EA Forums

With the upcoming closing of the Eunuch Archive on January 1, 2025, it would be useful to have a listing of alternative web sites for castration and eunuch information. Here is a place to provide information for others to use.

For each listing, please give:

Name of web site,

Internet address,

A summary of what the site includes, especially how friendly it is and how accurate you judge it to be.

It was very important for me to be able to communicate openly with friends who know the most important things about me...

I am ready to cry because I will lose the opportunity to have access to such a unique library, alive, developing and replenished with works of special authors who deeply feel and create such touching works.

It seems to me now that another similar resource is hardly possible...

Kinsey will have the Fiction Archive as it is on the date when we shut it down.

Of course, this forum will not be active at that time, but... my email is not going to change, and I don't care if a bot sees it!

[email protected]

It's linked in the CONTACT US link here anyway.

I will also ask Bella to keep the story email server up for a bit afterwards: [email protected]

I am sure that Jesus A. has no plans to change his email!

Once Kinsey has the FA up and running there, it will available to anyone who registers there. It is the plan that no story currently on the FA be lost!

When we have news that it is up and running, you can feel free to email me for the link!

The Kinsey mirror, however, will not be open to new submissions! You cannot send in new stories. Nothing new will be added.

I was surprised that one day, ASSTR just disappeared. There were, apparently, no plans in place to back it up or archive it elsewhere, and when the site owner died, that was that. At least, that's what I was told.

As for this forum, it is unclear at this point as to whether the contents of this VBulletin forum can be copied in a READ ONLY format. But they are getting the keys "to the whole zoo". What they do with it, and what they can do with it, is up to them.

Surely there is/are some computer-inclined devotee(s) there who relish(es) a challenge!

We should all be thanking Jesus A. for all his efforts and support over the years, which is culminated in setting up this transfer.

It's really sad that the site is shutting down. It will be interesting to see what December is going to be like. I hope it is positive memories of times past. Maybe have some fun and open the political forum for a week or two

The most consistent part of the EA has been the good people running it and the people who use it. Very serious stuff to topics about the weather or movies with castration themes. However the education of the male endocrine system and related matters has been invaluable.

I'll miss this place and discussions on my daily surfing. Like the barbershop closing down or something..

There is always Usenet alt.community.eunuch-archive which looks like the last spam post was years ago now.

I wonder how many modern internet users know about Usenet, and if they do, know how to use it?

I think the last time I ever looked at it was 2010 or so.

Yeah, I think Usenet is used primarily for binaries/downloads now. Although I haven't actively looked for any discussions in years either.

Well, I guess this means that New Years Day will not be happy.... .... I was incredibly sad to read the news this afternoon. I can understand our moderators being tired and wanting to step back, but it still makes me very sad to see this site that has been a such a great help to me and lots of others go away, especially since there doesn't seem to be any other good options to replace it.

I wish there was some way to pass the torch to other younger hands, or at least share the load... (I would have been willing to volunteer, but nobody asked... Of course my hands aren't particularly young...)

WheelyFixed

WheelyFixed wrote: Mon Nov 25, 2024 12:26 pm Well, I guess this means that New Years Day will not be happy.... .... I was incredibly sad to read the news this afternoon. I can understand our moderators being tired and wanting to step back, but it still makes me very sad to see this site that has been a such a great help to me and lots of others go away, especially since there doesn't seem to be any other good options to replace it.

I wish there was some way to pass the torch to other younger hands, or at least share the load... (I would have been willing to volunteer, but nobody asked... Of course my hands aren't particularly young...)

WheelyFixed

Dear Wheely, I'm sure that all the ordinary forum members are ready to ask you to support the EA site!!!

(Maybe there is still a possibility to cancel its closure?! )

Paolo wrote: Mon Nov 25, 2024 10:52 am I wonder how many modern internet users know about Usenet, and if they do, know how to use it?

I think the last time I ever looked at it was 2010 or so.

I do, I even read it at some point. Never posted, though.

But well, it's just sorta distributed email, right? :-p

WheelyFixed wrote: Mon Nov 25, 2024 12:26 pm Well, I guess this means that New Years Day will not be happy.... .... I was incredibly sad to read the news this afternoon. I can understand our moderators being tired and wanting to step back, but it still makes me very sad to see this site that has been a such a great help to me and lots of others go away, especially since there doesn't seem to be any other good options to replace it.

I wish there was some way to pass the torch to other younger hands, or at least share the load... (I would have been willing to volunteer, but nobody asked... Of course my hands aren't particularly young...)

