# I made a SDMB-improving Greasemonkey script. Looking for feedback/beta testers **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 14, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973 "2009-09-14T00:11:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/121 "2009-09-18T04:09:32Z")
> [@ianjohnson](#): > > I’m having a problem with the script update message appearing in a post. In editing I kept trying different combinations of deleting and trying to dismiss the message but couldn’t get it to clear before the edit window ran out (and why is there an edit window anyway?) This would be my second attempt. > > So I have to click the little gray line at the bottom of the post window to bring up the notification. Then I have to select the text within the gray window and delete it, but I am still left with “Thumbnails provided by Thumbshots”. > > How do I keep this from happening?[URL=“[http://www.thumbshots.com](http://www.thumbshots.com)”] Are you using the WYSIWYG editor? This is happening to a few people, and I’m trying to find commonalities to figure out what’s causing it. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/122 "2009-09-18T04:27:40Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Wow, this is a cool idea. I’d like to try this out! > > It might be a good idea to ask one of our resident graphic designer posters to make icons that are of a consistent design, with a nice web2.0 style to them. Maybe. I second this idea. I could take a crack at a few of the icons… I’ll be back. ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/123 "2009-09-18T04:42:40Z")
Yeah, it’s definitely a problem with the WYSIWYG editor. It’ll be fixed in the next update. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/124 "2009-09-18T05:16:06Z")
I don’t know a damn thing about coding or Beta testing so I don’t think I’d be much help, but I just wanted to say that this thing is going to be AWESOME when it gets done! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/125 "2009-09-18T23:34:48Z")
> [@wierdaaron](#): > > Yeah, it’s definitely a problem with the WYSIWYG editor. It’ll be fixed in the next update. Cool. I also just had a suggestion brainstorm: Dopers can have avatars. However, you can only see them if you view their profile. It seems like you might be able to display them with the badge script. A lot of people around here hate avatars, so I wouldn’t suggest implementing it until you can optionally turn it off. Oh, and I hope you haven’t forgot about or decided not to try the ignore button feature I mentioned earlier BTW, sorry if I’m asking too much. I’m just a bit giddy, since I’ve been hoping for a plugin to tweak the Dope for a long time. I’ve tried to learn on my own, but I’ve realized that I’ll probably need to take structured classes instead of just figuring things out on my own like I used to. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/126 "2009-09-19T02:06:07Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Dopers can have avatars. However, you can only see them if you view their profile. It seems like you might be able to display them with the badge script. i’m sure **wierdaaron** can _awesomize_ this, but here’s the basic idea: ```php // add avatars, if available $("a.bigusername").each(function () { var uid = $(this).attr("href").split("=")[1]; var img = ''; $(this).parent().parent().next().html(img); }); ``` ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/127 "2009-09-19T02:06:32Z")
This sounds super cool and I regret that I won’t be able to make use of it since I don’t use firefox. Maybe Google Labs will like the idea and put something out for Chrome. But I’ll add my two cents anyway. The doctor icon: [http://www.theagorashoppingcenter.com/images/doctor.gif](http://www.theagorashoppingcenter.com/images/doctor.gif) Atheist icon: Darwin fish Icon next to video links: [http://www.mavromatic.com/images/wof/projector.gif](http://www.mavromatic.com/images/wof/projector.gif) Or this: [http://www.reijns.info/style/img/film.gif](http://www.reijns.info/style/img/film.gif) Links to PDF’s need to have the little adobe symbol: [http://stopforeclosuremethod.com/images/adobe.gif](http://stopforeclosuremethod.com/images/adobe.gif) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/128 "2009-09-19T05:08:04Z")
> [@fubbleskag](#): > > i’m sure **wierdaaron** can _awesomize_ this, but here’s the basic idea: > > ```php > // add avatars, if available > $("a.bigusername").each(function () { > var uid = $(this).attr("href").split("=")[1]; > var img = ''; > $(this).parent().parent().next().html(img); > }); > > ``` Thanks. You see, that’s not so complicated that I can’t figure out what it does. Javascript looked so easy when I first tried to learn it… ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/129 "2009-09-19T05:09:35Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > This sounds super cool and I regret that I won’t be able to make use of it since I don’t use firefox. Maybe Google Labs will like the idea and put something out for Chrome. > > But I’ll add my two cents anyway. > > The doctor icon: [http://www.theagorashoppingcenter.com/images/doctor.gif](http://www.theagorashoppingcenter.com/images/doctor.gif) > > Atheist icon: Darwin fish > > Icon next to video links: [http://www.mavromatic.com/images/wof/projector.gif](http://www.mavromatic.com/images/wof/projector.gif) > Or this: [http://www.reijns.info/style/img/film.gif](http://www.reijns.info/style/img/film.gif) > > Links to PDF’s need to have the little adobe symbol: [http://stopforeclosuremethod.com/images/adobe.gif](http://stopforeclosuremethod.com/images/adobe.gif) Looks like they already did. > **[Google Chrome to Add Greasemonkey Support](http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2008/10/google-chrome-to-add-greasemonkey.html)** ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/130 "2009-09-19T10:26:55Z")
