Ditch signatures altogether

[R2D221]

A proposal for the new forum is to not include signatures at all. Why not?

Well, what exactly is the purpose of a signature? I know that forums have had signatures for decades, but most of the time people put obnoxious pictures on them, bigger than the post itself (this doesn't happen here, as far as I know, but on other forums), or sell them for advertising (which happens here as signature campaigns). People who use their signatures for something more decent are rare.

Maybe you think: the signature is something I can customize to my liking, similar to my profile. In that case, then I think we should give more options for profile customization (similar to what social networks are doing: a profile picture and a background, among other things).

The reason I propose this, is because signature campaigns significantly affect the quality of the posts. People are posting just to get more views on their signatures without contributing with a useful idea or thought on the topic.

I do have a signature, but it's something too simple: it's just a phrase. I don't think it's important enough to be kept in the forum.

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[hilariousandco]

I would rather have signature campaigns banned than have signatures removed completely. People can use them to promote their own threads or businesses or things they are selling or simply just put whatever they want in there (like you have). If we did remove signatures to combat signature advertising then we would also likely need to remove avatars and personal texts as people will just move on to selling them. I wouldn't disagree with even stricter rules on signatures though (or avatars when they come back - ie certain lower ranks can't have them etc), but while signature campaigns do contribute to spam they also do contribute a significant amount of money to the bitcoin economy and it's by far the best way to earn your first coins or even acquire a decent amount over time, so it would be a shame to see them go but I would rather just deal with the certain spammers than ban signatures outright.

[bitparadise]

Signature campaigns has recruited a number new bitcoiners. I believe it makes the forum more vibrant. Bitcoiners in remote and third world countries has limited ways of obtaining bitcoins. I think the easier way for them is through signature campaigns and selling their services.

What we need now is enough moderators to delete posts and banned forum rule breakers and vigilant users who will report spam posts.

[HeroC]

I don't think we should ban either. Some people recruit their business with their sig, and that would hurt them. As for Signature Campaigns, they helped me stay with the community, and were the reason I had most of my Bitcoin. Perhaps an option to turn off signatures for yourself?

[hilariousandco]

People can already turn off signatures but he's making an argument that they lower the quality of discussion, which you can't really turn off unless you start blocking people.

[xetsr]

Signature campaigns has recruited a number new bitcoiners. I believe it makes the forum more vibrant. Bitcoiners in remote and third world countries has limited ways of obtaining bitcoins. I think the easier way for them is through signature campaigns and selling their services.

What we need now is enough moderators to delete posts and banned forum rule breakers and vigilant users who will report spam posts.

New bitcoiners? More like more kids looking to get paid to mostly spam the forum with nonsense. You can tell by there posts that not many are actually interested in bitcoin.

Then you have campaign sig owners and those who run sig campaigns... they allow new accounts to spam their sigs because when it comes time for them to pay, they can always so no no, you spammed. Easy way to get free advertisement. Maybe start banning them instead of just the members spamming?

If sig campaigns were dropped completely you would see a huge rise in scamming. Accounts would be worthless so what's the next best thing they can be used for? Scamming. It's not like most of these people actually care about the future of bitcoin, they just after that $$$.

[TrollboxChamp]

People can already turn off signatures but he's making an argument that they lower the quality of discussion, which you can't really turn off unless you start blocking people.

Also, you can turn off ads and avatars which is nice. Signatures provide the site with a lot of adspace banner views which I think theymos wants to keep (as would be expected), even if there is spam.

[xetsr]

People can already turn off signatures but he's making an argument that they lower the quality of discussion, which you can't really turn off unless you start blocking people.

Also, you can turn off ads and avatars which is nice. Signatures provide the site with a lot of adspace banner views which I think theymos wants to keep (as would be expected), even if there is spam.

The advertisement theymos sells are not placed in signatures. Are they? If signature campaigns were removed those ads he auctions off every month would be more valuable IMO.

[Muhammed Zakir]

People can already turn off signatures but he's making an argument that they lower the quality of discussion, which you can't really turn off unless you start blocking people.

Also, you can turn off ads and avatars which is nice. Signatures provide the site with a lot of adspace banner views which I think theymos wants to keep (as would be expected), even if there is spam.

The advertisement theymos sells are not placed in signatures. Are they? If signatures were removed those ads he auctions off every month would be more valuable IMO.

No, they aren't. You are probably right but signatures are valuable and in almost all forum, it is available. Signatures are good to publicize our business or to spread any messages. I think, like hilariousandco said, all signature campaigns should be banned rather than ditching signature.

   -MZ

[Grand_Voyageur]

People can already turn off signatures but he's making an argument that they lower the quality of discussion, which you can't really turn off unless you start blocking people.

Also, you can turn off ads and avatars which is nice. Signatures provide the site with a lot of adspace banner views which I think theymos wants to keep (as would be expected), even if there is spam.

The advertisement theymos sells are not placed in signatures. Are they? If signatures were removed those ads he auctions off every month would be more valuable IMO.

No, they aren't. You are probably right but signatures are valuable and in almost all forum, it is available. Signatures are good to publicize our business or to spread any messages. I think, like hilariousandco said, all signature campaigns should be banned rather than ditching signature.

   -MZ

I would ban signature ad spammers and other abuser than banning signature campaigns. A spammer or an abuser produce degrade by itself the quality of discussions; so, I think only solution is to have a zero-tolerance enforcement of forum rules against any violator anywhere on the forum.

[Madness]

I agree on something with you OP , but not all of what you mentioned .
Signature compaigns is one the most important things that keep some people here contributing on the community (please let's try to now throw accusations on people) , Yes of course there is some spammers like on every forum around the internet but they get banned from Signature compaign or the forum it self sooner or later , most of them don't even get Member rank or above before he gets banned .
Still las you said , I guess we should be able to put more things on the signatures like pictures etc ...

@xetsr , no theymos Advertisement isn't on people signatures but it's between the First and second posts on a thread (end of the first & start of the second) the money earned by those ads goes to the forum (Moderators , staff , new forum developement etc ... )

~ Madness