Saving disk space

[Marilyn. 340]

The "useless thread" that you talk about has given me support and courage to face this painful process. Isn't VJ supposed to be all about that?

Sure, but 600 pages??? C'mon, that's just pure abuse. Why not just use chat, if you're going

to exchange monosyllabic sentences?

Anyway, I'm not saying the threads should be *deleted* -- only marked potentially deletable.

I didn't see a whole of monosyllabic sentences when I have read that thread .....

[Mags 112]

My only problem with the "Blue boxes" thread is the occasional digs made about other members of the community in it (whether made jokingly or not). It can also be construed as VERY cliquey as an "outsider" looking in.

Apart from that, it doesn't really bother me that much. Enjoy.

[MissStacey 1]

As far as any "point boosting" goes, I think it just more of a silly joke that anything.

Personally, I wouldn't care if I had no boxes at all. I just want to get throught this process and see my husband again.

2 Days until my Interview!!! Woo Hoo!!

[Ta Ta 1]

The participating core group in the blue box thread welcomes anyone to

share, support and have fun. This is a puplic board !

We don't mean to be "cliquish", but we bond in a very peaceful way and

don't care for antagonism or provocation.

We just want to get along and don't want anyone to spoil that. If that appears

as being "cliquish" please don't think that.

We are supportive to make this journey easier for anyone who wants to post.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

To boost my postings count (har har) I thought I'd add another note in defense of the blue boxes thread, and others like it. I don't have much to add argument-wise aside from the suggestion that moving to shut down or otherwise limit off-topic threads could be opening a can of worms. PlatyPius does have a good point; who knows how many postings across the board, particularly in the more "serious" threads, are along the lines of "Yeah!" and "Me too!" and "Right on sister!" or just a posting of the "Read the Guides!" icon. As other people have mentioned, the post-count-boosting aspect of the blue boxes thread is a running joke and the source of many humorous posts. Anyone familiar with VJ likely knows that the hearts indicate a prolific poster--that's it. As far as I can tell, there is no separate category or designation for users whose advice is particularly well informed or valuable; someone who posts a screed is subject to the same tallying method as someone who posts a two-sentence rant. Should a list of criteria be created and a system employed to devise a ranking system? Should off-topic be abandoned completely to save disk space? That would probably be the most equitable way to deal with this supposed problem.

Mags, I can see how the blue boxes thread may seem a bit cliquish, but trust me, it isn't! Any busy forum with regular posters who address each other by name might seem so, but it is a very welcoming thread.

Like a lot of contributors (if I may use such a term), I essentially defected to the blue boxes thread from the more "serious" topics. Aside from checking on my homies in the FBI name check thread, I rarely read the AOS section anymore because (1) it's depressing to read about people complaining about a three-month wait for a green card interview, and (2) some of the smug, dismissive replies from longtime posters to new, confused VJ members are starting to make me nauseated. The blue boxes thread is consistently fun, absurd, and, yes, helpful. I think that it is a valuable component of the VJ site. It can be hard to keep things light when you're dealing with such a lengthy, confusing process.

And I can't say it better than Matt:

Most of OFF-TOPIC is "useless". That is why it is called OFF-TOPIC.

[mawilson 2,133]

I just wanted to mention that I started that stupid Guess the Celebrity thread back in Jan 2006, it has gone back a few pages a few times but every few months I bring it back and lots of people play the game.... it is a fun way to waste our time .... and it is not done to post boost......

Oh, it's fun, don't get me wrong

Just not something you would go back and re-read 6 months from now.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Oh, it's fun, don't get me wrong

Just not something you would go back and re-read 6 months from now.

I don't think too many people would argue with you about that! My point was just that there is a ton of drivel all over the site that's not worth reading seconds after it's posted--I mean no disrespect by that, and I realize that I contribute to said drivel--and it seems a bit unfair to point a finger at a thread that is safely in the free-for-all zone (i.e., the off-topic section). Granted, it has become quite a lengthy thread, but if server space isn't an issue, I don't see a compelling reason to reclassify or delete it.

[Mags 112]

And it seems a bit unfair to point a finger at a thread that is safely in the free-for-all zone (i.e., the off-topic section).

The reason that the "Blue Box" thread has been singled out is because, quite simply, it is the longest thread here at the moment.

[Marilyn. 340]

about the "go to chat" comment.... not everyone can go to chat at the same time etc... with the blue box thread people can still catch up on the latest news etc.....

and also isn't it better to keep it in one thread rather then start a bunch of new threads each time??

as for the guess the celeb thread... I like to use the same thread rather then start up a new one each time .... like I mentioned sometimes the game goes into remission for a few months and when I drag it back I just use the same thread.... if disk space is an issue, I can always get rid of the old pictures on that thread....

[mawilson 2,133]

as for the guess the celeb thread... I like to use the same thread rather then start up a new one each time .... like I mentioned sometimes the game goes into remission for a few months and when I drag it back I just use the same thread.... if disk space is an issue, I can always get rid of the old pictures on that thread....

Well, apparently disk space is not longer an issue, so everything's cool.

[Reynaldo 0]

Well, apparently disk space is not longer an issue, so everything's cool.

I am sure that when database size becomes an issue, threads like the blue boxes one will be the first ones to go...

[Marilyn. 340]

I am wondering something.... do threads that are over 600 pages long take up more space then 100 threads that are 6 pages long?? I am really wondering about this

[mRx 16]

Well, apparently disk space is not longer an issue, so everything's cool.

I am sure that when database size becomes an issue, threads like the blue boxes one will be the first ones to go...

My thoughts would be that the dead threads from 760 pages ago in OT would be the first to go.

[Reynaldo 0]

I am wondering something.... do threads that are over 600 pages long take up more space then 100 threads that are 6 pages long?? I am really wondering about this

They probably "weigh" the same, but it is easier to delete one huge thread instead of 100 smaller ones...

[mawilson 2,133]

Well, apparently disk space is not longer an issue, so everything's cool.

I am sure that when database size becomes an issue, threads like the blue boxes one will be the first ones to go...

My thoughts would be that the dead threads from 760 pages ago in OT would be the first to go.

I hope not.