Atheist icon: Darwin fish? Many if not most Christians believe in evolution. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/131 "2009-09-19T11:17:19Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Atheist icon: Darwin fish? Many if not most Christians believe in evolution. I agree, **Liberal**. When I was a Christian (I am now Agnostic) I certainly accepted that evolution was the best explanation for the evidence. My brother, who is a devoted Christian, is a professional scientist (and a PhD) who accepts that the evidence (which is surely what scientists seek) leads to the unarguable conclusion that evolution and natural selection fit the observations so well that it is untenable to consider any alternative hypothesis. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/132 "2009-09-19T13:33:03Z")
I am aware that the Darwin Fish has other implications, but I am thinking back to the [days of its inception](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parodies_of_the_ichthys_symbol#Origin): > [@](#): > > **Origin** > In 1983, two friends involved in the southern California atheist and freethought movements, Al Seckel and John Edwards, co-created the Darwin fish design, which was first used on a freethought leaflet for Atheists United in 1984. If we are looking for a well-known symbol for atheism that can have no other possible tie-ins, we might be looking until the second coming\*. \*see what I did there? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/133 "2009-09-19T16:02:25Z")
The stylized atom. It represents materialism, and therefore by implication atheism. It is the official symbol adopted by the US military and others. It is already established and well known. (Just because someone here didn’t know it doesn’t make it not well known.) For scientists, a beaker will do. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/134 "2009-09-19T16:19:52Z")
The atom probably makes sense to philosophers and other deep thinkers, but I can see why us common folk might look at it and scratch our collective head. The word “materialism” makes me think “materialistic”. I would prefer naturalism, although I don’t know what the icon would be for that, either. Maybe a simplified rendering of the Vitruvian Man. Interestingly, I did an image search for “naturalism icon” and the first hit is the Darwin Fish. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/135 "2009-09-19T16:42:38Z")
I’ve started [a poll on the atheism icon](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=11573600#post11573600) tangent to avoid further hijacking of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/136 "2009-09-19T16:53:29Z")
I just pushed out an update that (hopefully) fixes the problem of crazy text getting injected into the WYSIWYG editor, and removes the icon for Amazon links, as the annoying-to-useful ratio was too low. The amazon links themselves still show product image when you hover. Next I’ll be dealing with PDF links. There’s actually a few things I can do with those: force download instead of opening in Adobe’s stupid in-browser plugin, use Google’s lighter embedded pdf viewer in a modal window (like with youtubes), etc. When I’m done with links I’ll get back to the user-flagging feature, and BigT’s ignore button request. ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/137 "2009-09-20T04:15:42Z")
I’ve got a cold or an infection or piggie flu or sars or smallpox or cancer or something, so progress has been slow today (mostly relegated to bed, Scribblenauts, and horrendus Dan Brown prose on my kindle), but here’s a preview of the PDF stuff. Links to PDF files are adorned with an icon (feel free to contribute something better; I’d like to stay away from adobe trademarked symbols as their ham-fisted mishandling of one of the most potentially notable file formats in modern computing makes my insides cry) [like so](http://www.aarondunlap.com/forumstuff/sdmb/screenshots/Screenshot%202009-09-20%2000h%2002m%2008s.png). When you hover over that icon, [you get a hover-preview thing of that PDF’s first page](http://www.aarondunlap.com/forumstuff/sdmb/screenshots/Screenshot%202009-09-20%2000h%2002m%2027s.png). This functionality is provided by Google via an undocumented hack (of sorts) that I totally just stumbled upon while I was working on the next thing: When you click the icon, [it launches a modal window (just like with YouTube videos) with the linked PDF embedded inside](http://www.aarondunlap.com/forumstuff/sdmb/screenshots/Screenshot%202009-09-20%2000h%2002m%2046s.png). It’s using a Google embedded PDF viewer (part of Google Docs, actually) and does not require having adobe reader, its stupid browser plugin, or any type PDF software on your computer. Google is just so… I want to make babies with them. The embedded viewer is very light, not requiring much load time. It has a link to launch a full-page viewer in a new window with more advanced features. I’ll probably get this update online tomorrow morning. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/138 "2009-09-20T05:09:19Z")
I made a few icons that are more consistent in design and of uniform size. Not sure if you want to adopt this idea or not, but [here they are](http://www.guanolad.com/stuff/icon_collection.png) if you want to look at them. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/139 "2009-09-20T11:18:08Z")
Those are great, GuanoLad! An excellent consistency, and nice looking. I’d like the XY, the Cross, the Darwin Fish, the L, and the 99. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-a-sdmb-improving-greasemonkey-script-looking-for-feedback-beta-testers/509973/140 "2009-09-20T14:26:56Z")
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