how do i get one???

 

You don't

 

poo!

why?

 

you just don't

 

ok!

 

They are a massive drain on server resources, the same as graphical signatures. With the amount of traffic on SN that would slow the servers down even more than they already are. Though saying that it is a lot better than it used to be.

 

its a bit **** dont you think. Its hard keeping track of whose who with so many simliar names styled after theyre cars.

 

Not if you insist that they are hosted at a different location, in that case it's no worse than any other image posted inline and hosted at Photo-Bucket. Add that to browser caching and most people won't be re-downloading an avatar too often anyway

 

Avatars I don't mind too much, as they are usually fairly small, and can be entertaining, but you'd get one per post, so on a long thread, espeically muppet type threads with just one word/icon replies it would be quite a drain on bandwidth.

As for graphical sigs, same rule applies as for the avatars, except they are usually a lot larger and that means even more bandwidth.

Combine the two together on a busy forum and it's a very effective way to bring the forum to it's knees.

 

Ive got a cracking avatar on another site

 

True, remote hosting would help things on the server side, as would caching. I'd still feel sorry for the users on slow internet connections who've decided not to supress the viewing of images, as it could make page load times a bit slow.

The lack of Graphical sigs is one of the few things I actually like about SN.

 

ok, well thanks for answering my question

 

I'd rather have no avatars. There are quite pointless and tiresome, and there's always the ones who like **** as their avatar, consequently I can't use that site at work.

 

In vBulletin it is a per user config option that you can switch sigs and avatars off anyway.

 

Install Adhunter - right click on any image, Add to the list and never see that image from that URL again, jobs a good un.

 

That's a nice idea, maybe worth doing for all the SN ads (I expect a severe dressing down in suggesting that, as we all know SN needs the ads to make money to spend on the scoobynet car )

 

What adverts?

Ohhhh - it is effective isn't it

<turns AdHunter back on>

 

You bad bad person, you'll get banned for doing that doncha' know!

 

Mmmm, and where can one find "Adhunter"?