No more signature images

[theymos]

Signature images are making too much of a mess, so adding them is now disabled for everyone. Existing ones have not been removed, but they will be removed next time you change anything on that profile page.

[c_k]

Existing ones should be removed for fairness

[Serge]

i suggest instead of disabling them completely, making a rule to have max img button  size 120x60 and those longer tiny ones
then if someone puts something bigger just clear their sig with link to sig rules page.

[theymos]

i suggest instead of disabling them completely, making a rule to have max img button  size 120x60 and those longer tiny ones
then if someone puts something bigger just clear their sig with link to sig rules page.

This can't be enforced automatically, and it would be difficult to enforce through moderation.

[DeathAndTaxes]

Can a standardized image size be enforced via scripting.  i.e. no matter what size image a user includes it will always be resized to x by y pixels.

[theymos]

Can a standardized image size be enforced via scripting.  i.e. no matter what size image a user includes it will always be resized to x by y pixels.

It probably could be done, but I don't like the idea of images in signatures, anyway. The next forum software will eliminate all embedded images.

[BitcoinPorn]

This can't be enforced automatically, and it would be difficult to enforce through moderation.

I believe a more false statement cannot be made.  I guarantee as soon as people know the image size rules, you will never see more people ratting on other Bitcoin Forum users than ever.  If no one is ratting, they truly do not mind the image size.   I assure you though, someone will always notice.  Been on forums before that had self regulation of this specific kind that worked.

[pooler]

That's too bad.
I really liked dynamic userbars in signatures, like "I'm mining at deepbit.net with my 842.35 MH/s"
They only took a few pixels and had that "live" feel to them.

[theymos]

I believe a more false statement cannot be made.  I guarantee as soon as people know the image size rules, you will never see more people ratting on other Bitcoin Forum users than ever.  If no one is ratting, they truly do not mind the image size.   I assure you though, someone will always notice.  Been on forums before that had self regulation of this specific kind that worked.

I know that this is not true, since the policy has always been that the entire signature area can't be much larger than 468px x 60px. Yet almost every time I view a topic I see someone with larger signature images. Usually I don't feel like dealing with it, but I've probably removed fifty or more signatures that were too large.

[SgtSpike]

Solution:
- Set a DEFINED limit of pixels.  "Can't be much larger than" 468x60 isn't a hard limit, thus people will press past it.  Define the limit AS 468x60, and self-policing within the community will happen.  There is no reason not to have a hard limit, and plenty of reasons to have one.
- Ban anyone who does not follow the rules on it.  If people know the consequences are severe, they will be much less likely to break said rules.

Also, the next forum software will disable all image embedding?  Whoa, talk about a step backwards!  I guess some people really DO still want to be stuck in the 90's.

[Turbor]

[BitcoinPorn]

since the policy has always been that the entire signature area can't be much larger than 468px x 60px.

I honestly must have forgot about this, I didn't know there was constraints already.  I kept seeing that intersango site's large header and thought that would be too large, but no one said anything.

[cablepair]

this kinda sucks, since I can't have my image in the signature bar than you can you please take that incredibly annoying and distasteful animated gif away from Bitcoin porn?

[Red Emerald]

That's too bad.
I really liked dynamic userbars in signatures, like "I'm mining at deepbit.net with my 842.35 MH/s"
They only took a few pixels and had that "live" feel to them.

Ditto. I just got to 50 posts, too

Are images really that annoying? I don't really have a problem with them. I guess I have a good internet connection so they don't slow down page load really. Other people may not be so lucky.

[evolve]

I dont use signature banners, but I think its silly to disallow them.  just my 2 btc.

[payb.tc]

So we have banned signature bar images

Now I can't help but notice you are trying to raise money for the forum buy selling advertising (which I totally support):

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=51013.0

and I can't help but think that maybe this signature bar thing has a little something to do with the fact that Signature Bar Images not only are Free Advertising but they are at times Superior Free Advertising to the kind you are trying to sell for the forum.

And seriously all due respect to Thymos and the rest of the staff you guys do an awesome job here - but I have a hard time believing this decision was made purely because "the signature images are a mess"

any thoughts?

it's a little ridiculous... if you're so offended by signature images, go here instead: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=printpage;topic=51077.msg609387;topicseen#new

i feel like it's one more reason to frequent other forums and try to escape this one.

[cablepair]

i removed my message - I knew I was going to offend someone - that was not my intention - so I retract.

But I still feel its a legitimate question to ask - and you have to admit signature bar images work as and are used as free advertising every day. Some Bitcoin businesses rely heavily on them.

[theymos]

I don't like embedded images. They usually clutter up the discussion without much benefit. This is especially true of signature images: they take up more screen space than a few paragraphs, but they provide almost no value.

If you replace your signature image with a short direct link to an image, it would be easy for someone to write a GreaseMonkey script that expands these images.

[imsaguy]

That's too bad.
I really liked dynamic userbars in signatures, like "I'm mining at deepbit.net with my 842.35 MH/s"
They only took a few pixels and had that "live" feel to them.

I couldn't care any less about where you are mining and at what rate.  I especially don't want to see it every other message in a thread.

[SgtSpike]

I don't like embedded images. They usually clutter up the discussion without much benefit. This is especially true of signature images: they take up more screen space than a few paragraphs, but they provide almost no value.

If you replace your signature image with a short direct link to an image, it would be easy for someone to write a GreaseMonkey script that expands these images.

But have you asked the COMMUNITY what it likes?  Or do you just not care?