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Dumpshock Forums _ Dumpshock News, Bug Reports, Feature Requests, & Discussion _ Image Tags

Posted by: Arethusa Apr 16 2005, 03:42 AM

Seriously, there's no reason not to allow them. I know there's been concern over abuse, but come on: you're not stupid, we're not stupid, and this community's generally more decent and mature than many that get by fine with many more abusable features. I think it's a pretty reasonable request. Possibly for when the boards get revamped for SR4, in case it's a problem with the board skin?

Posted by: Neuron Basher Apr 16 2005, 04:42 AM

If, and this is a gigantic if, we were to consider allowing image tags they would be on a zero-tolerance policy for a while. One misuse would get them disabled everywhere permanently and then we'd be dealing with the backlash from that. I'm not sure that it's worth it, but I'm willing to at least think about it a little and discuss it with the other admins.

Posted by: FrostyNSO Apr 16 2005, 05:00 AM

What are image tags? (excuse my computer ignorance)

Posted by: Fortune Apr 16 2005, 05:18 AM

They allow a person to imbed images in posts and sigs. I don't really look forward to this feature being added here.

Posted by: Arethusa Apr 16 2005, 05:24 AM

[img] bbcode (or <img> html) tags that allow you to insert an image directly into your post instead of only linking to it. Obviously, this opens up some potential for abuse.

Basher, in all seriousness, you don't find the attitude taken by the admins here to be unnecessarily restrictive? Dumpshock may not be the most pleasant and mature online community ever, but it is a pretty decent place and far better than most others I've ever come across. While I can see (somewhat) where you're coming from, unless there was some incredible cataclysm in Dumpshock history I'm not aware of (possible), it still seems very irrational to me.

Posted by: FrostyNSO Apr 16 2005, 05:30 AM

I'd prolly have to pass on that as well. I'd prefer just linking to the image how it is now (if anything to decrease load time).
I like the "streamlined" look of the forums (Just text. I had to use this month's buzzword, sorry.)

Posted by: Arethusa Apr 16 2005, 05:35 AM

It's not like images are going to be thrown all over the place. Still no image sigs and avatars (which I admittedly don't hate as much Adam and others seem to, but I can understand why they do). Really, it's just nice to be able to format them into posts and such when it comes up (and the occasional joke, etc).

Posted by: Fortune Apr 16 2005, 05:37 AM

QUOTE (Arethusa @ Apr 16 2005, 03:35 PM)

... and the occasional joke ...

And that right there I think is what the problem is. Once one person does it for joke, it opens the door for any and everyone to do it.

Some people have limited bandwidth, and images chew through it much faster than mere text.

Posted by: Arethusa Apr 16 2005, 05:55 AM

Seriously, those people have already learned to turn of all images while browsing. They're an incredible minority. I'm on 56k, so it's not like everything's super fast for me, even if I don't have limited (total) bandwidth. I don't mind. There is a point where Dumpshock seems to go too far in worrying about things that need not be problems elsewhere on the internet, and I think this is one.

Posted by: Adam Apr 16 2005, 09:50 AM

I can see some uses for inline images. I'm not totally opposed to it, but I do think one of the reasons why Dumpshock is a generally mature community [we can SPELL here, and make full sentences with proper punctuation - and I like that!] is there aren't a lot of fluffy features. You're either here to read about Shadowrun, write about Shadowrun, or play/run Shadowrun games. That's it - and that's the way we like it.

Inline images are worth considering, though. But the moment I see something like this -- http://www.dancingdevil.net/downloads/fattyfatfatfat.gif posted to the forums, I go apeshit with anger.

Posted by: Kagetenshi Apr 16 2005, 03:53 PM

QUOTE (Arethusa @ Apr 16 2005, 12:24 AM)

Basher, in all seriousness, you don't find the attitude taken by the admins here to be unnecessarily restrictive? Dumpshock may not be the most pleasant and mature online community ever, but it is a pretty decent place and far better than most others I've ever come across.

I see that as being the direct result of Dumpshock having administrators who are actually competent and professional, personally. It's depressingly rare.

My vote is against image tags. There's no good reason for it, and several good ones against.

~J

Posted by: Arethusa Apr 16 2005, 07:13 PM

I would say administrators who care and are well intentioned, but unreasonably overprotective (viz fear of image tags, fear of off topic forum, etc)— but it's not like they're the only ones worried about the mutually assured destruction that will clearly result if image tags and an off topic forum were ever allowed. There's a culture here of unnecessary worry about unimaginable evils kept at bay only because the community is limited in, I don't know, its capacity to use basic image tags and an off topic forum, or whatever.

I don't want to come off as too aggressive here, which is not my intent, but it is very frustrating and patently absurd to believe that a community is only worthwhile, civil, and pleasant because it is not allowed to use images or an off topic forum.

QUOTE (Adam)

That's it - and that's the way we like it.

If that 'we' refers to the administration, then alright, but I think you and everyone else would have to admit that that does not include the entire community when you consider that threads can and rather often do go wildly off topic, among other things.

Posted by: Thanos007 Apr 16 2005, 09:08 PM

Here's a good reason for not having image tags. Most if not all are crap. And they take up space better used for other things.

Thanos

Posted by: Fortune Apr 17 2005, 12:20 AM

QUOTE (Arethusa)

... an off topic forum ...

An 'off-topic' forum is a different matter, and one that I can agree with you on. I wouldn't mind seeing the Lounge return.

