Manual Signature Images

I've noticed recently that a few members have been including an image in their manual signature. While I suppose a reaction could be "this isn't hurting anyone", I beg to differ. Below, you will see who it is hurting, and how it is hurting them.

First off, they waste my bandwidth downloading them. I am on a cable modem, so it doesn't slow down my page load times too much, but I can imagine that these would get annoying for people who are still using dial-up connections.

Second, they waste the bandwidth of the site that is hosting the pictures. Having my own website, I know that bandwidth costs money. Chances are, these pictures aren't hosted on space that the member pays for. Therefore, they are leeching the images off of someone else's site, and are hurting that site's bandwidth. It may not seem like a big deal with images that are only a few KB, but every time a thread is loaded by a new JC member, that number multiplies. If this member posts in ten different threads, and each one of those threads gets a hundred page views (which I don't think is too unlikely), the kilobytes has been turned into megabytes. As a webmaster, I would hate the fact that someone is leeching my bandwidth, without my site getting any more traffic.

That being said, the webmaster could take action. Personally, I have recently set up my website so that it will only display images if the request is coming from my site. If another site is requesting an image, a simple "Remote linking forbidden" image comes up. Other webmasters might not be as nice. They could easily have remote linking show a picture unsuitable for the JC, whether it is porn, or something else. Then, every post that this person made with the manual signature image would now have an inappropriate image. I wouldn't want to be the mod who has to go back and edit a hundred posts, to keep the JC a family-friendly place.

Third, there isn't really a point to manual signature images. Does it help the discussion in any way? I don't think so.

I'm pretty sure that there is a reason that images aren't allowed in signatures. Perhaps it is because Snowboards didn't get the programming done. Perhaps they were disabled. After all, images take up a lot of room on the screen. If the administration of the JC took the steps to not allow images in signatures, couldn't a manual signature image be seen as a way to try to get around the rule?

Even if images were allowed in signatures, I wouldn't like the idea of manual signature images. It isn't hard for an administrator to log in to someones account, and change their signature. That would change the image in all of their posts. With a manual signature, it has to be changed in every single post, which would be time-consuming. I'm pretty sure the moderators have something better to do than edit every single one of someone's posts.

That being said, I think I have presented enough evidence as to why these images shouldn't be allowed. I am not trying to stir up drama. I just feel that the negatives out weigh the positives. Feel free to discuss this.

 

Let's stick to the topic at hand.

 

I agree with the YodaJeff on this issue

 

I agree with YodaJeff. Sorry, Vaderbait.

 

I agree with YodaJeff as well!


This has to be a record of some kind.

 

I'm interested in learning more about YodaJeff's organization. Please sign me up for the newsletter.

AYBABTU?

 

rats! there goes my idea for an image sig!


But I agree with YodaJeff aswell. However, I think that Darth_Boy and sithman will feel differently. Also I agree becasue of the badiwith issues and stuff. I'm on 56k and it dosent add that mush to download time....


//Is jealous of wstraka5's T1

 

I also happen to agree with YodaJeff. Even though I am on a T1 connection, it you have to think of those that are on low speed connections. Also, as YodaJeff said, it does cost the hosted site bandwidth and you should be considerate of them when you are posting images.

 

I've started a thread in Mod Squad about this because I really do think it's a good idea. If the majority of mods agree, we'll get something done about it.

 

Now here's the tricky part... How do we come up with a way to outlaw text manual sigs? Shall we just say it anoys Me and therefor they must go? Yeah, I like that.

 

I agree.

applesauce!

Seriously though manual sigs can be annoying but image ones are just annoying!

 

Brilliant, YJ. I fully agree.

Pictures can be inserted in your bios. At least the members have the option of looking at said pictures instead of reading a thread riddled with images and what-not.

GO 'CLONES!

 

I agree with everyone on this issue.

 

i... uhm.. concur with the sentiments expressed by YodaJeff

Click here to see my manual sig image!

 

With regard to my own manual sig, I do it so that my posts are easier to pick out of a thread when I'm scrolling through. And I should be grandfathered in, anyway. I started it as soon as we got markup codes. Everyone else is just copying me, which is like a parody, which is aganist the rules.

I demand that the Administration do something about all the people mocking me with their manual sigs!

But on a serious note, I really do agree with Jeff. He brings up some great points.

AYBABTU?

 

oh, and let me say I agree with getting rid of sig images not manual sigs all together

 

you all are only saying this cause I threatened to use Goatse as my manual sig pic....

 

I think manual sigs are cool, but the picture ones are just annoying

 

With regard to my own manual sig, I do it so that my posts are easier to pick out of a thread when I'm scrolling through. And I should be grandfathered in, anyway.

Now you're saying that all manual sigs should be banned? Hypocrite!

GO 'CLONES!

EDIT: Darnit tom!

 

I got mine from snap-hiss, who might have been doing it before AYBABTU, since his has no codes.

¤Night

 

Yeah, snap was definitely one of the Original Founders.

He muse be destroyed!

 

DarthNut and RUIN KAI have used manual sigs long before Snowboard.

GO 'CLONES!

 

HALLO! HEER IZ YM MANOOLE PICSIG. KTHXBY

[image=http://www.manifestation.org/~ill/images/funny/volkswagen%20can%20never%20lose.jpg]


(i agree with teh jefffff)

 

I think we should ban all manual sigs as well because I'm not clever enough to come up with a good one.

And citizen-tom, perhaps you could settle on an icon before you try to tackle a manual sig image.


Uh, I'm the uh... Well crap.

 

Didn't Windy have his before Snowboards too?

¤Night