WheelyFixed

Well shout it out now Wheely! Perhaps there is hope yet!

fhunter wrote: Mon Nov 25, 2024 7:28 pm I do, I even read it at some point. Never posted, though.

But well, it's just sorta distributed email, right? :-p

My initial exposure to the Internet was via a UUPC connection that got me Usenet and other email (Bargain price, I think it was something like $20 / year for 2 hours a month of connect time, which was more than enough for sending a mailbag back and forth a couple times a day...) I'd describe it as a cross between email and a mailing list, but not that hugely different from a forum that covered EVERYTHING.... I'd actually been online for several years prior to that via the BBS world, which in many ways was even more like the current forums....

I am not positive about it's current status, but I seem to recall seeing an article several years back to the effect that Google (Alphabet) had purchased Usenet.... If so, then arguably trying to go back to it might not be the best idea if one is at all concerned about privacy....

WheelyFixed

Yesterday when I got this sad news I was kind of devastated. I can't believe but it is understandable that a web blog and site like the EA needs a lot of works and that two or three collaborators are not enough to keep the boat afloat without being exhausted.

I hope that something could be done with the involvement of others but we'll see...

For now I am only and especially thankful to those who made that possible for all those years. I bow in admiration.

The EA have been helpful to so much individuals all coming from various part of the world with their own journey for many various reasons. All found here support and advices that I'M sure gave them pride of being part of a special group of man.

I'm sad of course, in a sense that I am now myself in that journey toward castration, trying to understand what I feel, what others lived and cope with. I found the group interesting by still being in a studying phase.

I found here many examples of great inspiration. I hope it will be possible to pursue.

For now thanks to all for their management and the best to all of those who have done inputs.

I'm hopefully not going to step in anything here, but I'm sufficiently convinced about the need for a resource like EA, not to mention the community of like minded individuals, to be unwilling to let the Archive go away if there is something *I* can do to save it....

I am not wealthy, but I'm willing to pledge up to US $1K to get a new site up and running...

I don't know if it will lead to anything, but I've just sent an e-mail to a trans friend (the only person I'm currently out to other than my GF and medical folks) to ask her about what would be involved in trying to set up a Discourse instance to pick up the functions of EA...

Anyone else willing to join in?

Lets not let the Archive "softly and silently fade away"....

WheelyFixed

WheelyFixed wrote: Tue Nov 26, 2024 7:22 am I'm hopefully not going to step in anything here, but I'm sufficiently convinced about the need for a resource like EA, not to mention the community of like minded individuals, to be unwilling to let the Archive go away if there is something *I* can do to save it....

I am not wealthy, but I'm willing to pledge up to US $1K to get a new site up and running...

I don't know if it will lead to anything, but I've just sent an e-mail to a trans friend (the only person I'm currently out to other than my GF and medical folks) to ask her about what would be involved in trying to set up a Discourse instance to pick up the functions of EA...

Anyone else willing to join in?

Lets not let the Archive "softly and silently fade away"....

WheelyFixed

It would be awesome if we can save this resource somehow. This site has help me and many others so much!

I am actually willing to drop in some money too, if needed. (Not sure about 1k$, but well...).

Also - no matter what - chat stays (it is on different servers).

So - anyone willing - https://eamain.hopto.org/ - chat is here and will stay there.

WheelyFixed wrote: Tue Nov 26, 2024 7:22 am I don't know if it will lead to anything, but I've just sent an e-mail to a trans friend (the only person I'm currently out to other than my GF and medical folks) to ask her about what would be involved in trying to set up a Discourse instance to pick up the functions of EA...

Anyone else willing to join in?

Lets not let the Archive "softly and silently fade away"....

WheelyFixed

We'd also need to save readonly copy of the old forum, for history, if we do that.

Wheely, Do you have a plan, and what you need from others to make it work? I am working two jobs at the moment and sadly I am rather technologically challenged, so not very useful on that front.

As politely as I can say it, but I'll still come off as a jerk anyhow...

Folks here have been saying for YEARS they need new people to step up, take this on, work to make it better. Running a site like this is a thankless, and often horrid experience. You'll never satisfy everyone, and when you have to make the difficult decisions, there's always someone waiting in the wings to punch you in head. I've backed off the last year here, because I've tired of being a punching bag. I have other things I need to be doing (caring for my elderly parent among them).

