A quandary. What to do when a member dies? Suggestions Wanted and Needed

George,

Sorry to hear those bad news.

As for your question, personally I'd keep the posts. I think the user would love to see them online, wherever he is.

It's just a personal feeling.

I think you should keep these kinds of posts in a special place on your forum. Maybe an archive of old, but valuable threads.

I do think it will let your current members know that they are at a place where if you become a valuable member, you will be cherished and remembered.

I'm feeling a bit gushy right now, and that's my 2 cents.

I would make sure the post was there and people know that they are valued as members on the forum. I think if I went to a forum and seen a post ike that I would think this forum really cares about its members. Somewhere I might want to stay and be a part of.

Yes, you need to take the 'downer' effect it has on people though. I have no idea what your forum looks like or where the post is, if it's in its own place on the forum I would say move it to the middle or a little further down.

I'm sorry for your loss George, I know how it is to get attached to people in forums and always waiting for their next post.

Have had several die in other forums. Sometimes they come back to life... so no telling. If you KNOW he died, I have seen some sort of 'award' made or other recognition depending on the forum, it's rules, policies and the member's level of helpfulness.

Although, we have never deleted a deceased persons posts unless asked to by the family, we have also not done anything like draw out the 'grieving' process like making a page or anything just because they died. Generally an announcement, with a few replies does it. A forum is not a funeral home and is not really the appropriate place to make a big deal of it either way, by deleting the posts or anything else.

Sorry your forum lost such an active and helpful participant, they are hard to find. People do die though and deleting the posts seems way too much like making the fact of his death bigger than it should be.

In My Own Opinion.

You might consider making a sticky post (tribute) about how much you valued this member, post a link to his profile on the forum, and explain that you're honoring his memory by keeping his posts live on the forum.

If he weren't someone you had a special relationship with, I would just leave everything as is as you would with anyone who quit visiting the forum.

John

Hi George,

It's sad but this happens. There have been several fellow Warriors died since I joined that I knew personally and considered friends.

I don't think you need to do too much about the posts.

If you're thinking of rehashing the forum, then just put all the current posts in an archive a bit like Allen has done here when he changed the domain to remove the old directory as the home page.

Andy

I think the latter would be preferable, so long as it does not appear as though you are taking advantage of his death to promote your forum. Plus, and it's a bit harsh to say this, but some people will also see that as an "opening" for them to get into the community. That is, there are people that will recognize there is a void and perhaps try to step in to fill that role.

But, you also need to be aware of the copyright of those posts. Does your Terms of Use cover that at all? Unless you have an agreement to the contrary, he would have remained the owner of the copyright on his posts, which means whoever gets his estate/assets would also (probably) get his intellectual property rights as well.

If your terms of use grants you a perpetual, non-exclusive right to use the user-submitted content, then you're probably okay. (Really, this is something to be discussed with an attorney though.) The copyright holder may still have the right to withdraw the use of the content though.

I would avoid putting them together in a special place on your forum. That has more potential to look like you're exploiting his death rather than honoring him.

George - leave them there - put up a memorial post, and tell people to view his posts with note of the many lessons and laughs, etc. that he shared and left to all of you.
A forum becomes family -- and you don't forget or sweep family under a rug because they have left us.

Hi George,

Sorry for your loss.

I was thinking along similar lines as John about making a tribute to him, then leave the posts and account as is.

As far as being a downer goes, I wouldn't think so. To me, this would speak volumes to your members and future members about how you care for them.

People want others to care and think about them. It gives some people the sense of being part of a real community.

Hope this helps ...


Mary

You should keep it in memory of him especially since so many others will gain value and insight from his posts even years from now, they have to be shared, not taken down.

You should make a heartfelt note of his contributions and how much it was appreciated, I'm sure his fiancee would be touched by it.

Don't delete the posts.

I would just leave them, because that is what I would want for myself if I died - to have left my mark but not to have a huge fuss made when I'd finished making it. The idea of anyone thinking my departure worth mentioning is not a bad one, but after that I'd want to be treated in the same way when I'd died as I'd been treated when I was alive.

That's what I'd want. Think about what you'd want in the same situation too after you're gone and the decision may come easier. Putting his contributions in a special area seems a bit morbid to me unless he was singled out as an example in the same way when he was alive, and deleting them certainly doesn't sound like it reflects the way his contributions were treated before he died. I'd just leave them, show that he was valued and will always be with you, but that it's time to move on.

I'm sorry you've lost a friend, George. Hugs to you and yours.