Since we have new owners, I thought I'd ask if the official policy against avatars still stands. Other sites under the IB umbrella allow their users to have avatars.
Will wait patiently until the weekend is over for a response.
Groucho
05-09-08, 03:49 PM
Will wait patiently until the weekend is over for a response.What happens if Monday rolls around and still no answer? :eek:
Venusian
05-09-08, 04:08 PM
avatars make a site look trashy
lotsofdvds
05-09-08, 04:14 PM
Trashy? So avatars are the equivalent of celebrities not wearing underwear?
Venusian
05-09-08, 04:36 PM
Close.
I just think they clutter up a site. There are tons of forums out there that are just covered with random images from avatars and images in sigs and all kinds of crap like that.
VinVega
05-09-08, 04:44 PM
I have my avatars turned off. I don't even want to see the mods' avatars. ;) I had an avatar for a little while when I became a mod, but got rid of it.
Draven
05-09-08, 07:59 PM
God no. I hate forums that allow that crap. I don't even like the ones that are allowed here.
calhoun07
05-09-08, 10:56 PM
I can't say I miss having one, but I do have one I use on other forums if we are ever allowed one.
Dr Mabuse
05-09-08, 11:34 PM
I have my avatars turned off.
isn't that what's cool?... if you are unusual, and don't like avatars, you can turn them ALL off... and never know they are there...
yet most of the other people, who do like avatars, can see the avatars since they dig them...
they are, after all, on almost every forum on the internet for a reason...
they're kinda cool...
Trevor
05-10-08, 09:02 AM
I'm seriously not trying to threadcrap or be cruel, but avatars? Aren't those for kids? I don't see them except on the more immature aimed forums. I thought most people here were adults.
imperator505
05-10-08, 12:34 PM
Not keen myself - but since they can be switched off (and I have) it won't bother me.
kilcher
05-10-08, 06:29 PM
I don't necessarily miss them but I think it makes for more of a community, being able to put a "face" to the post. As it is now I just read the forum and don't notice who posts what.
GoldenJCJ
05-10-08, 07:06 PM
I don't necessarily miss them but I think it makes for more of a community, being able to put a "face" to the post. As it is now I just read the forum and don't notice who posts what.
I have no problem putting a "face" to the usernames of members here without seeing pictures. Heck, half the time I can just read a post and automatically know who posted it without even looking at the name...Sarcastic one liner? yup, I know who posted. Right-wing ranting in every non-political thread? yup, know who posted. Nonsensical post filled with smilies? Yup, I know. Thread title with a question mark? yup... I think I've been here too long. :)
twikoff
05-10-08, 10:10 PM
count me in the group against avatars
they do make a site look trashy, they clutter up the screen, and they are pointless
yes, you have the option to turn them off.. but i dont get the option to turn off the strain the add to the forum servers.. and if that effects my browsing, then its a bad thing!
Nick Danger
05-11-08, 08:56 AM
I have avatars turned off because I don't like them. But some people do. Some people also like to put lots of bumper stickers on their car.
If a post is a sarcastic one-liner, who is it? One of a couple dozen members. If it's really funny it still only reduces the count by half.
Mopower
05-11-08, 11:24 PM
Close.
I just think they clutter up a site.
Just like ads that take up half your fucking browser and shoot sound blarring out your speakers? This place fucking sucks.
DarkestPhoenix
05-12-08, 01:49 AM
isn't that what's cool?... if you are unusual, and don't like avatars, you can turn them ALL off... and never know they are there...
yet most of the other people, who do like avatars, can see the avatars since they dig them...
they are, after all, on almost every forum on the internet for a reason...
they're kinda cool...
Exactly. Allowing them COULD make everyone happy, if only some would make three extra clicks.
Hell, make it so that Avatars are, by default, off, and we actually have to go turn them ON. I'd be for that, if the clicking is too much of a pain for the opposers.
DarkestPhoenix
05-12-08, 01:52 AM
Just like ads that take up half your fucking browser and shoot sound blaring out your speakers? This place fucking sucks.
:lol:
lotsofdvds
05-12-08, 10:22 AM
What happens if Monday rolls around and still no answer? :eek:
We riot.
Groucho
05-12-08, 10:27 AM
count me in the group against avatars
they do make a site look trashy, they clutter up the screen, and they are pointlesshttp://img383.imageshack.us/img383/2659/twikoffavatarwtfca9.png
orangecrush18
05-12-08, 04:05 PM
I'm seriously not trying to threadcrap or be cruel, but avatars? Aren't those for kids? I don't see them except on the more immature aimed forums. I thought most people here were adults.
