IMDb to close "message boards" February 20, 2017

[TMC]

http://www.imdb.com/board/announcement

IMDb is the world’s most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. As part of our ongoing effort to continually evaluate and enhance the customer experience on IMDb, we have decided to disable IMDb’s message boards on February 20, 2017. This includes the Private Message system. After in-depth discussion and examination, we have concluded that IMDb’s message boards are no longer providing a positive, useful experience for the vast majority of our more than 250 million monthly users worldwide. The decision to retire a long-standing feature was made only after careful consideration and was based on data and traffic.

Instead of fixing the problem, simply shut it down and throw the baby out with the bathwater. They could revamp the software and enlist moderators to strictly enforce the rules, but that's not as easy as simply calling it quits and closing the door to everyone, including all of the movie lovers who are looking for good discussion.

[PhoenixAcres]

I used to lurk around the IMDB boards throughout the years. The reason I never joined was simply the unpleasantness. Fights seemed to break out a lot and the moderators apparently let a lot slide. "No longer a positive experience" sounds about right. I wonder if they're going to delete all the posts. It is sad for the actual caring members though. Sitcoms Online is living proof that a message board can succeed and thrive if handled correctly. I guess IMDB just isn't interested in putting in that extra effort.

One good thing about this is we may get more new members here since IMDB was a competing site.

[PhoenixAcres]

I'm looking through some of the most recent posts and I really feel bad for all the long-time posters on there... Some have been members since 1999.

Some are saying IMDB itself will collapse due to this move, if all the former users (thousands, maybe millions) boycott the site in protest.

[Bonniegirl]

I post there but not nearly as much as here! Not nearly as much fun as here ! But sorry to see it being shut down!

[TMC]

Originally Posted by phoenixAcres16

I'm looking through some of the most recent posts and I really feel bad for all the long-time posters on there... Some have been members since 1999.

Some are saying IMDB itself will collapse due to this move, if all the former users (thousands, maybe millions) boycott the site in protest.

I don't know how truly effective stuff like this can be but here are some petitions none the less:
https://www.change.org/p/save-imdb-m...ter_responsive

https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/...eboards-going#

[TMC]

Originally Posted by phoenixAcres16

I'm looking through some of the most recent posts and I really feel bad for all the long-time posters on there... Some have been members since 1999.

Some are saying IMDB itself will collapse due to this move, if all the former users (thousands, maybe millions) boycott the site in protest.

The beauty of IMDB's message boards is the ability of readers to narrow down their focus on a vast range of topics. To put things into proper perspective, where else can one go for a contemporary POV on an obscure, 50 year old movie?

While there are good blogs, like AV Club, which try to cover the same breadth of subject matter in a thoughtful manner, discussion is focused on whatever the paid staff wants to discuss.

[Mr. Television]

Unbelievable. I don't post there but I do read them. I don't know how the website survives this.

[Torgo]

I'll miss the discussing about obscure movies, and learning cool facts about movies in their individual boards.
But I won't miss the trolls, aholes, or the auto-moderating, not having human mods was part of the board's downfall.

[robyrob]

if they didn't care about their boards why would they care about any petitions?

I've never been a fan of the site; the forums are a mess and they are not the best source of information out there

[Bonniegirl]

Sometimes it isn't really too nice on IMdB ! I was called a stupid idiot for posting that I get Chuckie and Benjie from Leave it to Beaver mixed up!

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

Sometimes it isn't really too nice on IMdB ! I was called a stupid idiot for posting that I get Chuckie and Benjie from Leave it to Beaver mixed up!

I have noticed they have quite a few deleted threads over there. I can imagine what they say.

[Theda Bara]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

Sometimes it isn't really too nice on IMdB ! I was called a stupid idiot for posting that I get Chuckie and Benjie from Leave it to Beaver mixed up!

I wouldn't take that personally. There are a lot of angry trolls that infest IMDb

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Torgo

I'll miss the discussing about obscure movies, and learning cool facts about movies in their individual boards.
But I won't miss the trolls, aholes, or the auto-moderating, not having human mods was part of the board's downfall.

With that being said, this is like the internet equivalent of saying "TV is canceled", IMDb has long been a go to, default place for discussion about literally anything, not just movies but also games, TV series, anime and so on, without this fallback, this old standby, what does the internet have left? And on the more niche pages you could have some good discussions and people would spend the time to make recommendations for similar films, and the like. I'll miss that.

In regards to trolls, by the same logic, the entire internet should be shut down because trolls. It's ridiculous and completely disregards all the good such a service does. IMDb was an amazing place for film lovers to find each other and discuss literally everything, even the most obscure of topics, related to movies you could often not discuss anywhere else.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by robyrob

if they didn't care about their boards why would they care about any petitions?

I've never been a fan of the site; the forums are a mess and they are not the best source of information out there

A L T E R N A T I V E F O R U MS A L E R T

• http://www.movieforums.com/community/
  
  http://nytramsplace.activeboard.com/
  
  http://forum.dvdtalk.com/movie-talk-17/
  
  http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...play.php?f=366
  
  http://www.chud.com/community/f/94/f...ilm-discussion
  
  https://groups.google.com/forum/#!fo...ies.past-films
  
  https://groups.google.com/forum/#!fo....current-films
  
  http://forums.boxofficetheory.com/fo...hide-spoilers/
  
  http://www.killermovies.com/forums/f2/
  
  http://www.joblo.com/forums/
  
  http://forum.rottentomatoes.com/
  
  http://forums.thedigitalfix.com/foru...isplay.php?f=8
  
  http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mai...gid=2017311200
  
  http://forums.tcm.com/
  
  http://www.filmcrave.com/movie_talk.php
  
  http://www.cultmovieforums.com/forum/
  
  http://movie-talk.net/forum/
  
  https://www.amazon.com/forum/movie?_...x2E577OZX17PPI
  
  http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/58
  
  http://bloody-disgusting.com/forums/
  
  http://www.disboards.com/forums/disn...and-music.181/
  
  http://www.sideshowcollectors.com/forums/forum43/
  
  http://forum.sfreader.com/
  
  http://www.fanforum.com/

[JamesG]

I'll be sad to see it go. I've had some great discussions over there.

I liked it being a "free for all" where posters said whatever they wanted.