MovieChat Forums > Contributors Help > ANNOUNCEMENT: Boards Closure FAQ

ANNOUNCEMENT: Boards Closure FAQ

posted 8 years ago by Col Needham
9 replies | jump to latest

The original announcement thread at http://www.imdb.com/board/bd0000042/flat/265706940 has reached the 600 post limit (which is itself another issue with the boards software; for more on that, see https://www.beatworm.co.uk/blog/internet/imdb-boards-no-more).

Thanks for all the feedback here and on https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/topics/imdb-message-boards. We have gathered our responses in an FAQ at http://www.imdb.com/help/show_leaf?boardsclosurefaq which contains the following ...

IMDb.com's message boards will close on February 20th, 2017. The following answers address some of the most frequently asked questions about this transition.

Why didn’t you consider new boards software, moderation or other options to save the message boards?

We considered many options to preserve the current message boards during our extensive review, but in the end concluded that they no longer provide a positive, useful experience for the vast majority of our more than 250 million monthly users worldwide. The message board software is based on outdated technology that is being phased out across all of IMDb, clearing the way for more innovation for IMDb customers.

What will happen to board content after Feb 20th?

The boards and their content will be unavailable. If there is content that users wish to preserve, we encourage them to copy/archive it locally before the deadline, or to submit it (where appropriate) to one of IMDb’s content sections such as FAQs, trivia, goofs or user reviews.

What about all those discussions on smaller name/title boards?

Message boards are always temporary in nature: content is not meant to be kept forever and can be removed for a number of reasons, including expiration (i.e. when a conversation does not see any activity for a certain period of time). There are some interesting discussions with content worthy of being preserved, but that content is better suited to being stored in permanent parts of IMDb (such as user reviews, FAQs, trivia, goofs to name just a few). This not only ensures that the information is archived forever, but also puts this content in front of a much larger audience, instead of the smaller subset of message board users, and makes it easily searchable across all of IMDb’s interfaces and services. Board discussions on the other hand are an unmoderated mix of fact, fiction and off-topic banter which is designed to be stored only temporarily, is scattered across a number of different threads and is only really available on our desktop site.

How will I discover opinions on movies and shows without the boards?

IMDb remains committed to being the best place to discover entertainment content online and to help you decide whether to watch it. We will continue to have user ratings, user reviews, user lists, news, parents guides, personalized recommendations, editorial features, Meta Critic scores, links to critics reviews, FAQs and links to information/opinions on other sites. We feel that these features and the improvements we will make to them will provide a much better experience for our customers in the long term. This is all in addition to the most comprehensive collection of factual information around titles and people.

What will happen to my boards profile text?

User profile information is not affected and will continue to be editable and displayed on the site.

What if I have a question about contributing?

Our Contributors Help board is moving to a different platform hosted by GetSatisfaction.com at https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/categories/imdb_imdb_contentdata_issues. The same type of questions and topics previously suitable for the Contributors Help board can now be posted under the "Data Issues & Policy Discussions" category.

What else will be moving to GetSatisfaction?

We have created new GetSatisfaction categories for "I Need to Know" at https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/categories/imdb_i_need_to_know to replace the "I Need to Know" message board and "IMDb Poll" at https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/categories/imdb_imdb_poll to replace the "IMDb Poll" message board.

Will I need to create a new account to use GetSatisfaction?

Yes: GetSatisfaction.com is a third-party entity and we do not share user registration data with them. Registering for an account there is very quick/easy (you can also sign up and login using a Twitter or Facebook account).

Does this change impact any other feature?

The private message feature is part of the boards system so that will close too. Otherwise all other site features are unaffected. Users can still create lists, post user reviews, vote on titles and browse our content as usual.

[–] Sleeping_in_Sleepy_Hollow 8 years ago

The content you deem as unworthy is however treasured by those who took part in those exchanges. There's real dialogue and how those conversations transpired that show how engaged people are about movies.

This should not be sacrificed. A purge of all the useless content like what trolls do with their attacks on people should be removed but not the 98% other content that does serve as something more valuable that what you're placing on it.

Also I sent you a nice letter. Why was I checked off for deletion for that? Can you tell me? I'm just looking for answers. I feel even now that I am risking myself just to ask.

http://www.my-diary.org/users/851091

[–] Col Needham 8 years ago

Also I sent you a nice letter. Why was I checked off for deletion for that?I never read your letter, sorry. I do not read PMs from people I do not know. The action by the admin team on your account has nothing to do with any posts you have made about the boards closure. We do not discuss details, but please see http://www.imdb.com/help/show_leaf?boardswhydeleted and think about what else you may have posted.

Col

[–] Sleeping_in_Sleepy_Hollow 8 years ago

But I sent a letter prior to that asking about a privacy issue and wanted to ask you about a list you made. Also I have in no way posted anything in violation of the terms. I was one of the first people to reply to Thomas's thread and the only thing I could have possibly said that leaned on "harsh" was "don't throw out the baby with the bath water"...that was the extent of what I said. I offered my concerns but I was very polite. In other boards, I have always kept within the terms and didn't troll anyone. And even in Thomas's own thread there is a troll's posts there attacking me and other members and they're still there.

I think someone checked me off as there were many replies to Thomas's thread right after he announced, and some of those comments were using bad language. But I never did. I was polite the whole time. Please investigate and see that what I speak is true.

But I know not to PM you, but I did so not knowing your feelings on that. But my letter was nice, polite, and just going over my concerns and suggestions. That's it.

http://www.my-diary.org/users/851091

[–] neerood 8 years ago

Read between the lines of the transparently false announcement reasons, and dismissive statements like "I don't read anything from people I don't know".

The site operator doesn't care in the least what you think, or what anyone thinks. Time to watch a business fiasco out in real time. You can at least look back later and say you were here when it happened.

[–] Sleeping_in_Sleepy_Hollow 8 years ago

That was quite jarring to see him take such an attitude. I mean talk about making someone feel so small. I don't know how to read his attitude because you'd think he cared something about his community and the people populating it. At least those of us who have tried to improve the place and make it better with more info.

All of life's riddles are answered in the movies. - Steve Martin

This seems to be his riddle and answer to it;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j4izMPijhI

There was help, there were people that would save the day. There was help...there was help if only he'd have waited and not given up...there was help. There was help coming just a few yards away!

http://www.my-diary.org/users/851091

[–] The_Stranggler 8 years ago

Sleeping Needham isn't going to change his mind. I have my own ideas on how to save the boards and no one will listen.

Hopefully someday the boards will come back and with new technology. I hate to see them go myself and cling to my hope that someday it's reversed. Id gladly sign all the petitions that came out of I knew it would do something to stop this, but minds are made up right now.

[–] Jeorj Euler 8 years ago

I have my own ideas on how to save the boards and no one will listen. No one will listen?

[–] The_Stranggler 8 years ago

No I've pitched them for years and yet they went ignored here and get satisfaction. The mods don't care