So, when Shaun ends up tinkering with that great server in the sky...

[Zoof]

This has got me thinking I hope we don't have to fill in
those swirly letterery things at the pearly gates!

remind me to put my codes in my shroud pocket to!

 

[661-Pete]

I found the talk of death a bit distasteful too, perhaps instead we should consider the affect on CC if Shaun decides to "direct his energies elsewhere" at some future date.

On a serious note, it may be 'distasteful' for some, but at my age and beyond, considering 'what happens' when I'm gone, becomes more to the forefront in one's mind. Apologies for 'plugging' my own thread, but read here to illustrate how much I - and plenty of others - have had this prospect in our minds. And certainly, one of the things on the 'to do' list (incidentally I haven't done the Will thingy yet... ) will most certainly be, cache away all the logins, passwords, etc., in a place which my survivors can get at.

One of the problems with CC is that it's not 'standard' IPBoard, Shaun has added in a lot of goodies. It would be nice to know that 'how he did it' is filed away somewhere safe.

I have a similar 'legacy' issue at work. No-one really knows how my software works, document it as I may. And I'm close to retirement...

 

[Wigsie]

I have a similar 'legacy' issue at work. No-one really knows how my software works, document it as I may. And I'm close to retirement...

It's the same at my place, except I am not retiring, I have to deal with it (OK I dont actually deal with it myself, I ask someone else to), recently they have made 3 or 4 of the core 'go to' IT guys redundant and each and every web employee over the last 7 years has built/amended bits in their own style and used passwords that are personal to them and kept no record!

It's chaos! I work for a BIG company so when elements break it costs, for example if the webstore goes down its thousands of pounds per minute we lose, but trying to fix bits are a continual challenge.

We also use around 650 domains names, and we actually own/control around 400 of them. every so often one goes pop and we have to track down an ex employee or an old agency that registered the URL with their personal details.

 

[craigwend]

So it could be as simple as alowing the executor of his will to bequest this to a user of group of users,
though it might also be a capacity issue and lasting power of atorney may need to be invoked or a very expensive time at the court of protection...

good job shaun is an imortal (oops meant to keep that a secret!)

 

[ColinJ]

Sheldon Brown
http://en.wikipedia....cle_mechanic%29

And just in case you have never delved into his expansive website on all things cycling, it's still running here
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/

Of course - that's one example I should have remembered!

I would love to be a fly on the wall when Shaun reads this thread!

All talking about him dying and how he must get his affairs in order and sort a will out so we still have somewhere to talk shoot when he dies...

We love you really Shaun!

I found the talk of death a bit distasteful too, perhaps instead we should consider the affect on CC if Shaun decides to "direct his energies elsewhere" at some future date.

Death comes to us all in the end. I've just lost my mother and my family are still sorting out her affairs, so death, wills, and planning for the future are subjects which I've been thinking a lot about recently.

I sent Shaun a PM to see if he minded me creating this thread. I didn't just go ahead and dump it on him.

I don't think it is distasteful to suggest that an important part of somebody's working life would be missed if it suddenly wasn't there any longer.

If CycleChat was my forum and I read that people hoped it would (eventually, a long time in the future!) outlive me, I'd be pretty pleased about that. I wouldn't see that as being ghoulish or uncaring. I'd be proud that I'd done a good job and would feel that my work was appreciated.

 

[Fnaar]

I'm the only one who knows how to mend the flush on the downstairs loo, so woe betide them when I've parped my final farewell!

 

[Wigsie]

Death comes to us all in the end. I've just lost my mother and my family are still sorting out her affairs, so death, wills, and planning for the future are subjects which I've been thinking a lot about recently.

I sent Shaun a PM to see if he minded me creating this thread. I didn't just go ahead and dump it on him.

I don't think it is distasteful to suggest that an important part of somebody's working life would be missed if it suddenly wasn't there any longer.

If CycleChat was my forum and I read that people hoped it would (eventually, a long time in the future!) outlive me, I'd be pretty pleased about that. I wouldn't see that as being ghoulish or uncaring. I'd be proud that I'd done a good job and would feel that my work was appreciated.

I didn't necessarily think it was distasteful and to a degree I know what you mean.

In reality community sites are like living organisms, they are born, they grow, they thrive, the decline, they die. Like us they too have life cycles and must evolve to not get left behind, so this chat will in all likliehood be academic (unless you are planning some drastic actions to prove your point Colin? )

 

[beanzontoast]

I have a similar 'legacy' issue at work. No-one really knows how my software works, document it as I may. And I'm close to retirement...

Same here - though a bit further from retirement. No-one is indispensable - after I've been left for 6 months they'll probably have forgotten my name! - but the fact is, in a specialised team, I'm the only one who knows how half the software I use works and it took me about 10 years of experimentation and a lot of personal time to get to this point. As for writing it down, it would take me weeks - and how does my work get done while I'm doing it!?

