dead links

[Warden Smith]

im starting this thread because there are a lot of dead links on this site. would be nice if users took the time and effort to post the location of threads that have non working links, so administrators and moderators can check here and then remove those links from posts. Thanks.

[Warden Smith]

thread http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=31843
dead link http://www.locksport.uk

[Squelchtone]

im starting this thread because there are a lot of dead links on this site. would be nice if users took the time and effort to post the location of threads that have non working links, so administrators and moderators can check here and then remove those links from posts. Thanks.

Please help us out and post some examples. Also, if someone had a free hosting account in 2004, 7 years ago and in the last 5 years stopped using it or the service is no longer around, deleted their home page for not paying, or inactivity, then it would require several mods full time unpaid jobs to scour the posts and click each external link, or image tag to see if it still works.

Historically speaking, it's important to keep threads intact and not edit out info just because a link or pic are no longer available (and believe me it sucks when you read a cool thread about a cool lock, and the link to the pic is a big red x.) That said, companies like to change their sites around, so if post a link to a Medeco service manual hosted on Medeco.com/pub/manuals/2009/mortise/service.pdf and in 2 years Medeco's server is redone and file structure changed, it would be a huge pain to go find that post and edit that link to that PDF.

For a free website where we all do what we can with what we have, you're asking a lot. But I guess if users want to start submitting stuff, that's fine, just don't expect a very quick turn around

Enjoy the site for what it is, read lots of posts, and if not all pics or links work, you'll still have gleaned 90% of the information required to be a successful hobby lock picker.
Squelchtone

[Evan]

Please help us out and post some examples. Also, if someone had a free hosting account in 2004, 7 years ago and in the last 5 years stopped using it or the service is no longer around, deleted their home page for not paying, or inactivity, then it would require several mods full time unpaid jobs to scour the posts and click each external link, or image tag to see if it still works.

What is the most efficient and preferred method to report a dead link:

A.) Should site users who come across such a link create another thread like this one ? OR

B.) Should site users use the "report post" button on the individual post itself and explain under "other reason" the dead link and copy and paste the link into the report post box ?

I mean it would be nice if there was some way to do this efficiently without creating hundreds of new threads which are of little use or utility to a majority of the membership here over a forum housekeeping function...

While I have the floor here, I also want to ask about how one should report someone spamming in the "Lockpicking 101 - FAQs, and General Information" forum as the threads located there do not have the report post button within them ? That area of the board seems to be a major target for the spammers...

~~ Evan

[Warden Smith]

Thanks Squelch for the heads up on the situation, My second post on this thread is an example. I suppose i should have been a little more concise with my post.

There is indeed years of threads here and it would be a major task. but its not like im gonna spend my days here digging up dead links, just the links people come across a lot, for example, popular posts and posts noobs inevitably go to. id rather come across a post with a missing link than a dead one(mabey add a comment to the thread next to the dead link saying its no longer available thus preserving the historicalness of the post). you said "it would require several mods full time unpaid jobs to scour the posts and click each external link, or image tag to see if it still works. " and i said "would be nice if users took the time and effort to post the location of threads that have non working links, so administrators and moderators can check here..." This would make it easier for mods/admin, or as evans suggested, update the site rules and ask people to use the report button. These suggestions mean there is no scouring posts for the mods.

i dont think im asking alot, its just a suggestion, and i expect nothing. i am enjoying the site for what it is , and i dont think mods would have to sit for hours removing submitted links or have to go looking for them. maybe 10 minutes a day, if that and not even every day. after a while i suppose you would only have to do maintenance every now and then and a lot of dead annoying links will have gone into the non existent cyberspace they belong in.

as i said, its just a suggestion, to make users browsing experience of this site better and if i didnt care about this site, i wouldn't have bothered posting this. My time and users time is also valuble just like the moderators and admins, its the users that make this site as well and they are also unpaid. those said users dont just take from the site, they also contribute.

the fact that one can not edit ones post after submitting it, inevitably means the mods and admins would have to get involved.

i shall post my dead links here on this dead link thread unless directed otherwise to show new comers that the problem is recognised and has been addressed in some way. im sure it will be apreciated.

thanks for listening to my rant and i think your site here is bloody excellent regardless. Also thanks also to Evans for his input

[Legion303]

B.) Should site users use the "report post" button on the individual post itself and explain under "other reason" the dead link and copy and paste the link into the report post box ?

Yes.

While I have the floor here, I also want to ask about how one should report someone spamming in the "Lockpicking 101 - FAQs, and General Information" forum as the threads located there do not have the report post button within them ? That area of the board seems to be a major target for the spammers...

If DB can't enable the buttons there for some reason, I'd guess the best way would be to PM a moderator and let us know which thread/page the spam is on (you don't even have to paste the exact post link--most of it is pretty obvious).

-steve

[Evan]

@Legion303:

Thank you for clarifying the policy on those issues...

~~ Evan

[Warden Smith]

thread viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17326
xnoobandrew
Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:58 am

File Name: Template-Bundle.zip
File Size: 1.52mb

dead links
Rapidshare.com URL

Sendspace URL

[Warden Smith]

thread viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17326&guest5999
Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 4:38 am

dead links

http://woz5999.googlepages.com/falle-1-2.vector.png
http://woz5999.googlepages.com/falle-3-4.vector.png
http://woz5999.googlepages.com/falle-5-6.vector.png

[Warden Smith]

thread viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17326&start=60
bumber
Post subject: Re: pick template
PostPosted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:26 pm
dead links

LINKLINK 2

[Warden Smith]

thread viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17326&start=60
pick kidd 101
Post subject: new tamplate
PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 5:35 am

dead link
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234 ... Untitl.png[/url]

[Warden Smith]

thread viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17326&start=75
dmux
Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:21 pm

dead link
http://brokenpixel.net/TOOOL/PDF/

[Legion303]

The problem with most of these examples is that we can't really do anything about them. If the dead link is inside a sticky posted by a moderator or admin, then by all means let us know. But those links aren't part of the site, and you'd be better served by sending a PM to the person who posted them in the first place. Because that's the person who has the original files and/or images, and that's the person who's in a position to reupload them somewhere. In other words I can edit the original posts, but I can't fix the link if I don't have the file.

-steve

[Warden Smith]

you cant fix them but you can delete them. im not asking you to fix them just get rid of them

[unlisted]

you cant fix them but you can delete them. im not asking you to fix them just get rid of them

Did you actually read what Squelchtone typed above?