Forum conversion of DMs: privacy discussion.

[TomXP411]

Hello, everyone. We're reaching the point where I'm about to start converting the forum's private messages. 

So here's the issue: I want to convert DMs, so you guys don't lose any private messages - but DMs are "private", and I want to give you the opportunity to weigh in before I start writing the data conversion routines for DMs. It's unavoidable that I'll see some of the message text, but I do my best to NOT look at messages while doing data conversions. I know all about privacy and secrecy; they drill that into us at my job, so nothing I see would ever be disclosed. But some people might not be comfortable with even that. 

So I'm going to you guys for your opinions. I can do this a few ways:

1. 
   Convert all the DMs and be as discrete as I can be. This means I'll see some text as I do quality control, but it will be random and nothing would ever be disclosed to any other party. (Unless I saw something criminal. But you're not planning crimes on this forum, so that's not an issue.)
   


2. 
   We could choose to NOT convert DMs at all. This is the most private option. I would simply delete the private message tables from the database after making the deconversion backup. 
   


3. 
   If you want your DMs removed, please DM me and I will delete all DMs associated with your user ID before working on the data conversion. 
   

it's up to you guys. Your privacy is the most important thing, so everyone should get a say. 

What are all your opinions on the topic? 

[JimmyDansbo]

I don't think there are any dark secrets in my DM's so I say go ahead and convert

[Cyber]

There is no secrets in my DMs also. But I understand some people might have prive things in DMs. It's DMs after all.

[StephenHorn]

In the famous words of the Neutral homeworld's ambassador: I have no strong feelings one way or the other.

[theelkmechanic]

[AndyMt]

You can convert mine, too. You could give everyone a DM notice and those who want can delete whatever they don't want to be converted, right?

[Edmond D]

On 5/8/2022 at 6:16 AM, AndyMt said:

You can convert mine, too. You could give everyone a DM notice and those who want can delete whatever they don't want to be converted, right?

Having a notification of when the DMs will be ported would be ideal. I'd go beforehand and archive/delete items saving some space/cpu power. Actually I should just do it now...

[m00dawg]

I have no concerns with any of the options so I'd go with whichever is easiest.

[DragonGaulois]

On 5/7/2022 at 11:15 PM, theelkmechanic said:

Basically this