The Discourse BBS will apparently stay up for a bit longer in read-only mode. For those who’d like to archive things on their own, a short guide.
A. Exporting All of Your Comments
Go to your user avatar (top right), select the “person” icon at the bottom, choose Summary. Then choose Preferences (gear icon), scroll down to Export your data and press the “Request archive” button. You will receive a DM when the archive is ready for download.
B. Text exports of entire Topics or single posts (e.g. bookmarked ones) not necessarily written by you…
Copy the URL of the thread or comment you want to archive. For example:
While some folks are still here, I wanted to take a moment and thank a few of the usual suspects for being who they are.
Some have anonymized themselves already, so I can only hope they know that I appreciate them immensely (kii, mspie500, nosaj, zfirphdn, and nick_warr, for example).
I’m only a lurker but wanted to extend a goodbye to the community, too. It was a pleasure to visit a place where the conversations were so varied, where even superficially silly posts might get a wide array of tremendously informed voices providing unexpected but expert personal and professional lenses through which to view the topic.
There aren’t really any other places I know of where a single conversation might get a whole lot of friendly people (Historians! Lawyers! Mycologists! Librarians! Linguists! Rabbit Owners!) willing and able to share what they know.
It occurred to me today that I can remember the first time I sent something wonderful I liked through the old Submitterator feature and saw it land on the main page later that day. I was always a little shy about the bbs, but I loved to visit and can only extend my thanks for everything you’ve all contributed.
Also, I very respectfully submit my name to the Disappointed in BoingBoing list today.
All the best in the future to everyone reading this, active members and lurkers and staff alike. The coming days will be trying. Fascists, white supremacists, neoreactionaries, and Xtian fundies have made their dark intentions known. No matter what the outcome next week, please take some time right now to identify existing and potential allies and foes to make sure you stay safe and cared for in the coming months.
I’ll be taking a break from Internet commenting during that time*, but thanks for the good times here while they lasted. Until we all meet again under new and (one hopes) better circumstances, this is Gracchus signing off from the Boing Boing BBS.
[* Accept no imitations or substitutes, especially the “AI” type.]
I’m very grateful for the opportunity to share this wonderful space with all you incredibly amazing Happy Mutants-- it’s been a Mostly Wonderful 9+ years. (I would’ve hit my decennial in January… ) Words can’t express how much I’ve appreciated all the kindness you’ve shown me, how much I’ve learned while I was here.
I might peek in at Substack every now and again, but I’m not planning to post there. Too many folks have said they’re not sure they’ll be safe or comfortable there, and my conscience won’t let me go where they can’t follow.
I don’t blame TPTB for that-- I know they’re doing their absolute best to keep the BoingBoing dream alive in very difficult circumstances, and I wish them every success… especially our dear @orenwolf , who’s worked long and hard to make things run smoothly and safely for everyone here.
It’s been said, “don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” That’s a damn hard thing to do right now-- I’ve teared up more than once these last few days. I’ll always cherish the memories, and with any luck, I’ll see you again someday, somewhere in this big wide Web of ours.
I’m a curious sort, and I like free stuff, so I went over to Substack for a look. I don’t think it’s really for me. It felt like looking at Discourse through a tiny peephole. I may check back from time to time to see if it has evolved — if anyone can do it @orenwolf can. (The taint of Nazism, however is a powerful disincentive.)
To all the mutants I have met here over the years, I can’t express how much I appreciate the education, the laughs, and the warmth you have given me. Long life and happiness to you all.
"Don’t let it be forgot That once there was a spot For one brief shining moment that was known As Camelot."
Lerner and Loewe, Camelot
) Words can’t express how much I’ve appreciated all the kindness you’ve shown me, how much I’ve learned while I was here.
