Where have the old (now Read Only) forums gone?

Have been trying to find a link to the old Sims forums site (to link an old story thread to a new one), but when I type in the address I had for it into my search, it now only brings up the new forums site. Have tried typing everything I can think of that used to bring up the link, but nothing is bringing up the old forums.

Has the old forum site been deleted? I understood that it was going to remain online but just as 'read only.' It would have been nice to just be able to look back on it as an archive.

Just wondered if anyone else is having the same trouble? (Also why have most of the avatars turned into silhouettes?)