Need input regarding signature guidelines

Here are examples of a couple of policies in place at other websites.

---

EXAMPLE 1
We all, well most of us, like to add a signature to our posts as it's one of the few places we can freely mention our businesses etc. However, so as not to distract from the posts by being overly long, signatures are restricted to 4 lines of no more than 65 characters.

Effective immediately, the following restrictions will also apply:

Center and Right align tags are NOT to be used.
The Hr tag is NOT to be used.
The maximum font size permitted is size 3.

---

EXAMPLE 2
The signature should be composed of the default font only and should be 10 lines maximum(including lines of spaces) when viewed at 1152 x 864. They should conform to the normal Board Rules regarding content. They should not include ascii made images. Colours and links (in accordance with Board Rules) may be used. Any signature seen as being overly long or of an offensive nature etc is liable to be removed without notice.
Forum staff have the final say over what is deemed offensive
Inflammatory Political Statements or Quotes (as Perceived by the Staff) are not permitted in signatures and will be removed.

---

EXAMPLE 3
A signature is a bit of text (maximum of 255 characters) that you have the option of adding to the end of all your posts. Some people have famous quotes, silly quotes or quotes that have very little meaning to anyone from Earth. You cannot include a picture in your signature.

---

EXAMPLE 4
The policy of signatures.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unfortunately due to the increased number of multiple line sigs members are creating, which sometimes exceed the length of their posts, we feel that sigs should be restricted to a maximum of 3 lines. This will help make the forums more readable and reduce the amount of scrolling required to read the replys.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What this means is that any signature you may have, keep it to three lines. If we see a signature that exceeds this three line maximum we may mail you to correct it within a week or we shall step into your profile ourselves and delete your signature. Alternatively, we may just step in and tweak it if it is a simple enough matter to change.

You can check any new signature in your profile by clicking the preview button. It may also be worth reading the Forum FAQ for some of the code and effects you can employ. We have found a common error is over-use of the {centre} tags, resulting in excessive lines of a signature.

Another element to bear in mind is that the restriction to three lines is due to space. So with that in mind signatures that are excessively large due to using the {size} tags will be altered back to something more respectful.

My only complaint is that if its a subjuct that I want to print for FUTURE reference (pun intended) its hard on the printer cartrage with all the tanks and tomcats running around.
I do like the pic though.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Dave Toews My only complaint is that if its a subjuct that I want to print for FUTURE reference (pun intended) its hard on the printer cartrage with all the tanks and tomcats running around. I do like the pic though.

There is a link labeled "Print Topic" which opens up a new window with a printer friendly version. I don't think signatures are displayed in that version. If they are, I can fix that.

The printer friendly version also does away with the whole template, navigation, etc. It's just simply the text, icons and any images. You can use that version to copy and paste into Word what you want to save and print instead of printing the entire thread.

I for one enjoy looking at others signatures and I think they help convey the posters personality. If we have a better sense of one another we are building community. What is the net gain from limiting the signatures? I for one think we would lose a valuable source of personal expression if signatures were to be crippled.

Personal opinion David - allow x number of lines of text and a graphic limited to a certain specified size, no animation.

Personally, I'm thinking of something along the lines of Example 2 but allowing images. Allowing 10 lines which at regular size is about the equivalent of an image at 150 px in height. So for images I'm thinking of a max height of 150px and a max width of 450px. Allow colors and links of course.

Even when a guideline is reached, don't take this to mean we're going to create the "Signature Police" and measure stuff down to the pixel. My primary goals are keeping the width within reason to prevent horizontal scrolling and reasonable image (file) sizes because there are still people using dialup.

For people who have an image they would like to use in their signature, but don't know how to resize it, or don't have the tools, I would be willing to volunteer time to resize and/or crop images when I can. Anyone who needs help with images, I would suggest posting in the community assistance forum with the images. That way when I can, I can save them and resize or possibly others might be able to do it also.

Well I just cast my vote....personally as long as its not a objectional/offensive image or signature....Who cares....yes I know theres folks out there on dial up and at times it can be a strain....Heck Im using dial-up at home...Still! Thats going to be changing next month though. From what I've seen it really hasnt posed a problem in my viewing/reading of posts. I actually like looking at the images and sigs...it gives a bit of personality to the board added by each member. I however didnt realize just how large my image was and do apologize....and btw thx for fixing it. Even though Im thinking about Axing it in favor for the smilies in my sig.
Just my thoughts,
Chris

Example 2 sounds good to me.

