I have a question about inactive accounts and why are they still on this site?

I think its a case of leaving accounts open unless the user that leaves expresses otherwise.
The door is left ajar, if you like.

It’s not at all uncommon for old users to resurface down the road. The admins won’t close an account of a member in good standing.

I guess the real question is: Why bother closing them anyway?

In case someone wanted to come back, even 5 years down the line, why make them jump through the extra hoops of setting up a new account? I think it’s a friendly, welcoming gesture on the part of the designers that accounts are not automatically closed after a certain period of time.

Okay I was just curious because some sites de-activate accounts that haven’t been used for at least a year. So that is why I asked. I have no problem with it was just wondering. Thanks for the answers.

Welcome! :)

@prairierose Nothing wrong with asking!

It’s my understanding that an inactive account does not use up any system resources so there’s really no need to remove them.

@downtide okay that was kind of what I was wondering, if those accounts that hadn’t been used for 5 years were taking up space for others who may want to join Fluther.

Thanks again everyone, for your answers.

So that new folks like you and I can browse old profile pages and stumble on cool stuff like this; http://www.fluther.com/30958/how-many-flutherers-does-it-take-to-change-a-lightbulb/

@Here2_4 Okay then now I understand, we can get the full experience of using Fluther, by reviewing the older posts. Got it.

Absolutely. You can see where Fluther has been, issues faced, and sometimes it says a lot to look at the responses of people long gone just before they left. Taking away old identities would rob us of some of Fluther’s exciting past. I have been looking through lots of the early questions and answers. It can’t be found by looking just through one person’s history. It is a basket weave of thought, personality, information, delirium, and drunken stupors. If those people never reclaim their accounts, then the accounts at least should still remain. It is a fascinating archive.

@Here2_4 Indeed, as you describe, especially the delirium, drunken stupors part.

I like that the accounts are still there. There is a chance you can still contact the people if they have their messages forwarded to their email.
If people close their accounts you cannot find them That seems sad to me.