Yahoo Groups Goes Private, Deletes Files

“Attention: Starting December 14, 2019 Yahoo Groups will no longer host user created content on its sites. New content can no longer be uploaded after October 28, 2019. Sending/Receiving email functionality is not going away, you can continue to communicate via any email client with your group members. Learn More“

“Yahoo has made the decision to no longer allow users to upload content to the Yahoo Groups site. Beginning October 21, you won’t be able to upload any more content to the site, and as of December 14 all previously posted content on the site will be permanently removed. You’ll have until that date to save anything you’ve uploaded.”

“What features will go away?

* Files

* Polls

* Links

* Photos

* Folders

* Calendar

* Database

* Attachments

* Conversations

* Email Updates

* Message Digest

* Message History”

 

With the popularity of Facebook and Twitter the Yahoo Groups message board is but a shell of its former self. But in its time it was THE message board for fans of particular interests.

The Association of America Editorial Cartoonists shows their message activity over the years:

And their activity is better than most these days.

Here’s a look at The American Revolution Discussion List this past decade:

The Laurel and Hardy News kept a dozen or two diehard active members:

 

The major tragedy is that the files and messages of these groups will be deleted.

Not surprisingly most of the Yahoo Groups I belong to are (were) comics-related. The members downloaded a wealth of information into those files that were available to check. No more!

“What features will go away?

* Files

* Conversations

 

An example would be the comatose ComicBacks®, a group devoted to comics related mass market paperbacks. With the loss of those files we lose Ray Bottorff, Jr.‘s ComicBack index, the most comprehensive list of mmpb comics available.

Abra Cadaver! (The Wizard Of Id) FAWCETT GOLD MEDAL
**S#: 12459, I#: 0-449-12459-2, D: Jul. 1983, P: $1.95, 1st Print

Abraham Lincoln POCKET BIOGRAPHIES
**S#: B11, I#:0-88301-782-?, D:1984, P:$1.95, No Print

Abroad On A Desert Island PAPERBACK LIBRARY 50-SERIES
**S#: 50-300, D: 1964, P:?, 1st Print

Adam’s Ribs PYRAMID BOOKS
**S#: X2561, I#:515-2561-60, D:Oct.1971, P:$.60, 1st Print

Addams and Evil (Addams Family) POCKET CARDINAL EDITION
**S#: 50063, D: Apr. 1965, P: $.50, 1st Print

The Addams Chronicles Everything You Wanted To Know About The Addams Family
HARPER PAPERBACKS **S#: 109249, I#: 0-06-109249-5, D:1993, P:?, 1st Print

The Addams Family PYRAMID BOOKS
**S#: R-1229, D: Sep. 1965, P: $.50, 1st Print

and on and on for thousands of ComicBacks.
There are also other versions of the index that list all the cartoonists contributing to those books.

On that same site is a list of cartoonists Aliases:

Rose	Carl Rose	Rose, Carl
Roshtoy?	Roshtoy?	Roshtoy?
Ross	Al Ross	Ross, Al
Arnold Roth	Arnold Roth	Roth, Arnold
Ben Roth	Ben Roth	Roth, Ben
Roth	Ben Roth	Roth, Ben
Irving Roth	Irving Roth	Roth, Irving
Irving Roir	Irving or Ben Roth [as Irving Roir]	Roth, Irving or Ben Roth
Salo	Salo Roth	Roth, Salo
Rouians?	Rouians?	Rouians?
Bill Ruble	Bill Ruble	Ruble, Bill
Hal Rudersow	Hal Rudersow	Rudersow, Hal
Rudersow	Hal Rudersow	Rudersow, Hal
Ruge	John Ruge	Ruge, John
Rugio	Rugio	Rugio
Jim Ruth	James Ruth	Ruth, James
Ruth	James Ruth	Ruth, James
A.S.	A.S.	S., A.
Sabo	Joseph Sabo	Sabo, Joseph

 

People are furiously downloading such files from groups devoted to comic strips, comic books, and a broad spectrum of cartooning. While some Groups will continue as private messaging via e-mails, the loss of the files and past discussions by learned historians, which were searchable, is heartbreaking.

Conversations among Peter Maresca, Doug Wheeler, John Adcock, John Ronan, Robert Beerbohm, Michael Tisserand, Thierry Smolderen, Van Opstal, and so many more knowledgeable comic scholars – lost!