You have obviously not seen lotsofdvds classy avatar.
not a forum.. if you dont put something there, you get that ugly 'no image' image
not even comparable
edit.. i see that they do show up in the forums over there.. and look cluttered and trashy
lotsofdvds
05-13-08, 09:45 AM
So, uh... hello?
Mopower
05-13-08, 10:04 AM
So, uh... hello?
It's only tuesday.
Groucho
05-13-08, 05:01 PM
Good news everybody! We've worked out an arrangement where all users can now have avatars. You'll be able to select from a wide variety of images from Frontier(s) the new film from Lions Gate Entertainment that isn't for the faint of heart. Enjoy!
Bandoman
05-13-08, 05:03 PM
rotfl rotfl
Rival11
05-13-08, 05:11 PM
Good news everybody! We've worked out an arrangement where all users can now have avatars. You'll be able to select from a wide variety of images from Frontier(s) the new film from Lions Gate Entertainment that isn't for the faint of heart. Enjoy!
:lol:
Mopower
05-13-08, 05:19 PM
Good news everybody! We've worked out an arrangement where all users can now have avatars. You'll be able to select from a wide variety of images from Frontier(s) the new film from Lions Gate Entertainment that isn't for the faint of heart. Enjoy!
I've heard that it's Frances answer to Saw and Hostel. Is this true?
X
05-13-08, 05:37 PM
Avatars are going to stay the way they are for now. Only available for reviewers, moderators and administrators.
dogmatica
05-13-08, 05:47 PM
That's fine, but out of curiosity, why?
Mopower
05-13-08, 06:01 PM
That's fine, but out of curiosity, why?
Aren't those for kids?
...
Thor Simpson
05-13-08, 06:27 PM
I hate avatars.
Numanoid
05-13-08, 07:35 PM
Avatars are going to stay the way they are for now. Only available for reviewers, moderators and administrators.This is kind of like when Congress votes to give themselves a pay raise.
benedict
05-13-08, 08:06 PM
This is kind of like when Congress votes to give themselves a pay raise.Avatars are going to stay the way they are for now. Only available for reviewers, moderators and administrators..... if Congressmen received zero remuneration but were instead allowed to choose a distinctive hat to wear.
Numanoid
05-13-08, 09:32 PM
Yes, like that. :D
lotsofdvds
05-14-08, 07:48 AM
Avatars are going to stay the way they are for now. Only available for reviewers, moderators and administrators.
Why?
Venusian
05-14-08, 08:37 AM
Same answer as before. Server load
lotsofdvds
05-14-08, 08:44 AM
1) I thought we had new, spiffy servers?
2) How does every other forum on the planet seem to be able to swing this feature that's built into the software except ours?
What if avatars had to be saved off-site? What if we had to be able to host our own image in order to have one?
nemein
05-14-08, 09:23 AM
What if avatars had to be saved off-site? What if we had to be able to host our own image in order to have one?
If avatars were saved off site I think that would cause more problems in the sense you are dependent upon each of those machines to be up/running/responsive when you open a thread.
Mopower
05-14-08, 09:32 AM
If avatars were saved off site I think that would cause more problems in the sense you are dependent upon each of those machines to be up/running/responsive when you open a thread.
Image hosting sites usually aren't up 24/7? :confused:
nemein
05-14-08, 09:45 AM
Image hosting sites usually aren't up 24/7? :confused:
You can reach everything on the I'net anytime/first time w/o any outages? You must have a much better ISP than I do ;) Just look at a.tribalfusion.com and the ad server here that hangs up occasionally, slowing everything down. Now imagine opening a thread that sends out requests to 20-40 different servers (depending upon the number of unique posts, people who have avatars, your post count setting) looking for everyone's avatar. Sounds like it's going to cause a lot more problems for little gain.
Mopower
05-14-08, 10:16 AM
I guess I don't understand how the majority of forums on the internet can have avatars but it's technically impossible for DVDTALK. Many other IB owned forums offer them.
lotsofdvds
05-14-08, 10:26 AM
Same answer as before. Server load
Tell IB to put us on the same kind of server that, say, Highdefdigest.com is on. Problem solved.
