I'm not sure if this has been asked before, but I was wondering if it'd be possible to make it so we could have user icons, which would show up in each of our posts, underneath our names to the left there. A lot of other forums seem to offer this feature, I think they call them "avatars," and they're generally around 100x100 pixels or so. It would be a great way to add a little "personal flair" (to steal a phrase from 'Office Space') to our posts.

Thanks,

That Brower Kid

"Can we not talk about my flair?...I don't like to talk about my flair" ;D


Beav

You are the first to ask for it as I recall. FWIW - They are always available by clicking a member's name. Every few months I'll flip the switch for kicks and they are displayed until some dial-up member complains. (I don't blame them one bit.)

Mine is 368 bytes, DentonDoc's is a nice, tight 58KB for what you get, there are some over 350KB. Everyone that views a page with those images imbedded has to portage that weight (bandwidth) day after day after day. Plus some people steal images that don't belong to them (w/o asking) and often are using another sites nickel to do it. (Believe me, I get e-mails...)

Anyway, who want's to see the same image all the time? I do flip the switch on occasion though, a few weeks ago as I recall. You must not visit enough.

This site is about the BW/Q. It's not here to display personal flair. (In fact that's pretty much frowned upon when it's noticeably overt.) This forum exists only to share ideas and experience. I hope it also says something about being considerate of your surroundings and the other people who visit after you're long gone.

Kid - none of this is directed at you.  It's just that I hate wasting anything, especially someone's time. We're all here hoping to learn how to travel lighter, smarter, better...  

Just be glad QJ doesn't exist for advertising income. I also might be tempted to frame in an extra 220KB you can't even see, just to pad the stats. Nah. That in itself is noticeable with all the extra server calls; even with a cable modem.

I do appreciate the question... been there done that. In this particular case you're talking to the hand.

I appreciate the reply, admin, although I'm not too fond of the verbal smackdown I received. :-/

I thought my question was fair enough. I don't think it warranted a "thumbs down" icon right off the bat, nor do I think I deserved to be told I was "talking to the hand" (though it was nice to see this phrase being used while it's still fresh, and not when it's been mind-numbingly overused by people ;D).

I understand how forum members might complain about having to "portage" the weight of an oversized graphic, however if these images were not allowed to exceed a certain pixel size or a certain file size, as is the practice at other discussion forums, I believe those complaining of back problems would find relief.


wrote on Feb 25^th, 2005 at 10:32pm:

Anyway, who want's to see the same image all the time? I do flip the switch on occasion though, a few weeks ago as I recall. You must not visit enough.

I guess you're right. There are over 500 members here, and I can see how each one having their own personal image which reflects their love for the BW/Q would indeed be quite boring, and would be considerably more bland than our names simply being displayed alongside our posts, all using the same font.

I also apologize for not coming here more often. Though to borrow your practice of using BW/Q situations, such as portaging, packing and the cleaning of campsites as analogies for forum situations, I suppose yes it had been a while since I've visited the "campsite." Perhaps some people visit the "campsite" very, very frequently. However it had been a while since my last "trip" to the "campsite." Unfortunately I now regret not having set up a motion-sensing camera, to alert me of things I should not miss. ;)


wrote on Feb 25^th, 2005 at 10:32pm:

This site is about the BW/Q. It's not here to display personal flair. (In fact that's pretty much frowned upon when it's noticeably overt.) This forum exists only to share ideas and experience. I hope it also says something about being considerate of your surroundings and the other people who visit after you're long gone.

The "personal flair" I suggested could be anything, a shot of our favorite BW/Q scene, an image of us canoeing or camping, an outfitters logo, a wildlife photo we're quite proud of, the possibilities would be endless. I fail to see how one could liken these ideas to trash left at a campsite. By forcing the images to adhere to file size and dimension rules there would remain the level of cleanliness and uniformity which it seems we should all aspire to.


wrote on Feb 25^th, 2005 at 10:32pm:

Just be glad QJ doesn't exist for advertising income. I also might be tempted to frame in an extra 220KB you can't even see, just to pad the stats. Nah. That in itself is noticeable with all the extra server calls; even with a cable modem.

I'm not really sure what any of this means. I guess it means that you're doing us all a favor by not framing in something we can't see to pad something we don't understand, and something about modems and servers and kilobytes. I suppose what it all means is that we should just be thankful for having been allowed the privilege to post here.


wrote on Feb 25^th, 2005 at 10:32pm:

I do appreciate the question... been there done that. In this particular case you're talking to the hand.   (You need to Login or Register   (You need to Login or Register

Oddly enough, the user icon images I asked about in the first place would be roughly the size of your cute little hand graphic there.


wrote on Feb 25^th, 2005 at 10:32pm:

There is no such thing as a stupid question. Answers, on the other hand, are always debatable.

Guess you proved there's a first time for everthing. I'm sorry that my question was as out of line as it apparently was. Now excuse me while I row out onto the lake, in search of a campsite where folks are allowed to talk to peoples' faces, rather than their hands.

wrote on Feb 25^th, 2005 at 10:32pm:

Kid - none of this is directed at you.

:-/

By :'(

Kid- I do appreciate all suggestions. I get them all the time. Sorry you found my response offensive. It wasn't meant as such. I do understand your point of skew but I was speaking to everyone and adding extra info as I usually do. I thought you were covered via "Kid - none of this is directed at you." A public "verbal smackdown" is not in anyone's best interest. That is what IMs are for. My hope is your skin will thicken a bit as you paddle for a while. (Nicely formatted BTW)

65x65 is the size they get displayed no matter what the file size is. I'll flip that switch again in the future for a day or two if you want to correct your link. The privilege to post here is granted by   (You need to Login or Register.

I'm typing at everyone again - FWIW.
Unfortunately I'm stuck being the leader of a huge group trip. I'm simply not going to ask the weaker members to carry additional weight. I like their company too and want to keep this virtual portage doable for them. Many didn't like where this trip went in the first place so I'm not about to stick more rocks in their pack. I try to make this trip as easy and rewarding as I can for as many as possible. Some will always be unhappy with certain things. Such is life...

I don't want anyone to make/take anything overly personal here. I want respectful disagreement to flourish and I do appreciate someone willing to fight for something they believe in but sometimes ya gotta take things for what their worth and enjoy what you're given. Life is short with many paths. We all pick and choose...

Well stated db...   And that is all I have to say about that!  

Bruce
(sorry I watched "Forrest Gump" this weekend ;) ;))