Regarding this forum, I can see what Colin is saying. It would be a shame if the forum vanished overnight because it takes time (and careful management) for a forum to acquire character and status... but what would happen realistically if it did disappear? Likely as not, there would be a lot of CC'ers going back to Bikeradar to post about what had happened, a degree of 'what do we do now?' discussion, then someone would 'step into the breach' and set up a new forum and gradually a new community would develop formed from existing CC'ers and new people.

It's up to Shaun whether he wants to make provision for the forum to continue if he's not managing it. There would be a lot of members hoping it would, but in a sense we need to realise that it's the people themselves that make a forum, and they have a momentum which has already proved capable once before.

 

[dellzeqq]

Let's think of a slightly cheerier hypothesis. Or hypotheses.

1. Shaun wakes up one morning, looks at the love of his life, and devotes himself to a spiralling spirally spiral thingy of sensual exploration and poetry. The words 'Cycle' and 'Chat' never enter his head.

2. Shaun is kidnapped by aliens and taken to a far-away planet where everybody rides Colnagos

3. Shaun's diplomatic skills are recognised (and not before time) and he swans off to New York to head up the UN. To quote Mr. Obama, 'This geezer is the dog's bollocks - in fact, he's such a diplomat, if he had a dog it would have four bollocks'.

Cycle Chat dies a death. Instantly. Never mind the technical side of things - the spirit would depart. No Shaun, no CC. I'd get somebody to set up a message board on the FNRttC blog and while away the spare hours writing the Great Novel. You lot would have to migrate to the CTC forum. From time to time you'll see somebody going by in an (increasingly tatty) CC jersey, and wipe a tear from your eye...

 

[ColinJ]

Cycle Chat dies a death. Instantly. Never mind the technical side of things - the spirit would depart. No Shaun, no CC. I'd get somebody to set up a message board on the FNRttC blog and while away the spare hours writing the Great Novel. You lot would have to migrate to the CTC forum. From time to time you'll see somebody going by in an (increasingly tatty) CC jersey, and wipe a tear from your eye...

Actually, I have probably achieved the main part of what I came to CycleChat for which is to find a group of local cyclists to accompany me on scenic, hilly rides. I'd miss the forum if/when it went but while I waited for another to rise up in its place, I'd just txt/email the 50 or so riders on my list every time I was arranging another ride.

 

[spen666]

who died?

 

[DrSquirrel]

I find this whole thread stupid.

Someone dies and you'd be worried about a website? There are more than enough online, many of us frequent other places and if someone decides not to return, then surely they don't care so much.

Even if site owners decided to ditch the project, again so what? I'm sure that for the most, Shaun would most likely offer up the domain, plan period to someone to carry on - im sure there are more than enough people here (both technically minded, and morally) that would say yes.


As for the "copyright of your own posts", its the internet, copyright on text is bullshit - regardless of law I would never type something online that I wanted to myself. Also remembering "The owners of CycleChat reserve the right to remove, edit, move or close any thread for any reason." you agreed to this, so you are agreeing to allow edits of your "copyright" material.

And "You agree that all material you submit will remain in the database even if you later decide to leave the board or request that your user account is suspended or closed."

 

[Dan B]

copyright on text is bullshit

This is not correct

 

[DrSquirrel]

I'm talking about on forums, the whole point is legallity is one thing, enforcing it is another.

 

[Shaun]

Interesting thread ...

I already have all the passwords, URLs, details of CC-specific tweaks and upgrades, all tucked away in a document that is saved on several machines (and my mobile phone) so it can be "found" should the need ever arise.

Mrs. Admin is aware that I would like CC to continue after my earthly shift is finished. She has been told of the document and advised on the login procedure and the existence of the mods/admin forum - so there's every chance she could communicate with the CC crowd and arrange a hand-over or some form of self-management if she felt like it (I hope she at least does some grieving before diving into CC for a natter though ... lol).

Personally, I would hope that CC could evetually grow into something bigger than just the forums, and generate enough revenue to be self-sustaining and have more than just me at the literal helm so that someone would already be available to step-in if the need arose - (CC still doesn't generate enough revenue to cover it's costs ... but one day ... one day ... ).

With regard to copyright, my understanding is that:

You - as the creator - are responsible and accountable for what you say on the forums, and can be legally challenged for it.

I - as the site owner - retain ownership of the physical data on the database and cannot be held responsible for what people post [providing I don't support or promote it] since it is unreasonable to expect the owner to review everything that is ever posted.

I'm sure it's not as clear-cut as that, but aside from hemlet debates, cycling is thankfully not all that contentious a subject matter.

I suppose I could have the login ID and password engraved on my headstone; just in case Mrs. Admin says "Sod CC" and runs off with the milkman ...

Cheers,
Shaun