James

QUOTE: Originally posted by HistoryinScale From what I've seen it really hasnt posed a problem in my viewing/reading of posts. I actually like looking at the images and sigs...it gives a bit of personality to the board added by each member.

No, they haven't really posed a problem. But if we don't come up with some sort of guideline, signatures will slowly get larger and larger. It just happens without people realizing it.

I'm all for images in signatures. But I want to get an idea what the majority of the community thinks in regards to signatures.

I would also encourage people with modeling related businesses, sites, etc to make sure they add that information/links to their sigs.

QUOTE: Originally posted by HistoryinScale I however didnt realize just how large my image was and do apologize....and btw thx for fixing it. Even though Im thinking about Axing it in favor for the smilies in my sig.

I really thought it was a really cool image. Yeah, it was a bit large in size, but wasn't that big of a deal. The main reason I posted the resized version is because I thought a slightly smaller version of that particular image might look better. Sometimes by resizing large images down some and applying the unsharp mask filter, images sometimes look better or sharper. It might take a bit of tweaking, but it usually works.

IMHO, the use of signatures and images in signatures adds a bit of character to the posts. I do agree that some of them are getting a bit ou of hand, but haven't really noticed a problem with page load times. Then again, I'm on DSL. I can see the problem the larger images would pose to "snail-net" though, and heartily agree with the idea of downsizing and limiting the signatures. I don't believe that it will compromise the individuality of the forum or its users, but can provide a large boost in load speeds to those without broadband. It may also help limit the inevitable distractions of trying to read the posts, instead of concentrating on who has the coolest animations under their names.

demono69

^ bump

Personally as long as it doesn't get too excessive (more than 1 image for example), then it's cool. People should be allowed some self expression.

I respect the ability of one to artistically express one's self, but horizontal scrolling is annoying, so if the image sizes could be restricted to accommodate that, then that would be good.
Bruce

David,
I quite like looking at some of the things people use in their signatures. I've seen some that are unneccessarily huge and distracting (and if you're in a slower server, they take forever to load). Let's stay away from those.
Cheers
LeeTree

David,

While I am for the use of signatures and I thank you guys for allowing us to have them. I also understand that there should be a rule on this. Not to inhibit the use of such signatures per se but just to regulate its use as not to pose distractions and drown the messages of the posts.

So just inform me if my sig is way out of line.

Thanks.

Ok, put my $.02 in the slot. I like what you've come up with so far Dave and I do think there should be some limit on sizes of the sigs.

Disclaimer This poll is not scientific and reflects the opinions of only those Internet users who have chosen to participate. The results cannot be assumed to represent the opinions of Internet users in general, nor the public as a whole.

Do they make you put this in there??

You should go ahead and sticky this one btw!

Eric

I'd probably go with example 2 if push comes to shove. It's been fun looking at the variation on sig. lines, but the example cited isn't unreasonable. - Ed

Limiting size would be quite good, I think. I also would like to see them (at least those who have text only instead of pic or pic/text) displayed over a different backround. I suppose I'm used to it now so I can (most of the time) make a difference but it could be frustrating or puzzling for new members (in particular for those who's English is not a native language).

QUOTE: Originally posted by erush Disclaimer This poll is not scientific and reflects the opinions of only those Internet users who have chosen to participate. The results cannot be assumed to represent the opinions of Internet users in general, nor the public as a whole. Do they make you put this in there??

Actually, that was my idea.

There was a case (on our Trains.com website) where people in a forum on another site were discussing a particular issue and people were using the results of a poll on Trains.com as a basis for their argument. As if the 100 votes represented the whole of the hobby. I had remembered seeing the disclaimer CNN displays with their polls and thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to do on our sites.

QUOTE: Originally posted by djmodels1999 Limiting size would be quite good, I think. I also would like to see them (at least those who have text only instead of pic or pic/text) displayed over a different backround. I suppose I'm used to it now so I can (most of the time) make a difference but it could be frustrating or puzzling for new members (in particular for those who's English is not a native language).

I know what you're saying. I've had to look a couple of times because even I've been confused as to whether some sigs were in fact sigs or part of the post.

I know it's a bit subtle, but what I did in this version was automatically included a line of dashes "--------------------" to separate sigs from post text and set the default font size of the sigs smaller than the rest.