UPDATED: EVERYONE READ OR FACE SUSPENSION!!!!

[mf_dolphin]

1. DO NOT post the full text of advisories until further notice. Only post links. http://www.wunderground.com/tropical usually has the advisories first. We can talk about the interesting points after they are posted.

2. DO NOT post images. Please only post links.

3. Please limit your posting to questions, legitimate discussion and new information. Posts just saying "I agree" etc must be stopped.

4. The server has no humour right now so we don't need any humourous posts.

These are only emergency measures to try and keep the server running under the tremendous load. Those that fail to comply will face suspension. I'm soory we're having to take these steps but right now it's the only thing we can do to try and keep the server up for everyone.

[weatherFrEaK]

2. Try and limit posting to pertinent observations and questions. Frivolous posts and acknowledgements need to be limited.

I've thought this for a while now. I think enough "pruning" could be done to keep one days worth of <i>pertinent</i> posts to one page of threads. I.E., only one thread for RECON reports, one thread for member forecasts, one thread for models, one thread for official NHC statements, and so on. Just my 2 cents worth.

[inotherwords]

Good suggestion.

I also suggest that people refrain from replying to a post by reposting the earlier post in its entirety. Nine out of ten times it's not necessary and it wastes a ton of bandwidth. I'm sure that most people guilty of this don't even realize how wasteful it is, so I hope they'll take this advice the right way and learn to at least edit their quotes.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen posts of the most recent NHC updates replied to by people who requote the entire forecast at full length, and then respond by posting a series of scared looking or smiley emoticons, or something equally meaningless like "Wow." This is a great website, let's not waste their money or everyone's time during storm season by not editing quotes and posting content-free responses.

[MBismyPlayground]

Can I ask a stupid question????? There are ALOT of pages of this board. Like over 300. Can't it be archived?? Not sure, but would seem to me that things from several months ago, which are no longer referred to, should be either deleted to save space or archived. Is there a reason why it has not been?????? I hate the idea of this board going down, and am just waiting til hubbie gets home to send some cash your way as well.

[Brent]

Deleting old posts would certainly help the situation. The constantly going down really is annoying.

[dixiebreeze]

Eliminate "polls." non-essential.

[MBismyPlayground]

320 pages of posts dated all the way back until Jan.......Unsterstand this is a yearly thing, but who could predict the amount of tropical weather we were in for??? In the mean time, we all need to donate so this board can be upgraded!!!(my husband thinks I am crazy but agreed to do it...hahaha)

[Hurricanehink]

What about stopping "Mark all topics read". I'm sure that slows the site a lot. For the other points, good as always.

[mf_dolphin]

We actually tried to delete some of the old posts but it took the server to it's knees with the current traffic. Cleaning up takes resources lol If everyone will cooperate and limit their posts to legitimate discussion and just post links to advisories and pictures we'll keep the bandaids going until we get a break in the tropics to upgrade the server. Sorry if I sounded harsh in the above post but the frustration is getting to me too.

[MBismyPlayground]

<<big hug>>>
Notice I didnt use the little emoticons, which also take up resources. How much is needed to upgrade the system???? We maybe could keep a running tally to instill in people how much is actually needed and how close we all get to the grand total. Giving and knowing how its going always encourages more people to give. People tend to like to compete< smile> Relax, it will all work out somehow.

[donsutherland1]

Mf_dolphin,

I had posted images prior to seeing this message. I will revise the post and remove the images.

[mf_dolphin]

thanks for the hug! I needed that. We've received over 1,200.00 in donations so the response has been great! The two issues now are to try and spend the money wisely and to wait for a window of opportunity when we can have the site off-line for 12 hours or so. Until we get past Ivan we'll all just have to hang in there and do what we can to reduce unnecessary load.

[huricanwatcher]

rut roh....... (((((((((((hugs to mr dolphin))))))))))))

[mf_dolphin]

Don thanks! Again I'm sorry for my tone...... call it 2004 Hurricane Season Stress Syndrome lol

[huricanwatcher]

Don?

[mf_dolphin]

Thanks for the hug hurricanwatcher (I think ) Don is donsutherland1

[Tommedic]

I for one appreciate all the time and effort you put into this service. I for one have tried to keep my posts limited and to the point. I wonder if the rating system that encourages large numbers of posts stimulates , I hate to use the term unnecessary, may just extraneous is better, posts.

[huricanwatcher]

your most definately welcome.......... i think....

[huricanwatcher]

I for one appreciate all the time and effort you put into this service. I for one have tried to keep my posts limited and to the point. I wonder if the rating system that encourages large numbers of posts stimulates , I hate to use the term unnecessary, may just extraneous is better, posts.

Hey Tommedic........... i wanna get to a new level... .post post post

(just wont and dont post html, just links..) save bandwidth no errors!!!

[dhweather]

It's really not a function of the number of old threads, it is a function of load - activity at any point in time.

For example, right now there are over 200 registered users logged in, plus umpteen
"guests". That takes a lot of resources to accomodate.

With people slamming images like mad, and 10 people simultaneously posting full advisories,
while everone else tries to read all that material, it
kills the server.