Too much old content on CruisersForum

[SV Siren]

I never use the search function on CF, I much rather prefer to use google to do it for me. Google does a much better job. I just add cruisersforum to my search words, and it returns with results, I then click on "more results from cruisersforum.com". It will list matching results by date, which I then use to visit pertinent threads...easy peasy as my 13 yr old daughter would say.

[Dsanduril]

In counterpoint, this was posted yesterday, by a brand-new CF user, to a thread that was last active in 2009:

Originally Posted by Robert Laws

...I know this is an old thread, but it is very useful, so I want to add a little more information. I have a velvet drive in my narrowboat in Cambridge (UK)...

[StuM]

I often wonder how newbies find those old threads they necro-post in.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by S/V Adeline

I recently (this week) performed a search for the term(s) *marine toilet*

The top 10-12 results had absolutely nothing to do with marine toilets....

Teach us wise one

Two things:

1. Don't use the top search box (the forum search engine is brain dead), use the one that says "Google Custom Search". You will get a few ads at the top of the page, just ignore them and look at the links to CF content.

2. If you are looking for the phrase "marine toilet" rather thn posts containing the words marine and/or toilet, enclose the phrase in quotes.

[Dsanduril]

And I often wonder, since it happens frequently, how someone who joined 5 or 10 years ago is just making a first post now

For the necro thread posters, well, I’ve always assumed it was the Google custom search. I know for me it is pretty indiscriminate about dates.

[Randy Bogardus]

On another forum related to wooden watercraft building, the “owner” of e forum abandoned the forum and we lost a lot of good info…old info isn’t always irrelevant and is part d the chain of knowledge.

[Montanan]

"Take down the old content", . . .

Hey, I resemble that remark, as do most members of the CruisersForum.

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by StuM

I often wonder how newbies find those old threads they necro-post in.

I'd be in favor of locking "old" threads from some set time ago, to prevent new posts to ancient threads. I will admit that sometimes there's value in resurrecting a very specific topic from long ago, when there's new information. But more often, the new posts add nothing.

I wouldn't be in favor of deleting old posts, for all of the reasons already mentioned above.

[Favoured Tack]

I have two boats...one of them built in 1975 and one of them built in 1985.

I want legacy stuff kept as long as possible.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

I'd be in favor of locking "old" threads from some set time ago, to prevent new posts to ancient threads. I will admit that sometimes there's value in resurrecting a very specific topic from long ago, when there's new information. But more often, the new posts add nothing.

I wouldn't be in favor of deleting old posts, for all of the reasons already mentioned above.

What would be gained by locking old threads?

What advantage would there be in blocking discussion?

Lots of new threads add nothing (some might argue this thread doesn't offer anything). Who gets to decide the value of a discussion.

As long as it's not in violation of forum rules and they aren't running out of server space, I say let er'rip and keep it all.

[Snore]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

I'd be in favor of locking "old" threads from some set time ago, to prevent new posts to ancient threads. I will admit that sometimes there's value in resurrecting a very specific topic from long ago, when there's new information. But more often, the new posts add nothing.



I wouldn't be in favor of deleting old posts, for all of the reasons already mentioned above.

Agreed


+1

[oleman]

KEEP ALL CONTENT! Then never destroy but archive to searchable storage.

I can work through any out of date information.
Basic electricity and electronics are still the same as I learned over 50 years ago. The engineering changes but the same basic principles are law.

[Tellie]

Originally Posted by Montanan

"Take down the old content", . . .

Hey, I resemble that remark, as do most members of the CruisersForum.

LOL. I was thinking that some of the Mods are getting a bit long in the tooth as well. But then there's that dang mirror I shave by every morning.
But deleting such a wealth of information, though it may seem dated to some, is akin to fingernails down a chalk board to me. What's it they say about not learning from history?

[Wulf]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

It's not bread...

Unless it’s Wonder Bread (Bimbo bread in some parts). That stuff never goes off.

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

if you don't want to read old content, don't read it

I use the search function and have always had pretty good luck with results. Also Google search comes up with a CF a lot of time.

But sometimes looking for an answer or advancements on certain subjects you get your own past posts with Google search..
Feeling like "I'm I the f***** expert on this ?"