Trevor
05-14-08, 10:34 AM
I see a forum with avatars and say to myself, "On second thought, let's not go there. It's a silly place."
lotsofdvds
05-14-08, 10:37 AM
I see a forum with avatars and say to myself, "On second thought, let's not go there. It's a silly place."
Repeating your previous opinion isn't really germane to the discussion at this point.
Mopower
05-14-08, 10:39 AM
I see a forum with avatars and say to myself, "On second thought, let's not go there. It's a silly place."
Don't visit many forums do you? Why are they silly? Are they any more silly than all the crap people have in their signatures that no one else cares about?
Trevor
05-14-08, 11:05 AM
Repeating your previous opinion isn't really germane to the discussion at this point.
You're right. I just couldn't resist a Holy Grail reference, which a recent post brought to mind.
I don't begrudge you wanting them. As long as we can turn them off, AND they don't slow down the forum I'm cool with them. Not that my opinion means anything.
Don't visit many forums do you? Why are they silly? Are they any more silly than all the crap people have in their signatures that no one else cares about?
Touche'. In my defense, some of the links in my sig are for other's convenience. Example, many here collect exclusives and the links to the threads are helpful I've been told. But some of the links in my sig and just for my convenience, posts that I update weekly or so and this is my way to access them quickly. I try to make it as small and unobtrusive as possible. Like avatars, if people are bothered by them I imagine they are turned off.
Why are they silly? If the reasons aren't obvious to you (they've been stated by others in the thread) then there is no sense in "arguing". But as I said above, I apologize for stating my opinion twice and don't begrudge your wanting them. Just not my thing maybe.
Brian Shannon
05-14-08, 11:09 AM
Avatars are going to stay the way they are for now. Only available for reviewers, moderators and administrators.
Thank you!
abrg923
05-14-08, 03:21 PM
We would probably have avatars, but that might take a tiny little bit of caring/effort on the part of the shitty ass company who bought this site, and of course that's not going to happen.
Mopower
05-14-08, 03:31 PM
You're right. I just couldn't resist a Holy Grail reference, which a recent post brought to mind.
I don't begrudge you wanting them. As long as we can turn them off, AND they don't slow down the forum I'm cool with them. Not that my opinion means anything.
Touche'. In my defense, some of the links in my sig are for other's convenience. Example, many here collect exclusives and the links to the threads are helpful I've been told. But some of the links in my sig and just for my convenience, posts that I update weekly or so and this is my way to access them quickly. I try to make it as small and unobtrusive as possible. Like avatars, if people are bothered by them I imagine they are turned off.
Why are they silly? If the reasons aren't obvious to you (they've been stated by others in the thread) then there is no sense in "arguing". But as I said above, I apologize for stating my opinion twice and don't begrudge your wanting them. Just not my thing maybe.
I'm not really trying to argue. But what is silly is saying that avatars clutter up a site but having a encyclopedia like amount of rainbow colored links and small print under your (and others) names doesn't.
Avatars let users express themselves to others just like your links do. No difference.
fumanstan
05-14-08, 03:36 PM
We would probably have avatars, but that might take a tiny little bit of caring/effort on the part of the shitty ass company who bought this site, and of course that's not going to happen.
We didn't have avatars before, so I guess Geoff didn't care either.
You sure do have it out for Internet Brands when they have yet to really do anything different from Geoff running the site. :shrug:
abrg923
05-14-08, 03:49 PM
Yeah. Nothing is different at all on DVDTalk. Uh huh. Keep telling yourself that.
Trevor
05-14-08, 04:20 PM
I'm not really trying to argue. But what is silly is saying that avatars clutter up a site but having a encyclopedia like amount of rainbow colored links and small print under your (and others) names doesn't.
Avatars let users express themselves to others just like your links do. No difference.
They are different colored to make them easier to see and click on them. They are information tools, quick links for people to click to the threads I maintain, and quick links for me personally to go to posts I update weekly or so. They have nothing to do with me expressing myself.
Other people's sigs may be creative or expressive, and thus similar to avatars, but not mine. Mine is boring and functional. :)
nateman
05-14-08, 04:21 PM
Good news everybody! We've worked out an arrangement where all users can now have avatars. You'll be able to select from a wide variety of images from Frontier(s) the new film from Lions Gate Entertainment that isn't for the faint of heart. Enjoy!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/2492411203_d28ab82cbb_o.jpg
Yeah. Nothing is different at all on DVDTalk. Uh huh. Keep telling yourself that.
