[QUOTE=Uvula Donor]
While it’s true that there are occasional threads of timeless interest and/or significance (the 11 Sept 2001 thread is a good example) the fact is that probably 85% of the message board is fairly worthless bullshit.
[/QUOTE]
Well, that puts us well ahead of the curve, then, since 90% of everything is crud.
[QUOTE=Uvula Donor]
While it’s true that there are occasional threads of timeless interest and/or significance (the 11 Sept 2001 thread is a good example) the fact is that probably 85% of the message board is fairly worthless bullshit. Most of the past content of the SDMB (and most other internet message boards, for that matter) could be permanently deleted with no more consequence than cutting a fart in a hurricane.
*OMFG!! My stellar wit and wisdom is gone from t3h intarnets!! The horror! * Fucking hell, get over yourselves.
[/QUOTE]
This is kind of how I see things, too. And don’t get me wrong. I LOVE hearing myself talk (seeing my posts on a message board).
But, do I record and save every littel bit of dubious wit I utter irl? Do I hide away a transcript of any time irl I’ve helped someone out of a jam with pithy advice?
No. Time keeps on slipping slipping slipping into the future. While I might like to go back and reread some of my astonishingly valuable posts, it’s not really that big a deal, massive ego aside.
And you still keep saying DOODY!
[QUOTE=tomndebb]
Well, that puts us well ahead of the curve, then, since 90% of everything is crud.
[/QUOTE]
Much as it would be nice to weed out the chaff, (a) it would probably cost a lot more in terms of someone’s time and effort to do the weeding than to simply store everything, and (b) it’s doubtful that we could come to any broad agreement on what’s wheat and what’s chaff, anyway.
Pity they couldn’t genetic algorithm the threads. Have them fight against one another down through generations, breeding and mutating until only the fittest survived. Condense the archive down to one uber thread.
The essence of the board revealed for all to see.
“Bush supporting/hating atheist/believer, non urinating, sheep molesting, family member and co-worker hating Kitty (Photo included) who invaded/liberated Iraq whilst wearing a tinfoil hat”
Could have the the thread develop along the lines of ‘Good Kitty or Bad Kitty’