LPDAL

Hi Talkboard!

We've got a hurricane approaching Fort Lauderdale...

Anyway, I'm writing to suggest something after I asked my talkboard member friend if it was viable: Images in signatures.

I know there are divides on each side:

Pros:
-All relate to more customization options of your signature.

Cons
-Loading time. In a trip report that requires the OP to split up into multiple posts, the images will be repeated.
-Signatures that are too big -- many forums that allow images grapple with this issue, which also intertwines with the above loading problem. I believe, but am not certain, that VBulletin can have a pixel limit imposed on signatures that is automatic and does not require a moderator to munch the signature down to appropriate size.

As an example, going by the current limit of two size-12 lines, that would be approx. 50 pixels tall by 400 pixels wide.

Thoughts are welcome!!! ^^^

-LPDAL

tom911

What kind of image would you put in a signature? Can you give us an example using both your signature line and mine? I can't think of anything I'd want to put in mine, but maybe that's because I've never thought about it.

tcook052

As embedded images of any kind are not allowed in signatures as per FT Rules wouldn't it mean changing that rule? Is that within TB's purview?

jason8612

I don't know if TB can even change that rule but I wouldn't vote for it. My main issue I see is the time it'll take to approve the images and issues it can cause when some users post obscene images. I dont think the mods want to spend more time dealing with the images.

wharvey

I would not be supportive of images in signatures.... I would be open to seeing avators for showing pictures under our handles.... but not in signatures.

chgoeditor

I read other forums that allow images and hate it. I'm thrilled that some other forums have drastically scaled back what's permitted to appear in signatures. My opinion: Leave it as-is.

Mary2e

I'm a member of another forum where the pictures in signatures were taking up half a page and taking forever to load.

They limited the size, but even then, they were really distracting to the point of my turning off signatures altogether.

I would do the same here if they were permitted.

MSPeconomist

My initial impression is that allowing signatures would not be a good idea, but I'm willing to be convinced, provided that people can still opt out and not see signatures.

Mary2e

The problem with opting out is that sometimes people put interesting or valuable information in their signatures that I might want to see.

On the other board, I really don't care, but on this one, I do.

oliver2002

THT, another forum in the happy IB family, allows images in signatures. An example:

http://www.thehulltruth.com/trucks-t...-page-5-a.html

Ads for 'jonathans jeweler', images of 'protected by 2nd amendment', of course plenty of boat images etc

tcook052

Well whatever floats your boat but I would not want to see images in signatures on FT.

CMK10

I'm against it too, mainly because the last thing I want is for pages to take any longer to load. I use FT a lot on Gogo and as of now it's a pain to load it there, with images? It'll be far worse.

oliver2002

Over at MP you have eyesore sigs like this:


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I barely grasp the concept of signatures, but why on earth would one want to have ~20 icons show up with every bloody post?

MSPeconomist

There are worse examples with some small and some huge FF program icons.

oliver2002

Op suggested 50x400, my sample above are about 30-40pixel high.