# SDMB improvement ideas **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 8, 2006, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558 "2006-02-08T17:56:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/21 "2006-02-09T03:19:24Z")
I think we should get paid, say a nickel a word, for our posts. That last sentence would net me seventy cents, and this one would be worth another eighty. I could quit my job in a few weeks. total= $1.95 ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/22 "2006-02-09T04:34:34Z")
Chuck Norris thinks your ideas are ridiculous, and he lies in wait. Be warned: Each successive idea only makes him angrier. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/23 "2006-02-09T04:59:05Z")
Can we call a halt to personal insults here? Any idea is worth considering. And a reasonably new member offering ideas should not have custard pies thrown out them just because the idea was thought of before. Or wasn’t implemented well in the past. “Hey, once, about thirty years ago, someone tried a remake of King Kong and it didn’t work well, so forget it Mr Jackson.” ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/24 "2006-02-09T07:33:05Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > I think the option of uploading a photo or avatar of ourselves on our “Profile” page is a terrific one. > > Me, I’d like it a lot of HTML code was enabled. Photos and/or avatars would slow the board, I’ve been told. We’ve had HTML enabled in the past, and someone hacked the board. I very much doubt that we’ll ever enable HTML again. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/25 "2006-02-09T08:37:51Z")
**Lynn Bodoni.** Maybe the HTML thing might be revisited again, unless it leaves the boards THAT vulnerable to attack. Or maybe upgrade the menu options of the regular ol’ vB code, if that’s possible. I want “marquee!” (Truthfully, that’s the only reason I want HTML code enabled.) If avatars/pictures appeared on every single post like I’ve seen on other UBB forums, sure it’ll slow down the boards. Nobody wants that. What I was thinking of, as a compromise – is there some way to restrict uploaded images so that they could only be seen whenever you deliberately clicked on someone’s profile page, and not the threads? Like, you click on my name in the upper left hand corner, **Askia** , when that new window opens, you get to see my devastatingly handsome mug along with my profile info all in one convenient location. All images would adhere to the same “do not be a jerk, no porn images or links” agreement we all signed onto when we joined. A bit more work for the mods, maybe an uptick more pressure on the servers, but potentially lots more fun for all. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/26 "2006-02-09T11:17:05Z")
A “puking” smiley. Failing that, at least an “obviously queasy” smiley. Oh, and full VRML support. (I don’t really want that one…but now you can accept one suggestion of mine but still flex your authority by outright rejecting the other one.) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/27 "2006-02-09T13:24:10Z")
> [@pseudotriton ruber ruber](#): > > I think we should get paid, say a nickel a word, for our posts. That last sentence would net me seventy cents, and this one would be worth another eighty. I could quit my job in a few weeks. > > total= $1.95 I agree. $0.10 ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/28 "2006-02-09T13:31:00Z")
I read this at my desk at work, my boss is cool with it but if we had animated smileys, photos and big flashing fonts it would cause consternation with my co-workers. Heck, I wish I could change my view to black & white as it is. But, I do like the idea of real names and honest locations. I know it violates the tradition of a free-wheeling anonymous internet but I’m into the concept of being polite. I figure this way I won’t say anything online that I wouldn’t say in real life. Which, on reading my posts. tells you what kind of pathetic real life I must have. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/29 "2006-02-09T14:52:06Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > \If you don’t understand why then you are not capable of understanding why and therein lies the problem. I’m, um, afraid that I just don’t understand. > [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > \ And a reasonably new member offering ideas should not have custard pies thrown out them just because the idea was thought of before. Or wasn’t implemented well in the past. Actually, I wouldn’t mind if they threw raspberry pie a la mode. (Insert mmmm-smiley here) > [@Askia](#): > > \ Like, you click on my name in the upper left hand corner, Askia, when that new window opens, you get to see my devastatingly handsome mug along with my profile info all in one convenient location. That would certainly be a sight for sore eyes. (Insert milk-coming-out-the-nose-smiley here). \<\\> 😉 > [@Shalmanese](#): > > You’ve not been on the internet long have you? Internet? I refuse to use anything invented by Al Gore. > [@](#): > > I think we should get paid, say a nickel a word, for our posts. That last sentence would net me seventy cents, and this one would be worth another eighty. I could quit my job in a few weeks. > total= $1.95 Some of us do deserve to be paid $/word for posting prose that express a high level of linguistic adroitness, others alas, should pay dearly for the privilege. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/30 "2006-02-09T20:10:20Z")
> [@Dr. PoopiePants](#): > > That would certainly be a sight for sore eyes. (Insert milk-coming-out-the-nose-smiley here). \<\\> 😉 Quit hitting the haterade, newbie. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/31 "2006-02-10T15:14:21Z")
I don’t know how this could possibly be implemented, but: Whenever one of Cecil’s Classic Columns is recycled on the home page, the same comments and questions are made in the _Comments on Cecil’s Column/Staff Reports_ forums. I know that I did this when I was new, and some kind soul had to post links to all the previous discussions. Some of these threads seem to be carbon copies of each other. (Remember carbon paper? Good times…) Notable examples that seem to irritate the veterans: “Bernoulli and airplanes”, “Monty Hall puzzle”, “Why does .9999… = 1”, etc. Is there some way to link these columns to previous threads so that everyone is on the same page? Again, I don’t have a clue as to how this could be done. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/32 "2006-02-10T15:16:06Z")
