who knows? I did send an email to IMDB. Thanks for the link and all your help!
