You’re my hero of the week.
No, really, you just said exactly what I think everytime I read something Tripler writes.
I’m conflicted. I only opened this thread once I saw it hit five pages because I figured "what the hell, if it’s generating that much discussion, it may have some meat in the topic. The thread title CERTAINLY didn’t give a clue that this was about sign-offs in general and the mod warning for a repeated, manual, sign-off is very much a new development. It may well be the first warning ever given for this offense(which apparently became an offense several years after I joined).
My understanding about the genesis of the “one sig per page of a thread” rule was because it required additional server resources to pull a .sig. This is not the case with a sign-off which is part of the post. I can understand wanting to relieve stress on a poorly performing server. What is the rationale for restricting sign-offs which do not invoke additional server processing? Because it adds noise? Assuming for a moment that sign-offs are noise, and not a valid part of the communication(a view I do not share, but will leave aside for the sake of argument), what makes the twelve characters I typically sign off with a source of noise significant enough to justify a warning? Are similar guidelines forthcoming on other noise-generating areas like people who have long usernames? Beyond that, what about the sheer volume of posts which quote an entire other post and only add +1 to the end of it? How is that not noise? Someone who has that habit will take far more server resources than someone who uses a manual sign-off, and add far less information to the board. Which idiosyncrasies are safe and which are on the block, and why?
Like Tamerlane, I’m aware the general population of the net is moving away from the style I prefer. I’m not sure I’d die on this hill, but the fact the battle has moved to this hilltop at all is a troubling matter. It bothers me when a message board is dictating how people communicate to this level of detail. Especially when the reasons given seem to be standards which are unevenly applied.
I raised an eyebrow when raisinbread was given so much shit for posting in purple. I guess the writing was on the wall then. Tolerance for idiosyncrasies seems to be waning fast. A shame, I fear if the trend continues this place will become even more white bread than it is today. Some people like their white bread, but I like whole wheat, sometimes even with nuts. That’s what it was like when I joined.
Enjoy,
Steven
People who quote a long post only to add a short comment are also annoying and have been criticized in the past.
Diferent strokes for different styles. There are plenty of boards out there where you can have avatars, color fonts etc. Here the general consensus is that we prefer content and not glitter. I am sure you can find plenty of boards which suit your tastes.
Fuck off Steven.
I don’t believe there is one, on this board, because we frown upon doing that.
I am not aware of any rule, as such. Perhaps you could quote it?
OK, now this is the second time in this thread where you added noise and length to your post with this stylized insult. It adds nothing, especially the second time you do it. Should you not be reported for the same reason that I would be if I used a polite, stylized sign off rather than a juvenile, stylized one?
Merry Christmas!
Shodan
Well, yes, you both should, you both broke the rules.
This is all moot anyway, as I very much doubt that the mods will ever enforce this rule, and I doubt that those who use signatures will stop using them.
My intent in writing the OP was simply to express that I find the signatures extremely fucking annoying. I did not demand change, or request that the mods take action, but there is no doubt that I would prefer it if people didnt use signatures. It would be nice to think that when people find out they are being anoying, that they would make an effort to stop, but it seems that wont happen here which galls me a little.
After all, one thing that hasnt been shown in this thread is a good reason FOR adding signatures. People have asked why they annoy some posters, and others have tried to explain WHY they annoy, but the only reason I see for people adding sigs is that, well, they want to. They just like it.
You like it. It annoys the fuck out of me. But you keep doing it because you like it.
So I wont lose any sleep here, but it does gall just a little.
Just a quick note to Mgtman. I appreciate what you are saying, but whereas you would like a board with those idiosyncrasies, I much prefer a board without all the window dressing. No avatars, no signatures, no flashing pictures, ads turned off, text plain and clear. When you strip all the fluff away, then a poster will live or die by the content, and so hopefully the quality of the content will rise. That is why I like the SDMB, and hope it remains this way.
