# Improving the SDMB **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 25, 2008, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640 "2008-03-25T03:48:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/221 "2008-04-13T11:05:38Z")
[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] I don’t understand having both of these points of view simultaneously. Why shorten the loading time and reduce screen real estate of a post by shortening two-line sigs to one line, and then increase the loading time and increase the screen real estate by adding avatars? [/QUOTE] 1. I’m not really concerned about loading time - it’s more about screen real estate. Avatars would fit next to the username so they don’t take up any more space. And the sig doesn’t have to be one line necessarily, but there should be some limit. It could even be a pixel limit - sigs with more characters automatically being displayed in a smaller font size to fit in that space. 2. In terms of loading time, that’s not a concern if showing avatars is optional, and especially so if avatars are hosted privately. ---
**Author:** ![shempi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@shempi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shempi)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/222 "2008-04-13T14:10:38Z")
Great news! I just signed on today and am impressed with SD and really dig the message board. I hope this means that i can continue using the MB after 30 days without having to reapply. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/223 "2008-04-13T14:44:54Z")
[QUOTE=shempi] Great news! I just signed on today and am impressed with SD and really dig the message board. I hope this means that i can continue using the MB after 30 days without having to reapply. [/QUOTE] Welcome, **shempi**! This is a pretty good place to hang out, imho. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/224 "2008-04-13T15:23:23Z")
[QUOTE=jackdavinci] And the sig doesn’t have to be one line necessarily, but there should be some limit. It could even be a pixel limit - sigs with more characters automatically being displayed in a smaller font size to fit in that space. [/QUOTE] Sigs are already limited to four lines on a standard display, which has been interpreted to mean 800 x 600 resolution. ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/225 "2008-04-14T06:13:04Z")
Say, are we still talking about improving this place? 🙂 How about some RSS feeds? I would also _love_ to get notifications whenever particular keywords are mentioned in a thread. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/226 "2008-04-14T12:50:51Z")
[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] Why shorten the loading time and reduce screen real estate of a post by shortening two-line sigs to one line, and then increase the loading time and increase the screen real estate by adding avatars? [/QUOTE] For the thousandth time, in vBulletin, as I and many others have written before, **[users have the option to turn off avatar display](http://www.imagepup.com/up/t3UM_1208177083_Cyburbia_Forums_-_Edit_options_1208177072123.png)**. [**Avatar size and animation can be restricted**](http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/avatars). Don’t like the load times? Change a setting in your control panel. This isn’t 1995, where we’re viewing the SDMB with 26K dialup connections. Yes, there’s a problem with bloated sites, but if avatar sizes are restricted to 2K or 3K, load times really won’t be a burden to most people. Once again, [ul][li] **[Users can turn off avatar display](http://www.imagepup.com/up/t3UM_1208177083_Cyburbia_Forums_-_Edit_options_1208177072123.png).**[/li][li] **[Users can turn off avatar display](http://www.imagepup.com/up/t3UM_1208177083_Cyburbia_Forums_-_Edit_options_1208177072123.png).**[/li][li] **[Users can turn off avatar display](http://www.imagepup.com/up/t3UM_1208177083_Cyburbia_Forums_-_Edit_options_1208177072123.png).**[/li][li] **[Users can turn off avatar display](http://www.imagepup.com/up/t3UM_1208177083_Cyburbia_Forums_-_Edit_options_1208177072123.png).**[/li][_] **[Users can turn off avatar display](http://www.imagepup.com/up/t3UM_1208177083_Cyburbia_Forums_-_Edit_options_1208177072123.png).**[_] **[Users can turn off avatar display](http://www.imagepup.com/up/t3UM_1208177083_Cyburbia_Forums_-_Edit_options_1208177072123.png).**[_] **[Users can turn off avatar display](http://www.imagepup.com/up/t3UM_1208177083_Cyburbia_Forums_-_Edit_options_1208177072123.png).**[_] **[Users can turn off avatar display](http://www.imagepup.com/up/t3UM_1208177083_Cyburbia_Forums_-_Edit_options_1208177072123.png).**[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/227 "2008-04-14T13:33:16Z")
[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] Why [not] shorten the loading time and reduce screen real estate of a post by shortening two-line sigs to one line, and then increase the loading time and increase the screen real estate by adding avatars? [/QUOTE] Shortening two text lines to one would make so little difference it would be nearly impossible to measure. And, like avatars, you can turn sigs off in the user control panel. FYI: the ratio of data size, and therefore load times, of text to compressed graphics may be 1:10 or more. Text is very compact, graphics are much less so. Still, the number of dialups in use will decrease over time and speed will become less of a factor. Personally, I would not want avatars on my display. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/228 "2008-04-14T13:44:48Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] For the thousandth time, in vBulletin, as I and many others have written before, **[users have the option to turn off avatar display](http://www.imagepup.com/up/t3UM_1208177083_Cyburbia_Forums_-_Edit_options_1208177072123.png)**. [/QUOTE] We could default it to off, and then allow people to turn it on. (Or do I need to write that 5 times in a row in order to make my point?) ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/229 "2008-04-14T17:54:34Z")