Posted by: Adam Apr 17 2005, 12:26 AM

We've done the off-topic forum thing twice, in two different decades, and both times found it to be more trouble than it was worth -- and the second time it was removed, the amount of relevant SR postings went up by a fair degree.

Posted by: Arethusa Apr 17 2005, 12:47 AM

QUOTE (Fortune)

An 'off-topic' forum is a different matter, and one that I can agree with you on. I wouldn't mind seeing the Lounge return.

I realize they are distinct, but the arguments against it that have been raised here are really pretty similar to the ones that have been used against implementing other board features.

QUOTE (Adam @ Apr 16 2005, 07:26 PM)

Did you ever consider opening up moderator duties to the community?

And I'm sure opening up an Off Topic forum would cut down somewhat on the volue of the main SR forum. I would disagree that that is necessarily bad.

Posted by: Fortune Apr 17 2005, 04:17 AM

QUOTE (Adam @ Apr 17 2005, 10:26 AM)

Oh, I know, and I understand the reasons for its removal. I just wouldn't mind it being brought back despite the problems.

Posted by: Pthgar Apr 18 2005, 08:25 PM

Over the past few weeks I have been looking at a few different forums (mostly Heroclix and comics but a few RPG) and I have to say that I cannot abide to read them for more than a few posts at at time. The horrible typing and hysterical nature of the posts just grate on my nerves. DS is an oasis of civility and calm for me. Please, do not bring back a non RPG forum. I much prefer DS without it. If I want to argue with people I never met about religion or politics or music or whatever, I'll go to the coffee house. DS is one of the few places where I can get truly good discussion on SR with ideas generated outside of our gaming group.

As far as image posting goes, I would like it for myself (I draw a little,) but I would rather not have it than to see it abused even a little. I think avatars, on the other hand, are kind of neat. Like a graphic sig, they let everyone see a little of your personality. I don't really think they would all that much to DS, however, so I can live without them if it's too much trouble.

Posted by: Fortune Apr 18 2005, 09:25 PM

QUOTE (Pthgar @ Apr 19 2005, 06:25 AM)

Please, do not bring back a non RPG forum. I much prefer DS without it. If I want to argue with people I never met about religion or politics or music or whatever, I'll go to the coffee house.

Would you really be forced to read anything in a totally seperate non-rpg forum against your will?

Posted by: Tanka Apr 18 2005, 09:49 PM

Personally, I'm against image tags being enabled. I just don't find them at all neccessary.

And for an OT Forum... No. If you want OT, go to Bulldrek. Dumpshock has always been just Shadowrun since the day I joined, and I personally want to see it stay that way.

Posted by: Fortune Apr 18 2005, 11:39 PM

QUOTE (tanka @ Apr 19 2005, 07:49 AM)

And for an OT Forum... No. If you want OT, go to Bulldrek. Dumpshock has always been just Shadowrun since the day I joined, and I personally want to see it stay that way.

Bulldrek sucks!

And the fact that Dumpshock has only recently been Shadowrun-only is immaterial. It has had a long history of including a Lounge-style forum, and there are many members here that I would like to include in discussions outside of Shadowrun itself.

Be that as it may though, it isn't a huge factor for me. It's just something that I miss from previous times.

Posted by: Pthgar Apr 19 2005, 02:39 AM

QUOTE (Fortune)

Would you really be forced to read anything in a totally seperate non-rpg forum against your will?

Well, I do like a good argument, but I suppose I wouldn't be forced to look at non-SR forums. My point was that I don't feel they add anything to DS. If they were added back, I wouldn't be too upset, just a little dissapointed. Life would go on.

Posted by: Arethusa Apr 19 2005, 03:24 AM

Disappointed with what, exactly? Basically nothing happens outside of the SR forum and it's subforums to the point where my bookmark takes me to the SR forum and not the index. If you really don't want to notice an off topic lounge, you really can easily do that.

Posted by: Tanka Apr 19 2005, 04:06 AM

There are enough OT forums out there that Dumpshock -- a Shadowrun-specific forum -- doesn't need its own.

While there may have been a Lounge in the past, I can't see why it's neccessary.

Posted by: Arethusa Apr 19 2005, 04:35 AM

If an off topic forum is separate, it is by definition a separate community. This defeats the point of creating an in community off topic forum for Dumpshock.

And don't give me any bullshit about Bulldrek. That place is a shithole.

Posted by: Fygg Nuuton Apr 19 2005, 11:41 AM

maybe offer an option to see images or not to see them?

and i loved the lounge

Posted by: Tanka Apr 19 2005, 04:11 PM

I believe there's an option to ignore signatures, but not ignore images in signatures.

And, really, if you've got a picture that is perfect the situation, link to it. It isn't that hard, and most people will click it simply because they're curious.

Posted by: Pthgar Apr 20 2005, 03:21 PM

QUOTE (Arethusa)

Dissapointed with the quality and number of on SR-topic threads and posts. Granted this is anecdotal evidence, but I definitely noticed that when there were off topic threads the on-topic threads suffered. Not only that, but I have noticed that quite a few people posted in the off-topic threads quit DS when the off topic threads were removed. Those same people did not add a lot to the on-topic posts except controversy started for it's own sake.
They were Spoons- Always stiring things up.
This is my opinion based on my observation.

Posted by: Neuron Basher Apr 20 2005, 06:01 PM

For what it's worth, that's my observation as well. The signal to noise ratio, even in the Shadowrun forum itself, increased quite a lot when we removed the off-topic forum -- both times. Been there, done that, even have the t-shirt. (no, really!)