Avatars
#16
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: MUC, CCS
Posts: 34
I would also vote for the possiblity to have an avatar. It should be allowed to everyone and if someone doesn't like to have one - so need to upload one. ;-)
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
This is probably a tech-type question - how much do avatars slow down a page loading? If they're of a certain size or smaller, does it have much impact?
I do like FT being fairly minimalist, but avatars can give a sense of who people are or their interests.
If they were to be approved, then there's also the requirements (size, type of image, does it have to be the person, etc.) that would need to be considered.
I do like FT being fairly minimalist, but avatars can give a sense of who people are or their interests.
If they were to be approved, then there's also the requirements (size, type of image, does it have to be the person, etc.) that would need to be considered.
#18
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,107
I don't have strong feelings either way, but I'm leaning slightly against this. I've been on some other BBs that have Avatars under the handles & I find them distracting, especially the ones that use goofy images. Also we've already got people listing programs, etc, under their handles now & other stuff that can go on & on. Since they exist in profiles & friends, that to me seems to be enough.
However, one avatar that can probably go now is the Flyertalk Awards for those who voted, since the winners have already been announced
Cheers.
However, one avatar that can probably go now is the Flyertalk Awards for those who voted, since the winners have already been announced
Cheers.
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,340
I don't have any issue with avatars that are faces, like mine on another site (LINK), but some folks on this other site use cartoon characters or other objects that look in poor taste. If we could limit it to actual photos I'd support it 100%, but I don't want to see avatars of animals or cartoon characters. Just see no value there.
#20
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
If you post a photo, though, I'd like to see you. I've met hundreds, if not thousands, of FTers over the years. I can't recall all the screen names, particularly when they're something like R24EX7K, but do have a good recollection for faces.
Will the software have an option to display only face photos?
Will the software have an option to display only face photos?
#21
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
#23
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,048
I don't have any issue with avatars that are faces, like mine on another site (LINK), but some folks on this other site use cartoon characters or other objects that look in poor taste. If we could limit it to actual photos I'd support it 100%, but I don't want to see avatars of animals or cartoon characters. Just see no value there.
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273
I like photos on the profile pages, but wouldn't want to see them alongside posts. Even at a few KB each, that's a lot of images to load, especially for people who set a high number of posts per page... a cellular connection makes things even worse... and god forbid you try to visit FT on Gogo.
#25
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,026
Exactly.
If I want a picture of someone, I'll ask.
If I want a picture of someone, I'll ask.
#26
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP, Hhonors Gold, National Executive, Identity Gold, MLife Gold
Posts: 2,687
I wouldn't expect them to have much of a significant impact on an individual's perf (I'm sure it could be measured, but would the end user notice the load time difference?). But the hit on the server side, from all of the pages being served up to all of the members, is the area of concern.
A typical implementation does not have this. It's on or off.
Besides, how many different options would there need to be? You only want to see faces. Other people may only want to see pets. Others may only want to see full frontal nudity. The list could get long.
#27
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,162
In computing, an avatar (usually translated from Sanskrit as incarnation) is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character.
#28
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Well, then if avatars have to be cartoon characters or animals, I'd suggest the Talk Board vote against them. I don't want to look at cartoon characters or animals next to a posters screen name. I don't do facebook so can't look there to see what's being done. I do post on Twitter and photos of posters are very common there.
#29
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Then click on the profile, take a look on the avatar there and move on. I don't see the point of having the picture besides every frigging post. Since the face thing (if any and all of the users even want to post a picture of their face) is next to impossible to enforce, just look at facebook. The term avatar itself suggests that you shouldn't use a plain picture...?
#30
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,026
If you want a picture of someone, ask him or her.