ParanetOnline

The Site => Site Suggestions & Support => Topic started by: gemstone on May 30, 2008, 02:52:59 PM

Title: Technical reason for waiting
Post by: gemstone on May 30, 2008, 02:52:59 PM
until 100 posts before someone can choose their own avatar?  If this has been asked previously I apologize, 8 pages is a lot of reading.  I ask because so many posters end up using the same avatar that it is occasionally confusing. :-[
Title: Re: Technical reason for waiting
Post by: Murphy's Stunt Double on May 30, 2008, 04:46:17 PM
I really can't answer for the Mods, but *I* always thought it was because this board gets a lot of interest. We have over 6100 members. Lots of people sign up, post a few times, then they're off to other shiny places, say 10% for example purposes. If all of those 6100 could upload their own avatar from the word go... even 10% of that is an AWFUL LOT of server space wasted on people who are never heard from again.

By the time a person has made 100 posts, they're sufficiently addicted to earn a little space on the server.  ;)

But of course, that's just my thoughts and may bear no resemblence to reality (as usual)
Title: Re: Technical reason for waiting
Post by: gemstone on May 30, 2008, 06:25:30 PM
I think you are probably right.  Why I thought it might be some technical reason for it. But I have a "satiable curiosity"
Title: Re: Technical reason for waiting
Post by: iago on June 01, 2008, 01:55:34 PM
Beyond any technical reasons, there's also the social: This is a participatory culture we have here.  We want people talking and interacting, and it takes a little while to stand out from the crowd when you do.  So the avatar policy follows that path as well.
Title: Re: Technical reason for waiting
Post by: comprex on June 01, 2008, 04:10:14 PM
Hmm.  Interesting.  Assuming sufficiently unique posts (and posting style) to be recognised in spite of avatar or screen name changes, aren't those just fancy emoticons?
Title: Re: Technical reason for waiting
Post by: iago on June 01, 2008, 04:29:24 PM
Hmm.  Interesting.  Assuming sufficiently unique posts (and posting style) to be recognised in spite of avatar or screen name changes, aren't those just fancy emoticons?

I barely understand the question, I'm afraid.  ???
Title: Re: Technical reason for waiting
Post by: comprex on June 02, 2008, 03:57:22 PM
I barely understand the question, I'm afraid.  ???

The people who post most also change avatars and display names most; we mostly recognise them by context and style.   New joiners by definition do not have known context and style, is it not to them that avatars are most useful identifiers?