Member clean up?

[Sharky]

I was just wondering. I recall I once belonged to this forum that had the same interface as this one and the did a member sweep about once a month although they were quite strict!! The deleted me for not posting for a month despite having 300 posts.

Anyway, I was just wondering if you guys have ever thouht of deleting some of the members that surely are not going to return. For instance, I'm looking at the member list right now and there's a certain Michael that registered on October 9th 1998 but has never posted. In fact, according to my calculations, there are about 500 members that have never posted.

I was just wondering if perhaps a clean up would be a good idea. That would also free up a lot of nick names that upcoming members would like to use like Michael. Of course not a drastic clean up!! (like the one that got me deleted from that forum). Just for those that is obvious that they're never comming back.

[badoer fan]

I thought this about a month ago, and I counted about 2000 people who'd never posted
I think people just like to be signed in so if they want to post or need to share an opinion they can

[Wrex]

Actually, Bfan, it's alot less than that - there are 906 (approx) members with 1 post or less.

I think after they join - they should at least average 1 post per month or automatically drop off. They can always rejoin.

[badoer fan]

That's me not being able to do my 25 times table

[Sharky]

In fact, if my math is OK, there are only a bit over 500 members that have posted over 10 times and among those 500+ there are a lot that haven't posted in years.

[touringlegend]

I think this would be a bloody good idea. If you register and then don't post for, say, 3 months, then obviously you have no interest in the forum or it was a mistake that you registered.

[Ortegatrail]

I disagree. I have been a member since mid '99 and have visited this forum just about every week since then. Actually, probably more like every other day. Look for my name in the " currently active users" box at the bottom of the forum menu board and you will see it often enough. But rarely do I feel the need to voice my opinions. I enjoy this forum for it's variety and the knowledge of it's members, and I feel that although I don't speak up very often, I am still a member.

[TimD]

I seem to recall a long time ago we did have a bit of a clearup, back in the days when the old server was pushed for space. Had to chop a lot of old threads too, while we were at it.

I think then the criteria used were if the poster had contributed less than five times, andif we no longer had a current email listed for them.

Seems to me that if we were to do any pruning, that's the logical way to go. I agree with Ortegatrail that there must be plenty of regular readers who don't fancy posting on a daily basis for whatever reason. I know one two year member, for example, who enjoys a good chuckle on the Gravel Trap, and an occasional Historic motorsport event, but spends his working days flitting between London, Los Angeles and Montreal trying to put movie deals in place. The less than 10 posts to his name are all the time he can spare!

But if people have forgotten about us to the extent that they don't even keep us updated with their contact email, then perhaps the time is ripe to do a little spring-cleaning.

[Craig]

Sorry Tim, I don't think we actually ever deleted any members (apart from those who couldn't behave themselves... )

This very question has been asked many times before, and my answer is always the same. I will not delete any members without good reason - they have taken the time and effort to sign up with us, so the least they can expect is that they're not thrown out simply because they don't log on for a while, or even never post. They obviously signed up for a reason...

[Maisie]

I agree with not deleting members. Registration is vital not just for posting, but to keep track of what you have and haven't read. Just because someone hasn't posted before, doesn't mean they won't in the future. Who knows, perhaps they've never felt they have anything new to say, but one day they may just have the answer to the ultimate obscure question you've just posted

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by TimD
But if people have forgotten about us to the extent that they don't even keep us updated with their contact email, then perhaps the time is ripe to do a little spring-cleaning.

I think it would be very easy to forget to do this... maybe a thead on each forum asking people to do so if they don't want to be pruned would be a good idea?