Nobody wanted to help, and now folks are lamenting it's going away. Yes, a tough statement, but honestly the shuttering is not that big of a surprise, given the writing has been on the while for some time now.

I do wish everyone well. I do want those folks who are seriously seeking this to continue to have access to truthful information.

But most of us here have been doing this for over 20 years now, we're tired. We're done. Now it's time for someone else to take care of it.

Hold onto the SOC if you can. While it's published now, it will take just one revision for it to go away. I hope that doesn't happen.

Most of the function of this site has moved on, other than the fiction archive. People flock to Instagram, Twitter, and other commercial platforms that can shut this kind of discussion down in a minute if they wish to. That's what the "market" has chosen related to this topic.

I just hope the EA fiction archive stays available over on the new place. The question is, when is that going to happen... I don't know.

I'm just going to leave his here, on this hijacked thread:

I don't own EA or the FA.

I just work here.

And I'm tired.

This past week, I've spent over 20 hours here and rooting around in the "back room". It's dark and scary in there, and things are in pieces.

Basically, the EA is now a rusty old 1974 VW Beetle with three flat tires and knocking engine limping along the shoulder of the Information Superhighway.

I can't fix it. I've tried.

Money won't fix it.

I've tried.

Honestly, every one of these posts is like a punch to the gut for me.

LT might be concerned about he comes off, but I'm not. After all, BBoy hired me in 2000 to do his dirty work. It's sad that I got that reputation, but it is what it is.

Now, does everyone honestly believe that I didn't try and explore options to try and save this?

When the little Girl Scout gets enough doors slammed in her face, she throws her cookies in the trash and gives up.

So be it.

Stop asking.

Or at least, don't ask me anymore. I've gone off to my private corner of the cellar to cry.

Perhaps I haven't been sufficiently clear... I am unendingly grateful to Paolo, Kristoff, and LT, and any other less visible supporting crew, for all the tremendous work they have done, and wish all of them the best of possible outcomes in their well earned rest!

I mean absolutely NO insult or disrespect of them or their work, and don't mean any sort of insult to them, or saying they didn't try hard enough. I may well get slapped down in my efforts, but no matter what, I feel like I have to at least TRY...

I also am NOT asking them to take ANY role or be active in anything I'm able to get started... (which is not to say I'd tell them to get lost if they WANTED to help in any way - but it would be purely their choice...)

I don't have a definite plan - unfortunately I don't have the technical chops to set up and run a site like this myself, but the Boston area is one of the technology hubs of the US, so possibly I'll have better luck finding a person with the right chops to help. The friend I mentioned has set up at least one Discourse site, so I'm sure she knows how, but not whether she would be willing / able to do so, or how much she might ask... But it's a start...

As LT pointed out, many have moved to commercial platforms with someone else holding the control buttons - I think this is a bad thing in general, and is part of what drives me to want to keep something that fills the role of EA (whatever it is called) and is to the maximum extent possible owned, operated and controlled by the Eunuch community for the benefit of the Eunuch community....

I'm also not asking to be the only one - if someone else here wants the job, I'll be happy to funnel the money that way instead...

WheelyFixed

The eunuch or castrated related novels can post on AO3 aka Archive of your Own. But the discussion on real eunuch lives and medical details like the forum here shall gone completely if there is no new management to take over. CRYYYYY

WheelyFixed wrote: Tue Nov 26, 2024 2:38 pm Perhaps I haven't been sufficiently clear... I am unendingly grateful to Paolo, Kristoff, and LT, and any other less visible supporting crew, for all the tremendous work they have done, and wish all of them the best of possible outcomes in their well earned rest!

I mean absolutely NO insult or disrespect of them or their work, and don't mean any sort of insult to them, or saying they didn't try hard enough. I may well get slapped down in my efforts, but no matter what, I feel like I have to at least TRY...

I also am NOT asking them to take ANY role or be active in anything I'm able to get started... (which is not to say I'd tell them to get lost if they WANTED to help in any way - but it would be purely their choice...)

I don't have a definite plan - unfortunately I don't have the technical chops to set up and run a site like this myself, but the Boston area is one of the technology hubs of the US, so possibly I'll have better luck finding a person with the right chops to help. The friend I mentioned has set up at least one Discourse site, so I'm sure she knows how, but not whether she would be willing / able to do so, or how much she might ask... But it's a start...

As LT pointed out, many have moved to commercial platforms with someone else holding the control buttons - I think this is a bad thing in general, and is part of what drives me to want to keep something that fills the role of EA (whatever it is called) and is to the maximum extent possible owned, operated and controlled by the Eunuch community for the benefit of the Eunuch community....

