Thinking of removing blog functionality

[Nicknames]

I think removing the blog feature would be the msot sensible option if they are time-consuming and it's barely used. It's better to have that time spent in developing new features and improving the site than keeping the feature.

[Doomoo]

Why would bots spam blogs here? What possible good could that do them? People barely look at legit blog posts let alone obvious spam posts.

[Drahken]

Because of search engines. Search engines catalog everything on the site.

[vernanonix]

Is it possible to make it so users have to earn the ability to make blogs? Like you have to have been around for x number of days, had y amount of anime watched, and passed an "I'm not a bot" test which can also go over the rules of blog posts (randomized question/answer order, of course)?

That can, at least, block out the bots to some degree, yes?

[Aranneas]

Originally Posted by vernanonix

Is it possible to make it so users have to earn the ability to make blogs? Like you have to have been around for x number of days, had y amount of anime watched, and passed an "I'm not a bot" test which can also go over the rules of blog posts (randomized question/answer order, of course)?

That can, at least, block out the bots to some degree, yes?

all of these suggestions have already been raised and addressed.
the issue is that it's additional knowledge/time/money invested, which sothis isn't able to devote at this time for a feature with such low usage

[vernanonix]

Originally Posted by Aranneas

all of these suggestions have already been raised and addressed.
the issue is that it's additional knowledge/time/money invested, which sothis isn't able to devote at this time for a feature with such low usage

Chalk that up to me being lazy.

Personally, as a character mod, I'd like to see a quiz over rules be passed before someone can submit character submissions. It's an idea I had a while back for that and that's why I'm suggesting here for blogs as a means of cutting down bots. And that's why that's one idea I'd continue to back. But I do get that sothis doesn't have the time or capital to put towards blogs though. Just a shame to see the feature go.

[Anathemus]

I confess I rarely read blog entries, altough it must be a neat feature for some people, I think the website is more used for its database/lists/reviews etc, so I think it would be ok to leave that feature out if it will get your expenses cheaper. reviews are vital though

[NarkyOtic]

It's all well and good to try to further 'bot proof' the blog system, but as has been said by sothis and others;
a) even most legit blog posts are little more than glorified Facebook status updates,
b) done half-arsed to get a badge,
c) it's an expensive tool that requires a lot of maintenance for very little dividend, and
d) the value of good blog posts can be streamlined into the forum setting through both the merging of site and forum, and by creating more ways that this content can be posted on the forum and receive the attention and engagement that it deserves. Fundamentally, good blogs aren't even seen - which to my eye should be causing more mutters than this thread's topic - but moving/merging the essential function with main forum activity, they can be.

And overall, by sothis delegating more mod work to other capable members (which she cannot currently do with the menial task of bot-nuking the blog-o-sphere every damned day), A-P can move forward into this golden horizon of awesomeness much more smoothly.

*dances on rainbows throwing daisies*

[FatalGlory]

I don't know what the logistics would be, but why don't you keep the current blog posts and shut the feature down for new posts. That way people won't lose all of their information, but it won't be that costly to maintain. All you would really need is a banner that states that posts are closed. You could remove the blog section from anime pages too. I don't have any blog posts, but that seems to be the best course of action.

[FatalGlory]

I don't know if this would be a true statement or not, but I do think that the majority of people whose posts are well thought out and worth reading will have a website/blog already. It was just a thought, as I could be wrong.