*banned 4 MarkDown love* @design_RG@qoto.org

@zleap
Looking Good, Paul.

I also use Write.freely and love it. A note to mention -- the invite link at the footer of the page is likely broken.

As I expected would happen, we had some abusing Invites to bring groups of people in, bypassing the registration questionnaire verification -- so the Invite function is now only available to site Staff.

People can request to one of us and we will issue a ONE time use invite link, only. Which will be noted and linked to the requesting staff person; so we can keep track of use.

@freemo

@freemo
> Ideally we should be able to edit posts without "deleting and redrafting"

It can be done, it's in place in both Corporate networks (FB for example) and on non-corporate ones, Friendica has it as previously mentioned.

Corporate Twitter is the model for Eugen's mastodon project, so a lot of what we see here is based on the original. He aded many extras and high value -- it's much better generally.

BUT -- never an edit we shall see, I bet. Not on Mastodon anyway.

@zleap

@freemo

> As such the link I provided gives a solution to the problem you mentioned without the downsides that your solution would cause.

Circular logic. see post above.

@zleap

@freemo

If this function could be done in the Moderation panel, I would take it on; but it's not, and only at a higher level.

@zleap

@zleap
> Already made a post to link to explanations for the fediverse, activity pub etc.

Please announce it here -- a release post, so we can see and read it. Important themes deserve discussion and readership.

I have moved my own similar topics elsewhere to achieve maximum distribution for them as well.

@freemo

@freemo @zleap

I do not undertand the linking to this very thread, but I thought my point in the OP above is clear -- I would like to see Zero contribution, zero effort accounts removed all together.

Simply that.

@zleap

> But if you consider that Facebook has what is it now 3 billion users, how many of those users are zombie, duplicate or robot accounts.

Lots of them -- years ago it was easy and quick to get a completely Bogus new account up and running. It's harder now, as these have been abused badly by state agents on campaigns against other countries.

See also, 2016 US election, 2016 Brexit referendum, and likely... 2020 US election, again.
@freemo

@freemo

> 5) there is no easy way to suspend accounts on the criteria you suggests. Someone (me?) would have to invest time and energy to write a script to do it.

If you can output a list in text format, with user accounts (links would be wonderful) -- I ould be pleased to do it manually.

Yes sir. I feel that strongly about the irrelevance they represent and would be glad to spend some of my time in acting upon it.

@zleap

@zleap @freemo

I believe that a reported number of users who have :

* at least bothered to login once, in the past 12 months.
* posted a single Byte in the instance.

...is not in any way distorted.

Mastodon network user count is approaching 4 million accounts, as seen in the Stats posts in federated timeline.

Well -- how many of those are similar Zombie accounts?

How many are multiple accounts held by one single active user for some reason ? (I have about 12 atm, and increasing. With reasons)

I don't want to spend much time arguing, my logic is on the OP above, and I have other projects to spend time on -- more ideas deserving attention and effort than time, which is precious.

So carry on, let's hear the people's voices.

@Phaedrus

> I hate grammar errors and typos. Without delete and redraft my toots would show my poor English.

I am also very picky, and will edit if I can, as it bothers me. Sometimes I even get bothered by a wiggly Red line in a browser screen capture -- a typo I fixed before sending the toot, but preserved as I took the image, mid stream.

@freemo @zleap

@freemo

> On other platforms I post from my phone and then when i am by my computer I go through and fix spelling errors later.

Friendica Allows that!

Plus enhanced text formattign and a lot more. I really need to use it more.

https://friendi.ca/

@Phaedrus @zleap

@zleap

Nothing to be sorry for, it happens -- anytime someone does a delete/redraft, which is perfectly honest and acceptable.

But when a topic is lively, this might happen. We all learn everyday. 😃
@freemo

@freemo

> I do hate delete and redraft.. i think that needs to be fixed!

At least his post was saved and showed here at the top level. I intended to write to mastodevs about this -- that any situation like it would save all the posts below to whomever's instance had the next post in topic.

Seems it might already be working so?

@zleap

@zleap
Your post was orphaned -- it is now in limbo because someone deleted the post above it.

I was in mid drafting a reply too.

@freemo

@zleap

I forgot to add the link -- the Topic is now open, and at the top level (as a new topic) so it gets seen more than a reply here would.

Sincere Thanks, Paul -- this is important to me.

https://qoto.org/@design_RG/104302731873304314

@freemo

@zleap
> I would +1 this strategy, unless there is objection from the Inactive users, put out fair warning then purge, that covers your back.

LOL!!! Thanks. If they objected, in public and posting here, they would leave the "Nuked Soon" set, lol. Which would be a good reason enough to have the discussion.

I am ALL for it. I would NOT, EVER, volunteer to moderate an internet site with 12,000 active users -- that is the kid of job that Facebook has to hire people for, soon to leave on Stress Leave from the wear and tear they encountered.

@freemo

Topic linked to is on a Restricted area, Staff only acces -- and I would like to keep it so, as the original poster.

However -- I am opening a discussion here, in public, at this post :

...and can create a public Discourse topic in a user accessible area.

The original was posted with considerations of privacy in mind, so moving the topic is unethical, imo.

But I would love to hear opinions of people who care to contribute to the open discussion threads.

@zleap

@zleap Paul I just created a new topic here at the top level -- as I would like to see this discussed and considered.

** See it here : https://qoto.org/@design_RG/104302731873304314

And please join in discussion if you like. Thank you! 😃

** Clean Up proposal - Removing old, never active accounts **

For purpose of internal discussion and to gauge people's opinions, I am opening a discussion topic on this subject -- here, in Public.

I had very recently brought this up internally, in a Staff only area (essential for sensitive discussions, and common in all internet sites).

The image included in this post is a snapshot of my post there - - which looks much nicer than it could ever be here (until we get better, enhanced text format supported).

This idea was motivated by my belief this deserves attention, and by a very recent post by Paul Sutton -- asking what the meaning of 'active'users is on the server stats displayed at the front doors.

My post follows, in Text form. Look forward to your comments, suggestions and participation. Thank you.

---------------------------------------------
A pet peeve of mine.

I would have done it myself. Proposing here for discussion and possible action.

* that long term, never active accounts represent a Zero value added to instance.
* that such accounts can be dormant ones for video sharing people, as we had before
* that high number of users doesn’t really matter, this is my personal opinion.

I propose that :sparkler:

* inactive accounts, zero posts ever, older than a certain threshold, be eliminated.

A report from the admin panel could provide some stats on how many those would be

The threshold I would suggest – one year and older, inactive, Nuke applied.

Thank you.

------

Screenshots included :

1. Forum post snapshot.

2. The content of this post, as seen in a properly full formatted way. Markdown enhanced.

@zleap It means people who actually use the service.

I have opened a discussion in our Staff forum requesting that we consider deleting old, never active, not a single post in their lives accounts.

As in -- what are they good for? Contribution, imo is less than Zero, as their user addition costs some storage Bytes in the server storage. I am tired of seeing the inflated numbers, and would have regular pruning in place (common in many Forums I have been a member and staff on, all over the internet).

These inflated, unrealistic figures, are good for Ego reasons, in some cases; look how big my server is! 😜