# IMDB is killing all their message boards **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 3, 2017, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915 "2017-02-03T17:59:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/61 "2017-02-06T14:15:23Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [Weekend opening.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=818166) :smack: Another reminder to search before I post! Thanks for the heads up. Mods, could you kill or merge this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Mavic\_Chen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mavic\_Chen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mavic_Chen)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/62 "2017-02-06T16:26:30Z")
> [@HammerJoe](#): > > Am I the only one that visited the site just for the message boards? I liked to go read the discussions about the movie/show. > Now I wont have a reason to visit the site… one less visitor… is that a good or bad thing? Same here, after seeing a movie a quick visit to IMDB for the goofs, trivia and message boards was always in order. Some thought provoking discussion on movies like Barton Fink, Ninth Gate, Eyes Wide Shut etc. Not all of it was rubbish. Hardly worth going therein future. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/63 "2017-02-06T19:02:18Z")
Merged two topics about this. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/64 "2017-02-18T23:32:33Z")
Now where is one to go to ask “what happened” when a network pulls a show at the last minute for some overblown sensitivity issue? ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/65 "2017-02-18T23:57:47Z")
This looks like the best bet, as long as Amazon doesn’t shut them down: > **[MovieChat – Discuss Movies, TV Shows & Celebrities](https://moviechat.org/)** > > The Best Movie Forum & Message Board with Reviews, Ratings, Cast, Quotes & News. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/66 "2017-02-19T00:59:35Z")
“Because IMDb’s message boards continue to be utilized by a small but passionate community of IMDb users, we […] will leave them open for two […] weeks so that users will have ample time …” Two weeks! “ample time” A message board that’s been around for 20 years, and they’re giving two weeks notice! By the time you read this, it’s probably too late. If you were on holiday, too bad - small, passionate, and we don’t give a Were they hit with a law suit? Or just corporate bankers? ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/67 "2017-02-19T01:20:11Z")
Apparently it was too hard for some people to use the “ignore” feature. But I never had any trouble (I must have put 2 dozen or so idiots on it in the 16 years or so since I made an account), so I don’t see how. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/68 "2017-02-19T01:38:46Z")
I actually got the guy who runs IMDb to talk to me about it and he said that they have lost big clients who got offended by trolls’ comments. There is also a rumor that Jeff Bezos himself got flamed by trolls and is shutting the boards down in a fit of pique. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/69 "2017-02-19T02:24:20Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > This looks like the best bet, as long as Amazon doesn’t shut them down: > > [http://www.moviechat.org](http://www.moviechat.org) There’s not very much traffic there, yet. On the IMDB boards, someone recommended [The Movie Database](https://www.themoviedb.org/discuss). Also, not very much traffic yet. I think it will take a while for the best alternative to be identified. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/70 "2017-02-19T05:07:02Z")
Chalk me up as another person disappointed with this decision. While there was lots of junk in the movie boards, there was also a lot of good discussion, occasionally from people involved with a production that gave useful inside information. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/71 "2017-02-19T08:29:16Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > There’s not very much traffic there, yet. On the IMDB boards, someone recommended [The Movie Database](https://www.themoviedb.org/discuss). Also, not very much traffic yet. I think it will take a while for the best alternative to be identified. The worst case, that I really fear, is that there won’t be a consensus and all the alternatives will be spread too thin to support discussions of the lowest-profile films. I like the appearance, layout, and intuitive organization of the site you linked. However, I think a site that already has the established discussions from IMDb as a starting point has an immense advantage, which is why I come down on the side of [MovieChat.org](http://MovieChat.org). ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/72 "2017-02-19T08:34:32Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I actually got the guy who runs IMDb to talk to me about it and he said that they have lost big clients who got offended by trolls’ comments. That seems very… delicate flowerish. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/73 "2017-02-19T08:37:11Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > That seems very… delicate flowerish. Indeed. But I guess if the ones with money are the delicate flowers, that’s what talks. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/74 "2017-02-19T10:47:46Z")
My biggest memory of the IMDB message boards was that from the early to mid 00’s they were basically where all of the world joined together in an attempt to take down the United States a peg or two. Almost every board had a massive topic on whether or not the movie they were talking about was Pro-American propaganda or the Anti-American truth. Like I seriously remember seeing a 20 page topic on the Cars message board about whether or not it was Pro-NASCAR/American propaganda and how it was basically a way to justify the War in Iraq by showcasing how the oil we stole was worth it for our bread and circuses that was American motor sports. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/75 "2017-02-19T10:59:31Z")
It’s true, a lot of the non-American posters liked to twist any topic into “you stupid Americans”. Some still do, and this year who can blame them? ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/76 "2017-02-19T13:43:21Z")
I only ever go to IMDB for the message boards. You can usually find the other information on Wikipedia. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/77 "2017-02-19T14:55:34Z")
> [@thirdname](#): > > I only ever go to IMDB for the message boards. You can usually find the other information on Wikipedia. I wouldn’t go that far. The IMDB has Trivia, Goofs (both of the former highly entertaining sometimes), Locations, Movie Connections, External Reviews, and Soundtrack Listing, none of which can normally be found on Wikipedia. Fortunately all those will still be available but I will miss the message boards, troll-ridden as they were. > [@SlackerInc](#): > > However, I think a site that already has the established discussions from IMDb as a starting point has an immense advantage, which is why I come down on the side of [MovieChat.org](http://MovieChat.org). [MovieChat.org](http://MovieChat.org) does not have the established discussions from IMDB, simply a General Discussions forum which is very sparsely populated at present. Apparently it is impossible to migrate the IMDB discussions to another board as IMDB has copyright to them. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/78 "2017-02-19T18:32:28Z")
That’s what I thought at first too, suggesting that they need to make it clearer with their layout. But you need to search for a title to see its board. Some titles do not yet have the old discussions loaded up, but try for instance “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)”. You will see dozens of discussion threads that were transferred from IMDb, ranging from days to weeks to months to years old. The very oldest ones for some reason claim to be 47 years old, some kind of bug I guess. MMV, but personally I never use any of the IMDb stuff that isn’t on Wikipedia except for the message boards. ETA: I used to find the external reviews section invaluable (and I learned about them either here or on AFCA) but for years now I have just used Rotten Tomatoes for that. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/79 "2017-02-19T18:52:51Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > That’s what I thought at first too, suggesting that they need to make it clearer with their layout. My bad, but as you imply it’s an understandable error. This really puts it head and shoulders above its competitors, although I still wonder if they’re going to run into copyright problems. Thanks for the heads up, **SlackerInc** , off to register there now! ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915/80 "2017-02-19T18:59:05Z")
Very understandable. And I agree: having the old threads there as a starting point gives them an unbeatable leg up. My assumption is that IMDb could enforce a copyright if they wanted to, but they have decided not to add insult to injury since they are cutting the boards loose anyway. Like if someone had done this a year ago, they would have received a cease-and-desist order, but what’s the point now other than to just be completely dickish? I wonder if they are continuing to scrape content from IMDb or if they just make one pass. (ETA: Maybe they should delete the many threads on almost every well-traveled title board freaking out about the closing of the IMDb boards.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imdb-is-killing-all-their-message-boards/778915.md?page=5)