I’ve given my reasons both for preferring to use one and for preferring that other people use one. You may disagree with my reasons, but then, I disagree with your reasons for being annoyed by them.
Some of you people need to chill the fuck out. Put them on ignore and miss their whole post.
Not that anyone’s asked, but I always thought this was rather polite, and not intrusive at all.
I didn’t know that. But see below from the Dorkmaster. Never mind 
I always sign my emails with my first name, even with very good friends who know damned well who it’s from. If it’s someone I don’t know personally, and it’s relevant, I’ll also use my last name. In fact, I also address the person I’m writing. It’s just polite. If I’m sending an email, it’s a letter that’s sent electronically.
To summarize, I’m old, and the noises in my head are the beat of a different drummer. So sue me 
As I mentioned above, I always thought of your “sig” as being polite. And I promise not to be overly friendly to you. (unless you’d like me to be)
I like his picture too. Sorry. I just had to say that.
Have I mentioned that I like your “sig”? Just checking.
OK, at this point, I decided I wasn’t going to quote any more posts, but “Regards” and/or your name at the end of posts, even every single post, seems to me to just be a polite end to a post. However, I don’t make the rules around here, and since I don’t use a signature here, well, there ya go.
Just out of interest, has this topic been the subject of any recent, extensive polls? I’m not saying you’re wrong - you may indeed be right, it’s just that my impression of discussions about Avatars and other glittery things is that the opposition, instead of being general, is in fact merely loud.
Should I go down to the county courthouse and look over my records? Since when am I your bloody wife?
I always assumed that the sig restriction was in reference to the lengthy attempts at pithy, funny, [add your own adjective] closings some people like to use as a kind of trademark. Even the words “pearls of wisdom” suggest it was not about signatures as they have been traditionally (i.e., not on a messageboard) been used, but the friggin’ billboards some people drag around like luggage. They’re long, distracting, take up server space, etc.
I guess the clarification provided in this thread shows I was wrong, but I cannot imagine what a restriction against a two-line “Best Wishes, Doug” kind of sign-off actually accomplishes. Yes, some people are annoyed by them (I think most don’t care–I know I don’t). Is that what the rule was guarding against? Just curious.
Shuddup and blow me you bitch!
Is it unreasonable to suggest that the signature rule be amended so that sig lines can be used as many times in a thread as the poster desires? So long the option to ignore the sig lines remains and all sigs and sig-like tags, such as including the name of poster or any other repetitive item, are strictly forbidden within the actual post, I can’t imagine why this wouldn’t meet everyone’s needs and desires.
The sig people will have no idea who is seeing their sig and who is not, but they can have them all the same and see other people’s sigs if they so desire; and the non-sig people will not be distracted with what they deem unnecessary and repetitive content. Everyone’s happy? Sort of?
Couldn’t the posters who use 2 line sign offs, not find some way to make the [DEL]offending[/DEL] relevant text flash on and off, so other posters can easily see what to avoid?
Oh, hang on - that’s not going to work, is it?
Back to the drawing board
ivan
yaaaaawn…
You guys still up?
Last one out, turn out the light.
Hold the fucking phone. Looks like this **Vox **guy is just a kid. If it is true it would explain an awful lot.
In this thread
he proudly announces getting his Driver License today. Now maybe it is not his first one or maybe he never got one before for some reason or maybe he is just a kid.
Vox, if you are a kid then I apologize for any snotty comments I have made. I hope you will clarify this. I for one don’t like the idea making fun of teenagers, lord knows they have enough to worry about.
I haven’t tried to hide that, and I don’t have any more objection to your (collective) silliness about the sig lines whether or not you are taking my age into account.
Per his own link, he’s 16: http://www.last.fm/user/Vox_Imperatoris
I would have inferred 14 from his posts, but perhaps he’s a slow developer. Whatever his age, it’s too young to have figured out that bright and dumb are not mutually exclusive…
We all need those awkward teenage years so we have something to look back on later.
I, too, think this would be the best solution.