To start with, for those who are not familiar with the term " avatar" , here is the definition from the dictionary:
Quote<chat, virtual reality> An image representing a user in a
multi-user virtual reality (or VR-like, in the case of
Palace) space
In the case of a message board like this one an avatar is is an image that is displayed below your user name in the left column.
Just like the " member ranking" , the use of avatars is not always met with a positive response from members.
On the positive side their use allows you to " personalize" you post.
On the negative side their use can slow downloads and if not controlled make for a messy campground.
Our current idea is a follows:
We would make available a small group of images that each member could select from for their avatar. The group might include a Coleman Popup, a Starcraft Popup, a Jayco Popup, a Kiwi Hybrid, a TrailManor Hybrid, a Caravan Hybrid, etc.
I think you get the picture.
For those members who utilize dialup connections you have the option in your personal settings to disable the transmission of avatars to you. If you disable them, you would never see them and would not experience any degradation in service.
Right now we don t have any images and if you vote to have this feature, we would need to put the selection together. It may require asking for members to submit photos of each camper type and selecting the images from those submissions.
Your thoughts??
moderator1That s one thing I don t like about IRV2: There s WAY too much going on with the signatures and avatar. Sometimes you have to scroll down the entire page just to get past somebody s signature! Between the avatar, oversized font for signature, weather reports, driving directions, and animated graphics, there s just too much. This campground is clean and uncluttered, so you have my vote.
There are all kinds of resources out there for posting pictures and we have the picture option in our profile. Check out mine for example!
BTW, I resent the fact that you don t intend to offer a Tracker image [:@][:(][;)][8D]. What s up with that! [8D][8D]
moderator1Sacto makes some clear, persuasive points that I happen to agree with as a dial-up user.
The most relevant I think being the point that there exist many other ways to make visual statements via the net that are " pulls" rather than " pushes" .
I d love to see what folks want to show, just let me " pull" that info once at my choosing, rather than pushing it every time someone posts.
My very humble opinion, open to alternative views...
moderator1I also voted no, one of the things I like about this site is its clean look. Keep the avatars in the profiles. In my opinion, surfing on IRV2 is like driving thru a campground full of seaonal sites.
Bruce
moderator1I have seen some of the avatars on IRV. Sorry but they are not my cup of brew.
moderator1Because they are not the real Canuck beer :) Sorry couldn t help myself :)
P.S. I also said " no" ..... I think I will be more than happy when the muffins go and we get our PU s back under our names.
moderator1Perhaps a seperate forum where photos could be posted? I like the message boards as they are....for messages.
moderator1Yeah....what they all said. I, too, find all that distracting.
moderator1As one who mentioned the fact that avatars and picture signatures slow down loading for our 56k bretheren when the new software was anounced and asked for the option for them to be able to " opt out" of showing them. I now find the uncluttered look we have to be refreshing. While they can be inovative and amusing they are distracting and on some boards I frequent it is sometimes hard to actually find the message amide the clutter.
So as you can tell I voted for no avatars, IMHO just like not having post counts it keeps us on an even footing. No, spending time worrying about whether you re sig or Avatar is " up to snuff" or " keeping up with the Jones s"
moderator1Even tho I have a high speed connection I vote no avatars, I like the looks of the board just as it is. Nice and neat with no clutter JMHO
moderator1I say no too, I do enjoy seeing the avitars on the other site, because a lot of them are peoples " real" camper and set up. But I have no desire to have someone elses pop-up below my name even if it is a Coleman.
moderator1I just noticed the little pop-ups instead of the muffins, I do like that! Thanks, it is a good enough pop-up for me!
moderator1I agree with skipP, how about a forum where pictures can be posted? As for the Avatars, I could go either way.
moderator1I thought this board was about Pop Up Camping not Bells and Whistles. Other boards are to ?busy? with such. I did not pay up for ?Bells and Whistles? I paid for good clean camping information.
moderator1I couldn t care less one way or the other. I have dial up, and only get on at 26600, and sites like IRV2 don t bother me that much (gives me a chance to go downstairs and get a cup of coffee), and doesn t slow down the computer that much. I like to be able to put faces with names, but it s just as easy to click on a link. I would use an avatar if available, just not from the choices that you give.
moderator1One thing I find amazing is that some people
don t bother to read before they post. If you don t want avatars, you can turn them off in your profile. If you had read this:
QuoteORIGINAL: moderator1
For those members who utilize dialup connections you have the option in your personal settings to disable the transmission of avatars to you. If you disable them, you would never see them and would not experience any degradation in service.
