User amenities update.

[Halx]

I've update the user amenities to be more in line with what other websites offer.

All users may now have an avatar.
The file size of the avatar allowed has been doubled for members who have been promoted.
Everyone's Private Message box has increased in size.
You may now use the PM tracking system to track if your messages have been read.

[MSD]

You know, if I go through the mod control panel I can give myself an avatar of any size. I found out about it by accident when I was trying to help bobby reanimate his avatar and ended up giving him a 400x400 animated gif after clicking on the wrong file.

So is this file size or dimensions?

[Halx]

The limits are: 100x100 pixels, 40kb for full members, 20kb for new members.

[healer]

Originally Posted by Halx

I've update the user amenities to be more in line with what other websites offer.

All users may now have an avatar.

Well there goes the "I got an avatar" thread.

I'm a little peeved though. While I understand that you're trying to bring it in line with other forums, I'm sure that I'm not the only one who feels that we're giving away something for free that used to have to be earned. I was excited as hell when I got mine and it was part of the 'TFP experience'...a coming of age if you will.

I dunno, maybe it's just sour grapes. *shrug*

[shakran]

some people are never happy. This is a good move. Basing avatars on post count is and has always been a mistake that overworks your mods, because you always get the people that post tons of inane crap just to get the counts up.

Nice adds Halx. Good work.

[ShaniFaye]

I like the increased PM box....as I said in chat last nite....more virtual hugs and less message deleting!!!!

[spectre]

Originally Posted by healer

Well there goes the "I got an avatar" thread.

I'm a little peeved though. While I understand that you're trying to bring it in line with other forums, I'm sure that I'm not the only one who feels that we're giving away something for free that used to have to be earned. I was excited as hell when I got mine and it was part of the 'TFP experience'...a coming of age if you will.

I dunno, maybe it's just sour grapes. *shrug*

There are better things that you have earned, such as the extra forum. I'd say Trampoline, Portraits and Exhibition trump an avatar. Not to mention that custom title is still earned. So you still have a lot that everyone else still needs to earn.

[aberkok]

I still feel like my earned Avatar is more valuable than a n00b one. I earned it the hard way, back when I had to walk through snow 8ft deep for 40 miles just to get to General Discussion.

Besides...I feel like I've earned a lot more than just an avatar.

[Charlatan]

Originally Posted by aberkok

I earned it the hard way, back when I had to walk through snow 8ft deep for 40 miles just to get to General Discussion.

You're such a goof...

[Seaver]

One of these day's I'll finally get off my ass (or on it?) and find an avatar for myself...

[Supple Cow]

Originally Posted by spectre

I'd say Trampoline, Portraits and Exhibition trump an avatar.

Speaking of those three forums, what's going on behind the scenes about all the suggestions (past and current) for Trampoline and the Creativity Forums? I gave a lot of honest feedback about Trampoline and Exhibition in my posts in the "What Happened to TFP?" thread, and I remember having some support behind the idea that Trampoline be dumped. There seems to be only more evidence to suggest that this be done in the "Social Experiment Forum" thread because some other folks also see another disadvantage, which is that it is just a place for the old bored members to screw around idly. I don't see how that helps them want to get back in the game and participate in a more meaningful way.

JumpinJesus brought up his suggestions for the Photography and Portraits forums again in the recent threads as well. I still stand behind what I said about Exhibition before and why I no longer participate. Plus, JumpinJesus has brought up a new (?) point about how that forum is part of what makes TFP special. I agree with him on that, though for personal reasons, I will probably not contribute my art there again even if it does change. STILL, these are all good suggestions. What of them?

[spectre]

Originally Posted by Supple Cow

JumpinJesus brought up his suggestions for the Photography and Portraits forums again in the recent threads as well. I still stand behind what I said about Exhibition before and why I no longer participate. Plus, JumpinJesus has brought up a new (?) point about how that forum is part of what makes TFP special. I agree with him on that, though for personal reasons, I will probably not contribute my art there again even if it does change. STILL, these are all good suggestions. What of them?

While I don't remember the specifics of your original post, I'll try to address it as best I can from what I remember. We increased the requirements for Exhibition a while back. It now takes more posts to get in, and once people are in, they can have it removed if there's a need for that. The rules of the forum were also changed so that "post your _____ here" style threads are to go into Trampoline.

[Charlatan]

I think it should also be noted that some of the early weirdness that happened in Trampoline, doesn't happen anymore.

People tried it out and either were either not interested or the shine wore off pretty quickly.