zombie's got a lil point
although it can be seen as an incentive to get stuck in and that is actually what the hype is rewarding, it also does generally mean that one does need to slightly spam in order to get there...
ideally some sort of time frame and post count would be required.
I've always thought that it should really be done on one's post rate after a given time.
with it being kinda high in the initial stage, and then dropping off every six months or so to see if one is elligible.
post rate is the only way i can see how time can be a factor without having someone register with an account and sit pretty with it until he/she's got all the relevant avatar sizes one desires.
That's something I've been meaning to talk to Mirko about to get incorporated. It's something I brought up back in September,but things have happened, and it's been put on the backburner. I'll message him right now, in fact.
I fail to see what's wrong with the way it is. This way you're actually forced to participate in conversations and earn your avatar instead of having it gifted to you.
I didn't post much and it took me a loooong time to get my 75 and 100 px avatars, but here I am. I've graduated to the upper echelon, the "senior ranks" of the board if you will, and it's like a badge that says I've put my time in.
This wouldn't be affected much by it, really. It'd end up being more of a deterrent towards spammers than anything else.
posting thousands of messages in the
'what was the last trailer you watched'
or
'actor-movie-actor'
or the long gone
'word association'
thread is hardly participating in convo.
if one really wanted to get a high post count, there are threads you could solely post in for about a month in order to do so. And none of these threads have anything to do with superhero or any real relevant topics. noe one is ever going to go back through those threads and read everyone's opinions
You'd be surprised, really. I've done it myself a lot. Though, I know I'm in the minority, but you really would be suprised. Though, with chat threads, it's a bit different, because people DO in fact go back and read those to reminisce.
I'm sure someone can explain the technical part better than me....but here is a simple version....a site's bandwidth is affected by the number and size of pictures posted on it. The number of users who rarely post here greatly outnumber the amount who post regularily. So....the larger size avatar is a reward to the frequent posters for their time here engaging in conversation.
Yes....some people may post a lot in spam threads.....but they are a minority. Most people want to actually have conversations with other people (and yes, there is another minority of posters who only want to have rude argumenative conversations with others....but that is for another debate).
It basicly comes down to this......an avatar is a picture next to your name. It doesn't make the content of your discussions with others better or worse....it doesn't make you more or less intelligent.....it doesn't make your posted opinion on a subject more valid than someone elses opinion on the subject because your picture is bigger......it is just a picture next to your name.
No, on the technical side, you basically hit the nail on the head. "It's not who your avatar is, but what you post that defines you". [And yes, I'm aware that it's somewhat ironic coming from someone who took their avatar and made it a successful gimmick, but in my case, I kinda consider it a "Brand Name Label", in that you associate it with me, and your opinions of me come to mind].
well C.Lee, the 'it's just a picture' could then be used as a counter argument
if it's only a picture, why use it as some sort of reward incentive and why doesn't everyone start off with the ability to simply have one. Also why have some people the ability to have bigger ones.
a 'picture' which bares no significance is then being used as an incentive in order to judge others ability to participate. I've always felt with the stress and hierachy of the real world, an internet forum should be at least one place where people can be at least treated more equally.
Personally, i would remove pics (if being used as an incentive) and post count values from forum page displays (allow them in user profiles) as i feel they are used to judge individuals far more than they should do.
It's not so much a reward incentive, but more of a "Thank You". If there's one thing I know, it's that keeping a regular base level of posters on your website is a pain in the arse. This site gets more posts in ten minutes than my website has gotten since it's inception back in December. And nobody wants to post on a dead board, but the board stays dead if nobody posts. So, by posting more, you help ensure the forum's longevity.
Though I am completely FOR removing post counts from page displays. I'd give up my adminship right now if it were a required sacrifice to remove post counts from the thread display.
I personally think that the average poster puts too much stock in the avatars and post count numbers too. I have an avatar because a friend made it for me (without my asking for it) and I felt it was only right to use it after he went to the effort....but I can live without it (many people continue to tell me that I "need" to make it bigger now that I have the post count for a bigger one.....but I don't feel a "need" to do it).
I also don't fret much about post count numbers. There are people with counts less than 100 who are better overall posters than some with 50,000. I would like to see post count numbers not displayed also.....too many people make too big a deal about them.
Because so many people do seem to "worry" about avatars....the use of them are presented as a perk for those who post regularily.
Technically, as a moderator, even without the proper post count, you coulda increased your avatar size.
And yeah, just because you have a high post count doesn't mean you're a great poster. I hate to sound conceited, but look at me. Even before I was a staffer here, I had somewhere around 12,000 posts after two years [admittedly, those were heavy internet time for me], but in that time, the amount of respect I've gotten wasn't because I was posting like crazy--it's because I wasn't a ****ty poster. I could debate without flames, I participated in community activities [the SHH Community, not just the Community forum]. And even now, at 16,000+ posts, I've earned enough respect from the Big Boss to go from poster, to mod, and to admin. And I haven't even broken 20k yet.
And, I'll say it again, all the respect I've gotten is much appreciated.
ah putting stock in areas where it's not necessary, happens all the time in the real world.
Saying this though, C.Lee, you don't represent the average hyper since you are older and perhaps you've come to terms with how what you say makes you an individual.
The average hyper is significantly younger than you and making their username, avatar, signature and custom title (as well as location) as eye catching or interesting as they can is their way or making a stance on an internet forum.
it doesn't particularly bother me, although i can see why it would to some others.
with the 50x 50 looking so small these days, i wonder whether that shouldn't be gotten rid of altogether and have the 75x75 target lowered
I'm somewhat against getting rid of the 50x50, but my reasoning is nostalgia. To me, it helps with the sense of history that comes from this site.
