I'm wondering though if it might be useful to turn off registrations that haven't been used for a year (to be re-opened upon request). I think it's freaksome to see 1300 users, but if we knew that 800 of them were people who had never logged in for a year, then we'd have a better sense of active community folks.

I think this is a good idea in terms of keeping our database as small as possible, but unless I have the wrong idea of how the board works, wouldn't the user numbers keep climbing up? I mean, let's say that we deleted users 500-1400, because they hadn't logged in for a year. The next new user would still be assigned # 1401 by the auto-increment thingy. I think.

So, yay database cleaning, but I doubt it'd have any kind of psychological impact.

I'd prefer slow evolution. Adopt other people into our culture, before they develop their own culture that is at odds with ours.

I totally get what you're saying, Allyson, though I'm not sure I can phrase it any better.

I keep trying to type out a good explanation, then deleting it due to poorly phrased suckage.

From a technical standpoint, (speaking as someone who manages a registration table) it is more hassle than it's worth. Not a lot of hassle if the person never posted, but if they did? Gonna require cleanup. Notifying people? Gonna require someone to code something. Again, possibly easy to do, but why? Coders have higher priority things to work on.

All it is for those accounts that have never posted is an entry in a table. There isn't m uch cost in that.

eta: to figure out the number of active posters is presumably simply a matter of a single query based on a cut-off a date that can be run by those with access. Presumably. Don't want to step on anyone's toes.

From a tech standpoint, "deactivating" users gains us nothing. It's just a "checkmark" in their profile.

Because the board is so quick to come down on folks who ruffle feathers, I think we can afford more leeway. In my opinion, that quickness to correct even minor transgressions may not be the best way to go, but that is how the board works.

I would agree with you on this David, except what seems to happen (in my eyes) is we end up getting ruffled at each other, after some of us come down on feather rufflers.

Sure, we do have a few people who will come down on feather rufflers (although I'm not sure why they would bother protecting us after the prior week's conversation). We also have people who get ruffled at those who get ruffled by the feather rufflers. For every person who was annoyed by Beej (I feel badly using her as an example, because I never even spoke with her), there seemed to be someone who was annoyed at the people who were annoyed at Beej.

I don't like the idea of being so uber-exclusive that we never get new blood. I don't think it would hurt us to slow things down, when something has happed to bring in so many new folks at once, and mostly for the reasons Kristen stated.

shrift, you've been Whedonesqued. you want i should e Simon and ask for deletia?

Hey, Allyson -- I just wanted to say thanks for giving me the signal flare last night.

I'm okay with the site being linked to -- but I don't think I'm okay with Whedonesque linking to it, especially with a headline. It just seems like asking for a C&D.

So, yes, if you could request that the link be removed, I think that's best.

Instead of closing registrations, what about closing Minearverse to new posts for a couple of days? I think most of the new registrants are people looking to throw their two cents in where Tim might see it, and that's not really what the thread is for. Closing Mverse to posts for a few days might cut down on those fly-by posters.

FTR, I'd rather not see either thing happen since I like playing in Mverse as much as anyone.

aye aye, cap'n shrift. request sent.

Barring a technical problem, I don't want to close anything down.

I want to post in the Minearverse, and don't want to be punished for it. I want new people to be able to sign up.

It's weird, and it's scary, and in three months it'll probably not even be a big deal.

Seven million people showed up. It's gone pretty smoothly.

Well if it ain't broke....