Important message about MM, Please read Options

[Cleo_Serapis]

Good day all,

I've been wrestling with this news for over a year (even ignoring Peter's messages to take action) and after talking to him recently, he can no longer support the forum board software (and I've been soooo out of touch with updating it via html, or even participating).

As time goes on, we/us poets find new ways to communicate with each other. In the almost 23 years since I started the forum, forum board websites have faded and have been taken over by social media sites, where most aren't even seeking the in-depth critiques we prided ourselves on providing at MM. I don't know if it matters that the server is 21 years old, it can't run the required OS with ongoing security patches, and the Invision Board software has gone in a direction we don't even understand any more (Peter had looked it up last year wondering if he did get a newer server can this even be ported over to a newer forum version)? The person who wrote the skins is long gone and the new ones are ugly and expensive.

I suggest members retrieve and copy individual posts for your records. Then Peter will do a database and full site dump once we shut the service down and get it to me, but anyone who wants their works and doesn't already have a local copy needs to fetch it. Once the site is down, it'll be difficult to extract anything from that archive without fully rebuilding the site.

So sorry about this, however, the forum has had minimal posts for over a decade, and it's time to close this chapter out.

[Eisa]

Hi Lori

Sad news! I had just returned to join the word challenge with Syl and Daniel and saw this message. Can you say how long we have got to retrieve our work as this might take a while to organise?

So many happy years have been spent here - time I will never forget.

Hope you are well, Lori.

Eira

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hi Snow,

So sorry I haven't been on the forum!

There have been more issues with new security patches very recently as this software is just too old to maintain.

I suggest we set a target date to close up MM on Sep 1.

YES!!! I agree, I will NEVER forget all the fun (and even the challenging) times we have had here! I have learned so much and grew as a person and writer.

Yes, I am well - and I hope you are too!

Big hugs!
-Lori

[Eisa]

Hi Lori,

I've just spent a couple of nights saving some of my poems. It's brought back so many memories = people I had forgotten about and so many happy times. Not long to go now and I know I'll shed a few tears. This has been a wonderful place. Thank you for putting all the hard work in to create it's beauty. It's a work of art!

Hugs Eira