Q: Custom Signature

Yikes, see that's where I think we differ in our feelings about them. I think custom avatars are more ego-tripical (I like it Klaus!) than custom signatures or certainly not less than. From what I remember that is what most complained about when we had custom avatars.

It would be nice if the new Communities had the ability to turn on or off custom anything if that is what a user wanted which would solve the whole issue

Personally, I like them but they are not the end of the world but rather just make the forums a little more enjoyable for me. I don't think custom signature "bandwidth" would cause the worlds bandwidth to collapse and most likely for the average user to notice any difference in page loads etc.

Custom avatars are a different matter - I like those and hope they will be available in the new forums.

Even my "blinking eye"?

Blinking eye??

Your avatar is an antique iMac!

Spare me from scrolling back eight pages to find your blinking eye!

Spare me from scrolling back eight pages to find your blinking eye!

Oh, I just realized you were most likely not here back when I had my blinking eye avatar. I thought you were here back when we had custom avatars....


You must really hate this one!

Message was edited by: littleshoulders

I wasn't and I do!

No, as far as I remember it was a real eye blinking.

No, no, It wasn't just a blinking eye...it was my eye!

My "tossing star" gif was just a play on my other design in response to Klaus' criticism of my earlier one. Gingerbread cookie indeed!

Michael Wasley wrote:

Barbara Daniels1 wrote:
Comments anyone?

They are all equally pointless, intrusive and distracting pieces of visual pollution which waste space and will do nothing whatsoever to add practical value to your posts.

Michael ~ Some, like myself, are uncomfortable using our real names in online discussion groups such as this. But perhaps a signature can reduce "deindividuation" and its negative consequences...

"deindividuation is mostly unconscious and more likely to lead to mischief. (...) chat rooms, comment threads and message boards are perfect breeding grounds for deindividuality. The more anonymity a user is allowed, the more powerful the effect of being protected by the group. The tone and tenor of the conversations therein and the meatspace ramications of their collective efforts will reflect the cues provided by the website. (...) If instead you want to discourage deindividuation in yourself and others, you must eliminate anonymity and avoid dehumanizing labels. The more you feel personal accountability, the more restraint you will show." (Source)

...I would just add that another way to "discourage deindividuation in yourself" is to practice being aware of one's breathing or peripheral vision. If this deliberate, conscious act is found to be difficult, it's an indication that one is prone to deindividuation. And if one can't even try that simple practice of self-awareness, perhaps this will console:

"Man carries on as if he possessed something of a free will because he has no other choice but to do so." — Emile Benoit

I like this one, how about using it for your signature?

Hi Barbara,

No, it was a gif of some close-up photos of my eye blinking

Some like it...others were thrown into fits! I thought it was at least personal and that no one else would have one similar. When we have the ability to upload animated avatars again (if that ever happens again in the future I will use a different one...perhaps my other eye blinking

How is your signature coming along? I was going to try and make you an animated gif of your signature for you like. Perhaps the letters of "Barbara" being written out...that might be interesting.

littleshoulders

Barbara,

I made one as a test but it didn't come out very well:

It's too jumpy and way too big obviously and I'm not happy with the font. I don't have that many fonts in my old version of Photoshop so I'm going to try to see if I can install a better script style font that would look more like a handwritten signature for you. I have to figure out how to align the frames so the animation isn't so jumpy, too. It was just a test to see if I could do one like that I'm sure that will drive the anti-signature camp crazy

Might take awhile but I'll see what I can come up with if you think you might like that style of signature for here?

I'm taking a short breather - too many other things going on at the moment...

I hope all is ok with you?

littleshoulders

I'm sure that will drive the anti-signature camp crazy

I'm not anti-signature, but that one is driving me into a deep murderous psychosis.

Ah, I've succeeded then