I can t understand the negative reaction.
Austin
moderator1I aggree with Austin, if you have the abiltiy to shut the option off, why not allow them?
How about we reset the poll?
AustinBoston
QuoteORIGINAL: AustinBoston
One thing I find amazing is that some people don t bother to read before they post. If you don t want avatars, you can turn them off in your profile. If you had read this:
QuoteORIGINAL: moderator1
For those members who utilize dialup connections you have the option in your personal settings to disable the transmission of avatars to you. If you disable them, you would never see them and would not experience any degradation in service.
I can t understand the negative reaction.
Austin
Yup, didn t read it all the way through. If I can set the profile to off, then I don t care. Just leave it be with the avatar, though. None of the other gimmicks please.
Either way it doesn t matter to me.
moderator1I haven t been on the other camping board enough to pay attention. But I have been active on a couple other forums that allow them. I think small avatars can add some " personality" to the persons post, and can allow you to quickly know who the poster is w/out even reading their name.
In all and since those that don t want them can turn them off I say go for it!
A bit of color and animation can t hurt... can it?
AustinBostonWhoa there camper--
While it is possible, that being human, i may have missed a point while reading the original post--I can assure you I did READ it.
Please forgive me if I take your message a little harsher than it was intended.
If Avatars are what people want, and the administrators feel they are an adequate use of resources, then by all means start them up. I will simply select to block them and hope not to have any loss of usability.
All that being said, I think my general philosophy is still valid. Assuming you choose to receive them, are you sure you want to see the same pictures over and over and over again with every single time you read the boards.
I guess that is my attempt to explain my " negative reaction"
Sorry for not paying closer attention to detail.
moderator1
QuoteI like to be able to put faces with names,
Don t know about you red, but I sure saw one that scared the you know what out of me.
Many of the avatars used are of the rigs people own and not of themselves or families.
GeneFEven with the ability to disable them, I still vote no. Simply because of human nature. First it s the avatar, then it s the ability to upload images, then the next thing you know, we all have class 3 RV s[8D][:D]
Anyway, I still say no. I like the clean lines to the board.
BTW, I just noticed the little campers also..............
GeneFI can agree on both sides of the coin - I like the " personalized" look, just don t know how much it would slow ya down.
I DO have a dial-up & yeah, I admit, being on iRV2 CAN slow down reading, BUT as others have said, you COULD turn it all off, thus making for speedier (if there is such a word) reading.
It WAS cool seeing a place for a pic in the Profile, tho......so I voted for it! [:)]
(Sorry, Austin Boston, gotta steal a line of yours - " ThunderRock, whom has known to be wrong before" )
moderator1OK with me as long as the board dosen t slow down. If it s going to reduce speed then " no" . We ve had enough problems with " speed over the last couple of years.
PS: " bikolee" has a point about the class 3 RV s. You never know where these sort of changes can lead[:D][:D][:D]
got woody?
QuoteORIGINAL: got woody?
Whoa there camper--
While it is possible, that being human, i may have missed a point while reading the original post--I can assure you I did READ it.
Please forgive me if I take your message a little harsher than it was intended.
I agree, my post was a bit harsh, and certanly more than called for. I also made an assumption in stating that people hadn t read it. I assume when I post that a thousand people may read it (not likely, but it has happened). I think hard about what I am saying. That time, I didn t think enough.
What I don t understand now is why you assumed that my post was directed at you personally. There were 12 negative posts before I posted. I assure you they didn t all read and then miss the point.
Austin
moderator1If it will impact the bandwidth usage in any way negative. I say no, don t have them.