Thread: No sig lines means no sig lines

G'day Mick, yeah I had my sig line automatically removed too, but I wasn't sure if the rule of no sigs extended as far as a please don't sign your name at the end of each of your posts as I tend to do.


Mick

It's true that a community exists by the virtue of its members. Without members, there is no community.
Yet that does not mean that everyone can just do as they please. And there is also no free speech here. Free speech implies you can say what you want, when you want, how you want.

We don't allow people to be rude, we don't allow them to advertize their wares outside of designated areas, we don't allow discussions of a sexual nature, we don't allow threats, ... There is a whole of of topics that is not allowed. In other words, there are restrictions. This has always been the case, and is no different from other online or real life places where people gather.

Besides, this is not even a free speech issue. Just because you have freedom of political speech in the US does not mean you are allowed to spraypaint your opinion on the national monument, congress or the white house. There are places on this site where you can express your opinion. We decided to not allow it in between posts about shaving.

And yes, 99% of the people will follow the rules. There will always be a couple who don't want to listen. We'll have to deal with them. And while they can indeed come back under a different alias using a proxy, that is really no different from other people we have to deal with, such as spammers. We would have the same issue with anyone who does not want to abide by the rules on advertizing.

But even when we allowed sig lines, some people used them inappropriately, and we had to deal with them.
this is really no different from what we would have to do if we implemented your proposed sig line rules.

With any change that is made, usually the vast majority likes the change. There will always be some who don't like it. If that should prevent us from doing anything, we would get nothing done and we would still be on the yahoo group. When we switched to the classifieds system, most people liked it, and a vocal minority hated it. All the arguments that were made so far applied to that change as well. People could still break the rules and conduct business in the main forum, and if they got banned they could get back using a proxy and a different nick, etc etc. The same arguments can be made with every change.

Originally Posted by MickR

Pardon my ignorance here, and this is meant to be a polite set of questions. When we are talking about signiture lines, it's what has already been removed right? It's not about signing off at the end of your post with your name or anything is it? Or is it? If it is then I will stop doing that too. No problems with that on my part.


Mick

Yes, actually it is.
We are looking at a way to automatically put your name next to the post.

Other than that, please do not put signature lines inside your post. We removed the 'sig line' functionality because that was what everyone was using for doing this.
With that disabled, some people started typing their sig lines at the end of every post. The reason we wanted the sig lines gone (other than the space they occupy) is that they're off topic and have no relevance for the discussion.

No worries then Bruno. Thanks.

Good work guys, its not easy trying to make a forum work at its best for everyone!

As it stands I've modified my custom title to include my name, if you decide to allow say a single line sig with no tags, links or images then I will probably put "Regards Nic" in there but in the meantime I won't be loosing any sleep over the matter.

I just wanted to add that we are brainstorming on this issue.
Stay tuned for more information in the next couple of days.

Originally Posted by Bruno

It's true that a community exists by the virtue of its members. Without members, there is no community.
Yet that does not mean that everyone can just do as they please. And there is also no free speech here. Free speech implies you can say what you want, when you want, how you want.

We don't allow people to be rude, we don't allow them to advertize their wares outside of designated areas, we don't allow discussions of a sexual nature, we don't allow threats, ... There is a whole of of topics that is not allowed. In other words, there are restrictions. This has always been the case, and is no different from other online or real life places where people gather.

Besides, this is not even a free speech issue. Just because you have freedom of political speech in the US does not mean you are allowed to spraypaint your opinion on the national monument, congress or the white house. There are places on this site where you can express your opinion. We decided to not allow it in between posts about shaving.

And yes, 99% of the people will follow the rules. There will always be a couple who don't want to listen. We'll have to deal with them. And while they can indeed come back under a different alias using a proxy, that is really no different from other people we have to deal with, such as spammers. We would have the same issue with anyone who does not want to abide by the rules on advertizing.

But even when we allowed sig lines, some people used them inappropriately, and we had to deal with them.
this is really no different from what we would have to do if we implemented your proposed sig line rules.

With any change that is made, usually the vast majority likes the change. There will always be some who don't like it. If that should prevent us from doing anything, we would get nothing done and we would still be on the yahoo group. When we switched to the classifieds system, most people liked it, and a vocal minority hated it. All the arguments that were made so far applied to that change as well. People could still break the rules and conduct business in the main forum, and if they got banned they could get back using a proxy and a different nick, etc etc. The same arguments can be made with every change.

You seem to think that I don't understand your position. I understand it well and cannot say your wrong since it is your decision to be make. My last words on the subject will be that it is my opinion that you took the personality out of the posts. If every thread adhered strictly to the forum title and every post adhered to the thread title, there would be little personality left in this website.
It is the personality of the website that draws most of us here. While here, we spend money which supports the site. I can get shaving information from a multitude of places, but they don't have personality.
The Sig line, when personalized, tells me something about that person. 60-80% of communication (depending on who you ask) is non-verbal so every little bit we can get about each other helps.

Bruno, I know how difficult your job is, I know better than most and empathize. I felt strongly and I thank you for allowing me to post my thoughts. To all that don't agree with me and posted here, Thanks for your thoughts.

Gentlemen,

I knew this change was coming in advance. I wasn't consulted, I merely had a heads up. At first I was a bit taken aback. I liked my sig line and I enjoyed the ability to have it. That said, the change does not detract from the "collegiality" or the "congeniality" of the forum. Heck, I'll admit that I didn't even really notice it was gone until I saw reference to it...

Admittedly, I've been relatively quietly the past few days; life has had me preoccupied with other matters. But if anyone wants to see where the relationship between the members comes in, look at the SOTD posts this week. I pointed out the curve ball life threw me, and the membership responded with words of encouragement. It meant a tremendous deal to me as I am struggling to pick up the pieces and keep things moving forward for my family and me. You can similarly look at the response that Grant (aka Baldy) receives routinely when his son, Jackie, or one of those he met along the way through his ordeals has a setback. Look to the support and encouragement that Amund received in his battles or the response after Mark passed. That is where you see the heart and soul of this forum.

And I challenge a single person here to show me evidence that they couldn't or wouldn't have shown the same support of me or any other member if the signature lines were not active during those times of need. The character and caring of the membership exists regardless whether there is a signature line. It is born of a common interest that transcends cultures, nationalities, or what type of straight a person owns; and it does not turn on whether one has a favorite witticism. We are friends here because of who we are, and that will not change because I no longer have a signature line.

Lastly, let me say that I appreciate what the mods are trying to do, even if it's not a decision I might have made. They work hard to ensure each and every one of us can benefit from the truly important work done on this site whether it is spreading the knowledge base or connecting friends new and old!

Thank you for letting me vent, I'll get off my now...

SRP has more soul than it can control with or without sig lines. The personality is within the posts much of the time. How could it be otherwise. Moreso than if it were merely sigs. Just in my humble opinion.

Maybe it's just me but I never even read or even noticed the sig lines as I gave all my attention to the main post. I personally won't miss them (or probably even notice they are gone)