Thread: No sig lines means no sig lines

Well I do hope that the name thing gets sorted as I do like to reply to people by "real" name in the SOTD thread but I'm rubbish at remembering who's who other than a few, and often get names confused! Otherwise I guess its time for a spread sheet, as an aid memoir which would be a bit of PITA!

Originally Posted by LegalBeagle

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...

Bill,
Your post is about 98 posts late. Had I read it after the first I would not have posted the rest. I stand corrected my friend, you are 100% correct. Thank you.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

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.

Once again, your correct.

Originally Posted by Jeltz

Well I do hope that the name thing gets sorted as I do like to reply to people by "real" name in the SOTD thread but I'm rubbish at remembering who's who other than a few, and often get names confused! Otherwise I guess its time for a spread sheet, as an aid memoir which would be a bit of PITA!

Use a spread sheet.

I couldn't agree more with Bill (LeagalBeagle), the brotherhood and camaraderie has nothing to with a sig line.
I have no problem with a single line with your name, but as mentioned, this can be solved placing it in the info bar of each member.

In another shaving forum (I'm sure many know which one) what and how much you can put in your signature line is determined by your level of economical contribution to the forum i.e the more money you have donated, the more text, links, pictures etc. you can put in your sig.
The result of this is that many have a signature line filled with mostly usless stuff, some of them, even whith a relatively long post takes up 2-3 times the space as the post itself, and when you get two - three of these in a discussion one page can be 15% useful posts and the remaing 85% sig lines. To me this is so annoying that I often didn't bother reading or participate in the thread.

So thank you for trying to prevent this problem

I wasn't consulted on the removal of signature lines either. But then, I have never been charged a penny for the use of this website, and the organisers have. He who pays the piper calls the tune. As for getting to state who we are, or know who someone else is, SRP obligingly appends all we choose to have known on the left-hand side of each post. For self-expression we can have an avatar, and if there is some exceptional need to know someone else's identity, postal address etc., there is a personal message system.

There is also now the advantage that everything in the post, can now be taken to be deliberately intended as part of the post. I think a text signature was more troublesome than a pictorial one. How often were we unaware whether some expression of views on politics, interpersonal relations etc., which seriously coloured our view of the poster, was meant to be answered, or put us off answering? I don't see the freedom of expression in that.

I'm fairly certain all of the extra lines of argument (civil or otherwise) on this post have made up for the lack of signatures for at least the next few hours in the general forum.

In other words: this 11 page discussion was a waste of time.

Originally Posted by Mvcrash

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.

I understand your POV re sigs but your post above looks like a post loaded with personality & tells the reader a lot about you... Thanx for your thoughts & stick around. SRP will never be boring

Ok guys, we've been discussing this some more, and I would like to verify something.
We've been inadvertedly mixing up 2 different issues: 1) expression through sig lines underneath every post throughout the forum, and 2) valedictions (names and greetings).

Would it be correct that most people can agree with the removing of (1) but regret the fact that our removal of the actual sig lines also meant the removing of (2)?

Because if that is the case, we could come with a solution of (2), which may or may not be the re-enabling a 1 or 2 line sig line box for the express purpose of solely enabling (2) , or for example simply allowing people to manually sign their posts.

?

Bruno,
You would be correct that I can agree with removing the sig lines, and really regret removing the valedictions.
I did find value in the sig lines and would prefer them, but I don't moderate and can appreciate the reasons for doing away with them. I would appreciate the permission for a valediction and would occasionally use them when it mattered.
Thanks to all the Mods who donate their time.

Sounds like a plan Bruno! I'm no expert but can't you turn off BB code in the Sig? That way there would be no Pics or links or colours etc to get in the way of the thread. Unfortunately having rules means that they have to be policed so I guess the downside is more work for the moderators to manage it.

Yes, that would be the idea. I can limit it fairly well. Number of lines, BB code yes or no, links, pics, number of characters etc.

It would still require some amount of policing, but if I set it up with appropriate choices, it will be usable for valedictions, but not much more.