Failing to warn your users about an upcoming server change or give them any notice whatsoever about needing to save their logs and not even backing up your own site info is ragingly unprofessional.
I’ve stuck up for the parp mods in the past but I just outright cannot believe this shit, I’ve probably lost upwards of 20 pages per rp in a couple of one-on-one RPs in private chatrooms because of this. Entire plots and interactions gone. I keep thinking, did I miss the warning that this move was coming? But I’m hardly the only person who’s angry about this or who says I didn’t get a warning, as far as I can tell, so at least I can take solace in the fact that I’m not being ridiculous.
HOW YOU COULD HAVE DONE IT: Put a message on the frontsite about an upcoming server move. Give users time to acquaint with it. Have a server message about the upcoming move at the start of every chat/every time someone connects encouraging users to save and backup their logs on their own. I’ve seen systemwide messages before, I know you’re capable of it. Add an admin note into the subject of group chats that warns users about the upcoming move. Or, you know, made backups of your own site. But if the parp admins didn’t have room for that, I’d understand. But for real. Give people time to save their shit. And no, a couple hours isn’t time, not everyone lives in the States and plays during the day or evening. Give your users a couple days with that message appearing in their chat every time they connect.
WHAT YOU DID INSTEAD: Hey guys here’s a message that the site is offline with no forewarning! Did we mention you’re going to lose all your logs since about November? Guess it’s your own fault for not saving!
Don’t tell me to use the google cache, either. Google doesn’t cache most logs and I’m not sure where the idea that it does came from. I’ve tried several of my roleplays with the webcontent cache url and not a single one has shown up.
I know Parp is free and I feel the pain of the admins on a lot of stuff, but something being free doesn’t mean that you get a free pass on everything. This is unprofessional and ridiculous. You fucked up.