Sure, it could be done, if someone wanted to dedicate their day and night to correlating posts with columns and searching the board and making the links. It would truly be a full time job. TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![Feydeau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Feydeau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feydeau)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/33 "2006-02-10T19:15:34Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Sure, it could be done, if someone wanted to dedicate their day and night to correlating posts with columns and searching the board and making the links. It would truly be a full time job. > > TubaDiva Wait – you’re saying, that for the ONE Classic column published each Friday, that it would require 40 hours of work to search for, find, and link the threads related to that ONE column? If you’re willing to pay a fulltime salary, I’ll do it. 😃 Seriously, though, am I missing something? There’s one (okay, sometimes two) Classic column(s) published each week. With enough advance notice, it should be simple to find the threads related to _that column._ Am I misunderstanding you? Are you misunderstanding **Plynck** ’s suggestion? ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/34 "2006-02-10T19:38:18Z")
> [@Feydeau](#): > > Am I misunderstanding you? Are you misunderstanding **Plynck** ’s suggestion? I think that was what I was suggesting, **Feydeau** , and thanks for the support. I truly had no idea what was involved. I also think that **tubadiva** gave the answer by telling me what was involved. I saw the thread title, had a thought and was responding to this: > [@TubaDiva](#): > > Thank you for the suggestions, this board is what we make it and your ideas are always welcome. > > TubaDiva I don’t have anything invested in this. Considering the focus here on eliminating post padding, it seemed to me that these links might save some space on the server by consolidating the discussions, and it might save some time for members when it was just revisiting old issues. Thanks to both for your responses. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/35 "2006-02-10T20:33:19Z")
> [@Dr. PoopiePants](#): > > **Make Moderators Happy:** Lets lobby for all SD moderators to be paid a large salary with good benefits!\* I’d forego the salary and bennies for a USB port that would allow me to plug in my taser and use it. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/36 "2006-02-10T21:10:56Z")
Poopie, your ideas ARE welcome and articulate well. Suggestions keep this board alive and well and sometimes they’re even accepted. Hope you stick around! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/37 "2006-02-11T06:41:59Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I agree. > > $0.10 Me too. It’s a really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really good idea. Woot! Two bucks! ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/38 "2006-02-11T07:51:11Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > **Lynn Bodoni.** Maybe the HTML thing might be revisited again, unless it leaves the boards THAT vulnerable to attack. Or maybe upgrade the menu options of the regular ol’ vB code, if that’s possible. I want “marquee!” (Truthfully, that’s the only reason I want HTML code enabled.) I really, really, REALLY doubt that we’ll ever implement any animation on this message board. This goes for smilies, avatars, sigs, images, whatever. I am not a technical type administrator (I am in charge of biting people who need to be bitten), but it’s my impression that allowing HTML really DOES leave the message board very vulnerable. It’s just not worth enabling HTML when vBulletin coding allows for fairly flexible posting options. > [@Askia](#): > > If avatars/pictures appeared on every single post like I’ve seen on other UBB forums, sure it’ll slow down the boards. Nobody wants that. What I was thinking of, as a compromise – is there some way to restrict uploaded images so that they could only be seen whenever you deliberately clicked on someone’s profile page, and not the threads? Like, you click on my name in the upper left hand corner, **Askia** , when that new window opens, you get to see my devastatingly handsome mug along with my profile info all in one convenient location. All images would adhere to the same “do not be a jerk, no porn images or links” agreement we all signed onto when we joined. > > A bit more work for the mods, maybe an uptick more pressure on the servers, but potentially lots more fun for all. If all you want is to have your pic available, that’s what home pages are for. Or even photo links in your sig. Personally, I like avatars and use them in message boards that allow them…but we’ve tried allowing members to post pics when the message board was much, much smaller, and we had a tremendous problem with people who kept on posting copyrighted or extremely obnoxious images. Yes, we had the goatsex image posted a couple of times that I can remember. It wasn’t just “a bit” more work for the mods, it was a damned full time job. If we allowed avatars or photos, I imagine that we’d probably have to vet each image before we allowed it to be uploaded. Some message boards have a choice of pre-approved images that members can select. Perhaps we could do that. However, as far as I know, we are not currently planning to allow avatars. Notes about comments from other people: We have a new column from Cecil every Friday. On other weekdays, we get either Staff Reports or Classic Columns. We also get Threadspottings and Weird Earls several times a week…and if you haven’t been checking these out, you should! I agree that we need a pukey smilie. I believe that I voted for it last time around. However, my vote didn’t count any more or less than a regular member’s vote. I am all for being paid a large salary with awesome benefits. However, for now, I’ll just be happy with my SDStaff mug, and the yearly calendar. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/39 "2006-02-12T03:58:28Z")
One improvement I’d like to suggest is to allow people to jump directly from one forum (GQ) to another (IMHO), without making the main page the default forum portal. Reducing this circuitousness would speed the board, wouldn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558/40 "2006-02-12T04:00:53Z")
> [@Carnac the Magnificent!](#): > > One improvement I’d like to suggest is to allow people to jump directly from one forum (GQ) to another (IMHO), without making the main page the default forum portal. Reducing this circuitousness would speed the board, wouldn’t it? I’m a huge fan of this idea. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-improvement-ideas/343558.md?page=3)