Signature area use - specifically, dragon images

When I set up this site, I felt that allowing such things as images for avatars and graphics images and banners within the signature area would be a nice touch for all the members to utilize. Sometimes things got carried away, and I had to limit the number of text lines used in the signature area, but all in all there really weren't many problems that had to be dealt with concerning those areas.

However, lately I believe things are getting a bit carried away. Specifically I am referring to the dragon images that some people sport in within their signature areas. My understanding of the way they work is that they provide a link back to a website, which accepts the incoming image request, processes it, and then returns an image based on some sort of criteria related to hits and views. So, as anyone who thinks about this a bit can see, this provides quite a bit of overhead for any site that is having those images viewed on the webpages for their viewers. Of particular concern to me are external calls made to another server for each viewing of the image (and some members here have MULTIPLE dragon images within their signature area). Obviously that can affect the page loading for ANY viewer who views a page where a member has posted a reply and the signature area is visibly displaying those dragon images. I really don't want to be a wet blanket concerning people have some fun, however when it affects the performance of this site and quite probably incurs a penalty on the other viewers, then I am afraid that I must ask everyone to remove such images from their signature area immediately.

Sorry about this, but I really can't have something like this affecting the throughput of this site and causing a penalty for all viewers. I hope you understand my reasoning for this concern.

Any chance we can have just one? :bowdown:
I think it has motivated some people to be contributors here. Normally it doesn't drag much (no pun intended) but the site has had some issues lately making things slower. Maybe we can take them all down until they get it sorted out and then after be allowed one? Never hurts to ask...

I'm in agreeance with that..though I'm not a contributing member (yet) the idea of having one of my dragon images in my signature an appealing thought..

I do agree having too many can be a bit of a pain, but having one shouldn't cause too many problems...

Just my opinion..

I dont understand, but I keep trying to update my signature area and it doesnt appear on any of my previous posts??? Is this a new thing? Or a personal problem I am having.....Thanks LM

oops sorry to hijack a thread and it looks like signature edits dont apply to existing posts anymore?

I had no idea it was causing so many problems. This is pretty much the only forum I'm on, so the way the dragon things works, I'll never get enough hits to hatch any dragons if it's not posted in my sig here. That's ok. I respect Rich and his website. I have removed them from my sig,

LindsayMarie said:

oops sorry to hijack a thread and it looks like signature edits dont apply to existing posts anymore?

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That's weird...but you seem to be correct. Your signature isn't on your older posts, just these new ones. :shrugs:

I must say I'm kind of bummed about this. I haven't noticed any loading problems for me from people who have the eggs in their signatures, but that's just me. I'll respect your wishes and remove them, but I'm really saddened by it, as I (like Dionythicus) get most of my views from here.

For anyone who thinks they won't be able to get enough hits for their scroll you can post the link in your signature. That way all of your dragons benefit from people clicking the link. Downside is that in order to get views people have to actually click the link. But it's better than nothing.

Why argue or complain

Man, dont think he even needs to explain anything. He dont want them then his wish should be your comand!
Enough said! :nyah:

I wasn't arguing, nor complaining. I complied. It's just that some of us were enjoying it and are sorry that it has to go. Is it so wrong to express that? I'm not saying anything should be done differently, if it causes problems, then out the door with it.

I never knew what that dragons were to be honest- would someone care to explain?

Thanks, Rich. I think reducing the images in sigs will help a LOT.
KJ

KJUN said:

Thanks, Rich. I think reducing the images in sigs will help a LOT.
KJ

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I have dial-up internet at home. I'm all for having fun, but if it's not directly pertinent to the site AND slows things down, I admit I'm happy to see it go. Thanks, Rich.

Caryl said:

I have dial-up internet at home. I'm all for having fun, but if it's not directly pertinent to the site AND slows things down, I admit I'm happy to see it go. Thanks, Rich.

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Being on dial up, have you noticed a difference pre- and post- "DYK" thread? With a thread with nearly 30,000 usless posts, it must be slowing something down.

mike17l said:

Being on dial up, have you noticed a difference pre- and post- "DYK" thread? With a thread with nearly 30,000 usless posts, it must be slowing something down.

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I actually gave up on even trying to read that thread some time ago. It just took too darn long. I'll give it a shot again this evening and see if it's a do-able proposition now.

mike17l said:

Being on dial up, have you noticed a difference pre- and post- "DYK" thread? With a thread with nearly 30,000 usless posts, it must be slowing something down.

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Hmmm. I'd hate to delete the "DYK" thread, because so many people like it. I don't know if it affects site performance or not. But maybe we should at least examine the option of deleting that thread and starting a new one.

Yeah, but there are nearly as many posts in the Photo Gallery section as in General Chit-Chat, and I'm positive that section takes up magnitudes more bandwidth...

I don't see how it can slow down those on dial up unless they click on it? Besides, there are google ads on every page too, I accidentally click them all the time, does this help earn it's keep at all? I'd imagine it's a top earner for the forum as far as google ads views/clicks.

Nanci said:

Yeah, but there are nearly as many posts in the Photo Gallery section as in General Chit-Chat, and I'm positive that section takes up magnitudes more bandwidth...

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But would it be a problem if the thread was deleted and another DYK thread was created? There's probably even a way to do it that would preserve the OP. I don't participate in that thread much, but from a mod perspective I like it because it's sort of a more easily moderated chat scenario.

I don't really think it would matter. It's impossible to search for a specific thing in there, anyway. But I am not the boss of DYK!

No kidding- I click ads by accident all the time! Especially Cages By Design and Fauna Top Sites.