This script checks through all the 'ChiselMessages' files, one for each map, and purges old or disliked Soapstone message. It will make a backup of each file before removing any engravings.

engraving_scrubber.py

"""
This script checks through all the 'ChiselMessages' files, one for each 
map, and purges old or disliked Soapstone message. It will make a
backup of each file before removing any engravings.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is free and unencumbered software released into the public domain.

Anyone is free to copy, modify, publish, use, compile, sell, or
distribute this software, either in source code form or as a compiled
binary, for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, and by any
means.

In jurisdictions that recognize copyright laws, the author or authors
of this software dedicate any and all copyright interest in the
software to the public domain. We make this dedication for the benefit
of the public at large and to the detriment of our heirs and
successors. We intend this dedication to be an overt act of
relinquishment in perpetuity of all present and future rights to this
software under copyright law.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.
IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR
OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE,
ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR
OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

For more information, please refer to <http://unlicense.org/>
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Created by Crossedfall
"""

import json
import shutil

from copy import deepcopy
from datetime import datetime
from pathlib import Path

BYOND_ERA = 946684800
CURRENT_DATE = datetime.today().timestamp()
DATA_PATH = Path('.') #Change this so that the path points to .../data/npc_saves

def main():
    for filename in DATA_PATH.glob('**/ChiselMessages*.json'):
        old_messages = 0
        disliked_messages = 0
        shutil.copyfile(filename, f'{filename}.bak')
        data = None

        with open(filename) as f:
            data = json.load(f)

        out_data = deepcopy(data)
        for m in data['data']:
            message_date = (int(m['realdate']) / 10) + BYOND_ERA
            if message_date <= (CURRENT_DATE - 15778458): #Remove messages that are 6-months old
                old_messages += 1
                out_data['data'].remove(m)
            elif (len(m['like_keys']) < len(m['dislike_keys'])) or (len(m['like_keys']) < 5):
                if message_date <= (CURRENT_DATE - 86400): #Only remove unpopular engravings that are at least 24-hours old.
                    disliked_messages += 1
                    out_data['data'].remove(m)
            
        with open(filename, 'w') as outfile:
            json.dump(out_data, outfile)
        
        print(f"Done with: {filename}\nRemoved {old_messages} old messages and {disliked_messages} disliked messages.\nRemaining messages: {len(out_data['data'])}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()