Clean up invalid image links in old threads

[E9A7F3bD]

I've seen most new threads are using "attachments" and these images are hosted by FLM, so they're fine as long as FLM is online.

But a lot of old threads are filled with things like these:

Spoiler: [Image] [Image]

They looked annoying and your browser is just constantly sending invalid requests and pings to these sites.

I think it's necessary for us to do some cleaning, detect all these known external image hosting links, batch editing and deletion which are invalid.

Where possible, maybe back up those external images that are still valid so that we could replace and restore them in the future.

Almost most external image hosters are "ephemeral" and they end up falling down for various reasons.

I believe everyone can realize the importance of these movie previews to threads, and they are an important way for us to perceive content.

[E9A7F3bD]

Related threads (welcome to add more):

- Pls. ad webp to the allowed image format

- Posting Images

Self-hosted images will be the only way to be stable and long-lasting.

Supporting new image formats such as WebP, AVIF will also provide many benefits:

- User web pages load faster (in most newly devices)

- Faster uploads and not easily exceed attachment size limit

- No need to convert those images locally from network sources

- The server's transmission/storage pressure is smaller

- WebP is already supported by all major browsers past years

- AVIF is also supported in the latest version of the most browser

[mimzy]

I think it's necessary for us to do some cleaning, detect all these known external image hosting links, batch editing and deletion which are invalid.

Where possible, maybe back up those external images that are still valid so that we could replace and restore them in the future.

This is already being done. Currently 52363 missing external images have been replaced by backup copies hosted at FLM.

[E9A7F3bD]

This is already being done. Currently 52363 missing external images have been replaced by backup copies hosted at FLM.

That's great!

But are you talking about the work you completed before?
Because I still saw them in a lot of old posts lately.

Or do you mean just replaced those that have backups, but not deleted those invalid and without backups?

[mimzy]

But are you talking about the work you completed before?
Because I still saw them in a lot of old posts lately.

Those images have no backup unfortunately. We can only replace them by a local thumbnail. Unless somebody wants to edit the posts and replace the images

BTW, it has happened in the past that some images reappear, but I guess it won't happen with postimage anymore

[E9A7F3bD]

Those images have no backup unfortunately. We can only replace them by a local thumbnail. Unless somebody wants to edit the posts and replace the images

BTW, it has happened in the past that some images reappear, but I guess it won't happen with postimage anymore

That's it. It's actually annoying to see a large number of 404 images (or AD).

As you said, the probability of them reappearing in the future is very low, so some treatment should be done.

At least hide them in the "Spoiler" is much better. (though still don't like that they have to send extra requests)

Maybe you'll eventually figure out a better solution.

[E9A7F3bD]

Here is an example where you could see that most of the vertical space on the page is occupied by invalid previews:

viewtopic.php?t=15395

[mimzy]

Yes, yes. I have to create a list of missing images and then I can replace them.

[Night457]

At least hide them in the "Spoiler" is much better.

I have done that on a number of occasions for instances that are bad enough to annoy *me*, when an older thread gets bumped and I am looking at it. I prefer to Spoiler bad image links and not delete them because I know that mimzy has been able to restore some of them.

Keep in mind that FLM is a non-commercial site with a very small volunteer staff, and that the goal of the site is providing movie entertainment rather than curating screenshots. Ultimately it comes down to what we want to do with our free time, and watching movies rather than editing old posts is more appealing.

[E9A7F3bD]

Yes, yes. I have to create a list of missing images and then I can replace them.

That would be great, and thank you for doing so.

I prefer to Spoiler bad image links and not delete them because I know that mimzy has been able to restore some of them.

I considered the benefits of keeping some original information so I came up with the idea, but remember it won't prevent your browser from making requests to these hosts.

Keep in mind that FLM is a non-commercial site with a very small volunteer staff, and that the goal of the site is providing movie entertainment rather than curating screenshots. Ultimately it comes down to what we want to do with our free time, and watching movies rather than editing old posts is more appealing.

So what do you think I'm doing? I don't want to interpret "unfriendly" from it, but it's hard to avoid not understanding it like this.
Is it implying that I am a picky person and “requiring” technicians to do something to just “satisfy” my preferences?
Think from the perspective of others, isn’t I coming here “to watch movies” and spending my “free time” thinking and raising suggestions to ultimately “improve” everyone’s comprehensive experience?