I'm also not asking to be the only one - if someone else here wants the job, I'll be happy to funnel the money that way instead...

WheelyFixed

I agree with all your sentiments Wheely. I understand the feelings and comments of all the wonderful folks who have kept this awesome site going. It's a thankless task. I am sure you are appreciated more than you will ever realise.

Wheely, keep us informed. I am sure you realise from the comments what a thankless task you are considering.

Can the stories themselves be easily archived into a downloadable file that can be passed on to any potential member who would like to take over?

Perhaps some talented souls can move the stories some modern architecture that are more "durable?"

I am not an IT professional, but I like to hack around stuff at home.

Can any moderators share what the current challenges are? Perhaps some of us can help rebuild the archive even after its closure. At least I would be willing to try.

Paolo wrote: Tue Nov 26, 2024 10:18 am I'm just going to leave his here, on this hijacked thread:

I don't own EA or the FA.

I just work here.

And I'm tired.

This past week, I've spent over 20 hours here and rooting around in the "back room". It's dark and scary in there, and things are in pieces.

Basically, the EA is now a rusty old 1974 VW Beetle with three flat tires and knocking engine limping along the shoulder of the Information Superhighway.

I can't fix it. I've tried.

Money won't fix it.

I've tried.

Honestly, every one of these posts is like a punch to the gut for me.

LT might be concerned about he comes off, but I'm not. After all, BBoy hired me in 2000 to do his dirty work. It's sad that I got that reputation, but it is what it is.

Now, does everyone honestly believe that I didn't try and explore options to try and save this?

When the little Girl Scout gets enough doors slammed in her face, she throws her cookies in the trash and gives up.

So be it.

Stop asking.

Or at least, don't ask me anymore. I've gone off to my private corner of the cellar to cry.

Here are a few things that I can think off that I hope mods and potential volunteers can discuss:

1. Domain name

I recommend that we keep the two domain names, eunuch.org and eunuchworld.org active. They should not cost very much, but would be an important gateway for existing crowds (like me) who only come on here occasionally and miss the closure notice.

2. Redirect page

We can set up a single webpage that gives future visitors pointers as to what other platforms the EA community has moved onto. The point here is to redirect all users (both active forum posters and people who only log in to read stories) to the same place where we can continue the community. Keeping it editable would allow us to update it if new "meeting places" come out. It being a single page should be very easy to maintain. We can probably just pay a little more every year to have the page hosted on the domain registrar company.

3. Forum Migration

We can move the forum onto existing web services. Reddit is the first one that comes to mind. There are already subreddits about castration that exists. Our conversations here appear to be sanitary enough to raise red flags. Maintenance should be easy. We won't need to make sure the site stays online (that's Reddit's job). One or two moderators should be enough given our niche interest and the activity level.

Discord is another alternative, but it feels more like a chat room than a forum and navigation can be difficult.

Existing threads may be difficult to keep. This is probably what most active users will miss out on. But I think it's more important for the people still have a place to gather.

4. Fiction Archive Migration

First we should at least find a way to archive the stories, authors, and perhaps ratings and comments to leave our door open for future discussion

Mods have already arranged for Kinsey to mirror the fiction archive. It is still a shame that new stories won't be posted anymore. Many active users of this forum may not agree, but to me, the FA is the most important thing that draws me to this community. It is particularly sad for me as I have just started posting stories to the EA. I have a couple suggestions:

A. Leave the mirror on Kinsey, and redirect new stories to Aoc3 (Archive of our own).

Pros:

- System is already up and running. We don't need to work on keeping the servers alive

- They have a warning and genre tag system

- Good search function

Cons:

- No sense of community, because it contains stories of basically anything

- All stories would be basically public. Some may receive unfriendly comments from people who abhor our interests

- Old stories must be retrieved from a different place

- Invitation is required for registration, and there is a wait list. But it seems all stories can be read without an account

B. Host our own on a modern architecture, maybe on AWS or Azure

Pros:

- More resilient

- More flexibility

- Keep old stories and new stories in the same place

- Archive would be exclusive to our community

Cons:

- Costs

- Technical knowledge required from volunteers

- Volunteers can get burned out, just like our current problem

If someone can add to this list, please do. And perhaps OP can sticky this or should I create a new forum thread for this?

I log on pretty regularly so I can probably be a moderator. We need a team so people don't get burned out. (I'm old too, but willing to help.)