[QUOTE=SmackFu] We could default it to off, and then allow people to turn it on. (Or do I need to write that 5 times in a row in order to make my point?) [/QUOTE] They could do that but it wouldn’t be a good idea. It would be better for new users to notice that these features exist and then let the 2 or 3 people with aesthetic or bandwidth objections tailor things to suit themselves. And in fairness to **elmwood** , that point has been raised a few times but these avatar discussions still always include a couple of “But I don’t want all those goofy pictures on my computer!”. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/230 "2008-04-14T18:39:13Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] For the thousandth time, in vBulletin, as I and many others have written before, **[users have the option to turn off avatar display](http://www.imagepup.com/up/t3UM_1208177083_Cyburbia_Forums_-_Edit_options_1208177072123.png)**. [/QUOTE] Perhaps you didn’t notice what you were responding to. Look at the quote box in your post. Have you noticed that **users have the option to turn off sig display** (I won’t bother to repeat that over and over as you did)? Of course I know you can turn off avatars. My point was that if someone is so concerned about sigs that he wants to limit their length _even though sigs can be turned off_, why would he be arguing for avatars? Or, to flip it around, if he’s really into adding avatars, why would he be arguing to limit sig length? Sigs and avatars both take up screen real estate, and they both increase bandwidth (although images take up much more). And, **CarnalK**? If you think only 2 or 3 people dislike avatars, then you and I aren’t reading the same threads. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/231 "2008-04-14T18:51:38Z")
[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] And, **CarnalK**? If you think only 2 or 3 people dislike avatars, then you and I aren’t reading the same threads. [/QUOTE] I have a feeling that if small avatars were allowed, only a minority of the people worrying about it would bother to reset their options. I base that on what I see as wildly exaggerated concerns about page clutter and download speeds. When they see that it can be implemented in a modest manner most will say “Oh, is that it? OK, then.” ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/232 "2008-04-14T19:10:02Z")
[QUOTE=CarnalK] I have a feeling that if small avatars were allowed, only a minority of the people worrying about it would bother to reset their options. I base that on what I see as wildly exaggerated concerns about page clutter and download speeds. When they see that it can be implemented in a modest manner most will say “Oh, is that it? OK, then.” [/QUOTE] In other words, you’re acknowledging that there are a whole lot more than the “2 or 3 people” you claimed don’t like avatars, but you’re assuming that the rest of them don’t know what avatars look like and will immediately leap on your bandwagon as soon as they have seen an avatar. Okay, then. I understand where you’re coming from now. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/233 "2008-04-14T19:19:38Z")
[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] In other words, you’re acknowledging that there are a whole lot more than the “2 or 3 people” you claimed don’t like avatars, but you’re assuming that the rest of them don’t know what avatars look like and will immediately leap on your bandwagon as soon as they have seen an avatar. Okay, then. I understand where you’re coming from now. Carry on. [/QUOTE] No, I’m assuming a lot of people are convoluting avatars with pictures in sigs, assuming they are going to be animated, and other worst case scenarios. While you seem more passionate about this issue, you should note that my “bandwagon” which people will “leap on” consists of “it’s no big deal”. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/234 "2008-04-14T19:55:00Z")
Avatars make boards messy. Even the little ones. -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/235 "2008-04-14T20:03:28Z")
[QUOTE=Frylock] Avatars make boards messy. Even the little ones. -FrL- [/QUOTE] Hey, I think I read once that you can turn them off in your user control panel, even if the board you’re on decides to allow them so other members can use them if they like! Don’t spread it around, though, okay? We wouldn’t want everyone to know about it. We’ll just keep this between us, right? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/236 "2008-04-14T21:30:33Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] Hey, I think I read once that you can turn them off in your user control panel, even if the board you’re on decides to allow them so other members can use them if they like! Don’t spread it around, though, okay? We wouldn’t want everyone to know about it. We’ll just keep this between us, right? [/QUOTE] I won’t tell if you won’t. -FrL- [sidles up to next doper, whispers in ear] ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/237 "2008-04-14T22:53:34Z")
[QUOTE=Frylock] Avatars make boards messy. Even the little ones. [/QUOTE] No they don’t, they’re visually identifying. Once again, the pro-avatar folks around here are not asking for big animated pictures scrolling under every post they make. Simple small graphics next to the username would be a boon, and even “turn-off-able?” to those that don’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/238 "2008-04-15T00:34:34Z")
[QUOTE=CarnalK] No, I’m assuming a lot of people are convoluting avatars with pictures in sigs, assuming they are going to be animated, and other worst case scenarios. While you seem more passionate about this issue, you should note that my “bandwagon” which people will “leap on” consists of “it’s no big deal”. [/QUOTE] Yep, I was one of those that feared the worse, but **Opal** ’s example won me over to neutrality on it. Besides, [way back when](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=9613435), I think I was the first one to post in this thread how you could turn them off. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/239 "2008-04-15T03:19:29Z")
[QUOTE=bbs2k] No they don’t [/QUOTE] I’m going to believe that **Frylock** really does find them messy. That’s an opinion. I disagree with it, but he’s allowed to have a different aesthetic. But since they can be turned off, everyone wins. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640/240 "2008-04-16T12:20:15Z")
[QUOTE=Ed Zotti] Some answers: To be honest, we haven’t given it much thought. It’s unlikely we’ll want to keep the title in perpetuity. As I say, we’re grateful for CMs’ support, but once subscriptions go away the distinction becomes increasingly meaningless, like saying your ancestors arrived on the Mayflower. … [/QUOTE] ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-the-sdmb/442640.md?page=13)