Post by: shanafan on November 19, 2004, 02:38:00 PM
Not every member here posts. A lot of people, those who are intelligent, search for their answers and read questions, etc. Just because they have 10 posts, let's say, doesn't mean they should get booted just because they don't post.
If they are in the active user list below, then they obviously have a reason to be here.
Post by: shanafan on November 19, 2004, 02:45:00 PM
Post by: shanafan on November 19, 2004, 07:36:00 PM
| QUOTE (mrchester @ Nov 19 2004, 04:49 PM) |
| it would still have an impact of login speeds, but i guess it dont really matter too much, ok u win |
Wait, lol, if they are logging in, it means they are using the forums!
Post by: Sainticus Supreme on November 19, 2004, 08:19:00 PM
Post by: HSDEMONZ on November 19, 2004, 08:57:00 PM
| QUOTE (mrchester @ Nov 19 2004, 11:45 PM) |
| no, unless im mistaken (which i dont beleive to be the case), when you login you provide a username and password that is compared to a databse of all existing users. the larger the database the longer it will take to serach for the match. therefore if unused accounts were deleted, the database would be smaller and take less time to search through. this amount may be neglible (sp?), but it might help out during high traffic times when floods of users login to post to the forums (e.g. after a huge news story or a great new game comes out) |
The time it take for that lookup with 1600 users in our site DB and 160000+ users isn't anything anyone needs to be concerned about. It's a drop in the ocean.
Posting, Searching, Edits, etc are the heavy burdens on the site. (that.. and the higher number of new comers.. which we welcome)
We won't be aputating old account because someone thinks they are stale or dead. We don't even require people to sign up at all on this site.. unless you want to post.. or you want to use the forum search.
However.. if someone makes an account.. and chooses to not log in for a long time.. we don't want them to have to make a new account to resume their posts or searches.
Also.. with some checking we've been doing.. the vast majority of our membership still check's into the site.. usually regularly.. even if they don't post.
Chance are good.. that if they are regular.. and have stopped posting.. that they have likely learned to use the search engine (a feature given to them by their account being open.
Cutting the DB of users will not provide the speed increase during peak hours some here might desire. What will is a major investment in hardware that is beyonf even what us and our budget can provide. It's a double edged sword being as big and as popular as we are.