Screenshot Retention

[eric]

We have over 20 years of screenshots dating back to 2001 on this site. Looking at stats, it's pretty rare for people to go looking the older screenshot oriented threads, and as everyone should be aware, storage isn't free.

What do you think is a reasonable amount of time those should be kept?

This question is about screenshot threads only. I'm not referring to the question and answer or tutorial type threads that make this site invaluable.

[defect_detector]

Are we limiting this to the actual screenshot forums, or are we talking about overall?

Theres plenty of photos in the database that go to helpful threads or DIY tips for the community that could be lost with the way vBulletin indiscriminately prunes the database data (I’ve owned and hosted many vB based forums). While I’d hate to see the overhead continue to be a burden on Nels, the pruning of the data must be considered carefully.

i personally host my screenshots elsewhere just to help out as it is, that’s an avenue that can also be encouraged.

[NorthernWarrior]

I've gone with 5 to 10 years, bearing in mind that titles like TSC are now 16 years old, so it's not just MSTS where vital information might still be obtained from an old thread. You would be surprised when I use Google Search (as opposed to the forum search) how many threads it throws up at TS which might be regarded as "vintage".

And not reading between the lines here, but are we looking at a similar situation to UKTS for TS, where the cost of running things is starting to exceed any advertising revenue or premium subscriptions to the file library? As regards the latter, TBH I haven't downloaded anything for ages and a handful of small items is not worth the annual outlay, bearing in mind there are no shorter passes available.

[SurvivorSean]

2-3 is plenty I would even go lower. Let the giants like Youtube host content forever. I don't touch the archives.

[eric]

And not reading between the lines here, but are we looking at a similar situation to UKTS for TS, where the cost of running things is starting to exceed any advertising revenue or premium subscriptions to the file library?

No need to read between the lines. I would be lying if I said that what's happening at UKTS doesn't concern me.

Right now, there's no immediate danger surrounding this site.

What is driving the question and this poll is simply a matter of trying to take the temperature of the existing Community over what is the value to keep, and what is able to be parted with.

I do annual cleanup on the various annual threads and I'm getting ready to trim off the 2022 threads to create new 2023 threads in the forms where I've got the ability to do so. There's not enough hours in the day to even consider starting to trim back the older question and answer or tutorial threads on this site.

Hope that addresses any immediate concern or questions over why the poll is taking place. I've updated the phrasing above to clarify that. Feel free to change your vote if that influences it.

[haverfordwest]

I voted 2 - 3 years, piccies lose their relevance after that i believe.

Not sure if it concerns my pics. As they are linked from another photo hosting site.

Mike.

[geepster775]

People also trim their own photos they post after a period of time, look at all the photobucket placeholders in some threads. Not to mention some third party pic hosting sites that come and go with the wind. Those photos disappeared on their own when the hosting site went away, all that is left in the TS.com thread is any narrative comments and no images.

[eric]

People also trim their own photos they post after a period of time, look at all the photobucket placeholders in some threads. Not to mention some third party pic hosting sites that come and go with the wind. Those photos disappeared on their own when the hosting site went away, all that is left in the TS.com thread is any narrative comments and no images.

Yep, that is a problem as well across all the topics and forums.

[chosenfrozen44]

2-3 years is plenty!

[Leaf85]

I went with 2-3, and agree with HaverfordWest's assertion that anything sat longer tends to lose relevance anyway in the sea of information available. Besides, if one is desperate to see screen caps of a particular route years after it's launch, there is always Google. It takes very little effort to post something here to the effect of, "Can anyone share some screen shots of Anorak Dave's East Anglia Marsh route. The version is 43E iirc. The last time I saw the pics was eight years ago...etc." Cheers all.

edited for fft