# Why does the SDMB save so much old stuff?! **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 9, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-save-so-much-old-stuff/167609 "2003-04-09T18:27:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-save-so-much-old-stuff/167609/21 "2003-04-11T03:45:16Z")
I’m one of the ones vehemently against deleting the old posts (too much librarian in my blood!) but I do like the idea of making the old ones read-only. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-save-so-much-old-stuff/167609/22 "2003-04-11T12:35:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*You wouldn’t need an SQL command at all. Just PHP code to check the last post date against the current date and disallow replying if the difference is more than 6 months. It would just be a copy-and-paste with slight modification of the code fragment that disallows replying to a closed topic. \*\* I’m well aware of that, having done numerous hacks for my own Board. However, Tuba et al. have said repeatedly to me, both publicly here and via e-mail, that they **do not wish to modify the PHP code or templates**. My method would allow them to do this without any modification. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-save-so-much-old-stuff/167609/23 "2003-04-12T06:15:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*Aye, except it weren’t just the snow we had to endure, it were also the terrible heat. \*\* You had sensory neurons that were sensitive to heat??!! Luxury I tell ya, you kids and your _temperature_. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-save-so-much-old-stuff/167609/24 "2003-04-12T06:23:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anthracite \* > \*\*I’m well aware of that, having done numerous hacks for my own Board. However, Tuba et al. have said repeatedly to me, both publicly here and via e-mail, that they **do not wish to modify the PHP code or templates**. My method would allow them to do this without any modification. \*\* Yes, but they’d have to do so somewhat frequently, and I’m sure they have better things to do. I gather they _have_ done mods before, and this is a small one, by comparison. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-save-so-much-old-stuff/167609/25 "2003-04-12T06:40:03Z")
I have no problems with the old threads but I think that the new ones should be read only. Particularly this one. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-save-so-much-old-stuff/167609/26 "2003-04-12T06:41:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by don’t ask \* > \*\*I have no problems with the old threads but I think that the new ones should be read only. Particularly this one. \*\* Huh? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-save-so-much-old-stuff/167609/27 "2003-04-12T13:25:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*Yes, but they’d have to do so somewhat frequently, and I’m sure they have better things to do. I gather they _have_ done mods before, and this is a small one, by comparison. \*\* Well, of course. If you don’t want to modify code, then you will end up with doing it manually. You could just have an automated script that did it once a week, in the middle of the night. After all, it’s not imperative that threads be moved to read only the very minute, or even day they turn 6 months. The point is that they have said again and again that they are very reluctant to do additional modifications, and I was working on that basis within their constraints. I’m not saying you were wrong at all, but you didn’t need to “object” to my post, as it was at least as correct as yours was. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-save-so-much-old-stuff/167609.md?page=1)