So what's different? Did Geoff allow avatars? Did Geoff pull all the ad testing right away when people complained?
No offense, but it just seems like you've been really bitter from your posts here towards the mods and admins, and now the owners.
darkessenz
05-14-08, 04:38 PM
So what's different? Did Geoff allow avatars? Did Geoff pull all the ad testing right away when people complained?
From what I remember he addressed our concerns, and in fact did respond by changing some advertising types (and videos).
While no company is perfect, its now five days into an intrusive advertising campaign and the IB folks haven't even addressed the situation. This is different.
pilot
05-14-08, 04:59 PM
Geoff would switch the annoying ads so you would only see it one time daily.
DarkestPhoenix
05-14-08, 05:40 PM
Same answer as before. Server load
Bullshit!
It's an answer, but not a real one. Come on, look at all the pictures ads and all that useless, utter crap I have to load to see a thread...
You're telling me teeny tiny pictures are too much for our new, sleek servers to handle? I find it incredibly hard, scratch that, impossible, to believe. I'm surprised people actually DO believe it...
I like how my speed can be slowed down for the latest review I don't want to read and all the links to someone's weekly movie blog, but heaven forbid it slow down for something that members want. Nice kick to the crotch.
boredsilly
05-14-08, 05:54 PM
I for one like that there aren't avatars here and that signatures are pretty tame when compared to what can be found on the rest of the internet. Even if the reason given is a little "suspect".
covenant
05-15-08, 05:41 PM
Bullshit!
It's an answer, but not a real one. Come on, look at all the pictures ads and all that useless, utter crap I have to load to see a thread...
You're telling me teeny tiny pictures are too much for our new, sleek servers to handle? I find it incredibly hard, scratch that, impossible, to believe. I'm surprised people actually DO believe it...
I like how my speed can be slowed down for the latest review I don't want to read and all the links to someone's weekly movie blog, but heaven forbid it slow down for something that members want. Nice kick to the crotch.
Every forum I frequent allows avatars but this one.
DarkestPhoenix
05-15-08, 07:06 PM
Every forum I frequent allows avatars but this one.
It reminds me of the spin they feed you when you go to this bar called "The Tap" in Brooklyn, Iowa...they proudly state that they are the only bar in Iowa which doesn't have stools, like that's an attraction. It leads to a whole bunch of drunks standing around. The real reason they don't have them is because either they're too fucking cheap or they don't have room.
But, some people try to take a negative and turn it around as if it were a positive. Some people eat it up.
Mr. Cinema
05-17-08, 01:05 PM
avatars make a site look trashy
So does endless ads for shitty looking films like "Frontiers".
Mr. Cinema
05-17-08, 01:07 PM
Don't we have some members who have avatars that are not mods, admin, or reviewers? Why is that?
chanster
05-17-08, 05:15 PM
I hate avatars..
nemein
05-17-08, 05:56 PM
Don't we have some members who have avatars that are not mods, admin, or reviewers? Why is that?
There are none that I'm aware of...
CaptainMarvel
05-17-08, 07:19 PM
There are none that I'm aware of...
howard@clubjenna had an avatar. I could have sworn a few others that were Geoff and Houston D's porn cronies had avatars shortly before the xcritic split.
Sweet Baby James
05-17-08, 09:10 PM
howard@clubjenna had an avatar. I could have sworn a few others that were Geoff and Houston D's porn cronies had avatars shortly before the xcritic split.
:lol:
How does one become a pronie? Sounds like a club that I would be interested in joining.
WallyOPD
05-17-08, 09:32 PM
howard@clubjenna had an avatar. I could have sworn a few others that were Geoff and Houston D's porn cronies had avatars shortly before the xcritic split.
I think official reps have avatars, I know Dave from DeepDiscount does.
William Fuld
05-17-08, 09:38 PM
There are several former reviewers who still have them.
grenier
05-17-08, 09:42 PM
Are they any more silly than all the crap people have in their signatures that no one else cares about?
Man, I hate signatures, I find them more distracting then avatars. I like that I can turn them off though.
benedict
05-18-08, 04:59 AM
There are several former reviewers who still have them.I believe that the review editors are working through a list of former/inactive reviewers in order to change their member/avatar status. Maybe some have slipped through the net. If you could list any that you've spotted....I think official reps have avatars [....] That is my understanding also.
Buy: