Google+ shutting down

[ELF]

With the recent news that Google will be closing down its social platform due to theit security leak cover-up, it’s time to start rescuing quality content.

Google exposed the private data of hundreds of thousands of users of the Google+ social network and then opted not to disclose the issue this past spring, in part because of fears that doing so would draw regulatory scrutiny and cause reputational damage, according to people briefed on the incident and documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

As part of its response to the incident, the Alphabet Inc. GOOGL -1.02% unit on Monday announced a sweeping set of data privacy measures that include permanently shutting down all consumer functionality of Google+. The move effectively puts the final nail in the coffin of a product that was launched in 2011 to challenge Facebook Inc. FB -0.05% and is widely seen as one of Google’s biggest failures.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-exposed-user-data-feared-repercussions-of-disclosing-to-public-1539017194

Although the service was not thriving, many active RPG communities are using the platform.

 

[ELF]

Now there’s a community for organizing the migration of RPG communities:
https://plus.google.com/communities/117817751909237129167

 

[ELF]

Now that even non-active users are flocking to G+ to check the situation, would it make sense for @JohnnFour to inform the members of his Game Master Tips community about the existence of this forum?

 

[ELF]

Quite a many G+ communities seem to have found a new home at MeWe. For me that's an unknown platform, but let's have a look.

 

[frans]

Quite a many G+ communities seem to have found a new home at MeWe. For me that's an unknown platform, but let's have a look.

A bit vague this MeWe website. It decided that I needed the Japanese language version.

 

[JohnnFour]

@ELF alas, we don't have the resources to support the migration of a large number of folks to this forum. Moderators, interactions, account issues, tech issues...

 

[frans]

This is the Google blog post about this issue.

They're also mentioning this:

To give people a full opportunity to transition, we will implement this wind-down over a 10-month period, slated for completion by the end of next August. Over the coming months, we will provide consumers with additional information, including ways they can download and migrate their data.

How bad is it if that Google+ community disappears?

 

[JohnnFour]

Oh hey, that's great news! Thanks @frans

@JochenL and I would love to make these forums an awesome, friendly escape from reality into the world of RPGs. Hoping in 2019 we'll have systems in place so handling a busy community won't take away from RPT or Campaign Logger development.

 

[ELF]

With Google+ shutting down on April 2, there are only a couple of days left to save any G+ communities and messages.

There are at least a couple of migration services available, to MeWe and Tapatalk:

• https://mewe.com/app/static/GplusExport-Instructions.pdf
• https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPT18dqR0dwcVJaa-hUpHZU8cQkIa8pL1bBy0G1K-J4wNA6A/viewform

I would consider the MeWe move to be the better option, as Tapatalk is known for some shady privacy-related sheninigans.

It would be great if for example the Campaign Logger community and @JohnnFour’s Game Master Tips group were not lost for ever but the old content would still be accessible somewhere, even if the community would not be active any longer.

 

[JochenL]

OK, started the procedure...

 

[JochenL]

OK, the result is a total mess. Everyone's posts is attributed to me, even Spam and Nonsense. An not only in that community, but in all. My MeWe account is now completely polluted :-/

 

[ELF]

I'm sorry to hear that! My own MeWe import was not a great success story either, but at least it did not result in a garbage dump. Apparently the MeWe importer is intended for importing only content from personal accounts?

In hindsight exporting the community content as HTML could be a safer option. As a reference, here's a raw HTML dump from a fledgling OSR G+ community (encrypted into Finnish): http://www.tosisalainen.net/SLVL/Postaukset/.

 

[ELF]

Seems that Google has kindly exported the G+ archive using localized directory and file names without asking. No wonder if MeWe cannot properly sort them out.

 

[ELF]

Google+ content for Blades in the Dark, Dungeon World, The Gauntlet and Powered by the Apocalypse games can be accessed at this site: https://gplusarchive.online/

 

[ELF]

As the fateful day is upon us, it’s meme time:
http://goblinminimart.com/g-death-memes/