Alan

[billw]

I have a full backup of the publicly accessible parts of the forum taken in June. I'll probably do it again in January. If I do it too often or too quickly, Proboards would probably freak out.

There is also a python script that can covert the transcript files into PHPBB compatible SQL. (In other words, not too big a job to convert the whole forum to open source PHPBB should it ever become necessary.) I'm sure some things would be lost in translation / not implemented in an ideal fashion, but the content at least should all be preserved.

[billw]

I only wish I could do the same with Facebook forums. Those things are designed to self-destruct after reading.

[billw]

Hmm. This prompted me to do a bit more research about doing regular backups and it appears that proboards has gotten pretty serious about defending their lock on the content and has both made changes to forum structure to try to break downloaders and may also take administrative action against forums that use them (which would be interesting, since I'm just another user.)

Such measures can be worked around of course, but there is probably a pretty limited number of opportunities to download content before there is some kind of response. It ought to be possible to modify the Python downloader to make incremental backups, which wouldn't look much different than regular usage. I'll see if I can figure something out.

[oxbowfarm]

Dec 9, 2014 11:07:57 GMT -5 ottawagardener said:

Which brings up a question. Who is active? Joseph, Oxbow, Myself (but only returned recently), anyone else who has admin powers? Frank?

I'm not an admin! In fact, the only active mods left are ottawagardener and Joseph Lofthouse. A year ago that list would have included johno, a little further back and we could have included flowerpower.

billw, at least you've got the way way back stuff. Stuff created by folks who don't post anymore. There is good stuff back there.

[johno]

I still check in on occasion.

[reed]

There is an export feature under account settings at bottom right. Looks like it lets you export your posts and messages and I guess have it emailed to you. I didn't do it because I think it would just get my posts and that isn't really important to me. The answers to my questions and info in other people's posts is what I don't want to lose. I'v been using copy paste for that all along. Dropping it into a google docs file and printing it. Copy paste doesn't capture photos if one is important for illustration you have to do it separate. Too much valuable stuff to risk it entirely to the internet.

An admin might have greater permissions on what could be exported.

[ottawagardener]

Oops, right, I tried to change you to a mod oxbow but I don't seem to have the power.

[ottawagardener]

Okay so lets put a plan in action. Seems to be two issues: a) maintaining information b) securing new mods

[imgrimmer]

it is just an idea, maybe it is allowed to transport the whole forum to another proboard forum...
probably it should be made by the main administrator....but maybe proboard is cooperative...?

[12540dumont]

I'm kinda worried about all this. I've always thought I could go back and get the info I needed. There's stuff here I can't find anywhere else.

[diane]

I just looked at the Wayback Machine, which is good for webpages that just change occasionally, but not for a forum that changes so frequently.

Here is what it said about us: Saved 10 times between February 18, 2012 and December 12, 2014.

[MikeH]

Dec 11, 2014 23:16:31 GMT -5 diane said:

I just looked at the Wayback Machine, which is good for webpages that just change occasionally, but not for a forum that changes so frequently.

Here is what it said about us: Saved 10 times between February 18, 2012 and December 12, 2014.

Not really. It doesn't drill down into the messages. You have to save them yourself. If the site is gone, you can't do that.

[ottawagardener]

So priority one might be get a new head moderator. There are several committed folk on here that might be willing to do that or give all main mods admin status. How do we do that?

[ottawagardener]

Secondly, backup files. Gosh this is the problem with the internet.

[philagardener]

Dec 12, 2014 8:03:46 GMT -5 ottawagardener said:

So priority one might be get a new head moderator. There are several committed folk on here that might be willing to do that or give all main mods admin status. How do we do that?

Since Alan seems to have moved on to other things, someone (Joseph?) has to work with Alan to transfer primary responsibility for the forum.  As long as Alan can use the email address associated with his original Admin account, he can request a password reset to get in.  The rest of that process is detailed at support.proboards.com/post/5956992 .

I don't want to step on anyone's toes here, but Joseph Lofthouse has a deep commitment to HG (in so many ways) so I'll be bold enough to suggest that he consider taking that on.  He also has a close working relationship with Alan that is important for a smooth transition.

Joseph can then delegate responsibilities, including sharing global permissions with a limited number of main moderators.  (That too is described at support.proboards.com/post/5956992 )  Basically, 2-3 people can share the ability to run almost everything from the ProBoards perspective.  That group should remain small (they have critically important functions), so elevation of currently-active junior mods is a logical approach.

That group, in turn, can delegate mid-level permissions to a few junior mods.  They help with oversight, but can't make big changes (our current situation).

This creates a structure for oversight in which long-standing, committed members are asked to step up (again) as senior mods to provide important (but largely behind the scenes) functions to keep the forum running smoothly.  A "next-generation" of junior mods is given limited authority with an eye to the future.  Ongoing mod status (senior or junior) should be coupled to ongoing, active involvement, so the administrative structure maintains active and committed to the forum.  The most senior mod retains, logically, primary responsibility for the forum and the most authority, to keep things on track.

Such a reorganization should prevent the forum from finding itself "locked out" again and create a tiered-system of responsibility and self-renewing governance.

Glad to hear alternative options and what people think; I am just trying to be helpful in setting out one possible path forward.