Signatures in posts

[sasnpipp]

Originally Posted by Maisiepaisie

I've posted on many forums in the past and there isn't one that I totally agree with all the rules. There are one or two rules on here that I feel are pointless but at the same time there are other rules which I am grateful for which other forums don't have. I prefer the way this guinea pig forum is run over all others and thats the reason I post here. Whilst I might not agree with everything, its not that big an issue and I try to abide by the rules. If the rules annoy some people to such an extent then theres nothing to stop them starting their own forum. Its upto Cavyspirit to run this forum whichever way she wants. Its her forum and me and my pigs are very grateful its here.

Good points, Maisie, and a good attitude. But people do got annoyed and/or intimidated, and become prickly or withdrawn. And a major stength of any forum is the membership. Putting together a great site that attracts people is more than half the battle, yes, but more knowledge, resources and lobbying power come with active numbers and unbridled participation.

I can't imagine cavy people being unprovoked trolls, other than kids (the ones most in need of the advice). The pet forums I belong to are populated by a nice group of people -- when people are nice to them. My favorite forum threw out almost all the rules and presented the moderators like customer service reps, counselors and researchers, and not security, police or hall monitors, and there hasn't been a hint of trouble since. The prerequisite for the job is tolerance and a sense of humour.

Telling people to start their own forum only frustrates, and fragments the cause and knowledge pool if they do leave.

I won't sign this post. This is just my last sentence. Really. Shsssssssssas.

[VoodooJoint]

Signing your name or ending every post with something like "xoxoxo" is a step towards something this forum does not want--full blown signatures.

We do not want nor need flashy, colorful signatures. They are annoying, slow down loading and distract from the posts. If we allow people to sign their name or put some cutsie little saying at the ends of their posts then the next step is to do it in color, enlarge it, add sparkle and gifs, etc. It's better to simply cut it off at the pass.

There really isn't a need to end every post with "trying hard not to sign my name" or "I won't sign this post" either. Believe me, we get it. There is no need to try to bait the mods and beat the issue to death.

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by VoodooJoint

We do not want nor need flashy, colorful signatures. They are annoying, slow down loading and distract from the posts. If we allow people to sign their name or put some cutsie little saying at the ends of their posts then the next step is to do it in color, enlarge it, add sparkle and gifs, etc. It's better to simply cut it off at the pass.

If it was just a name, I don't think we'd have as big an issue with it but there are members who take it a bit further. They want to add in smilies after their name (we have rules about smilies/emoticons) or want to add in symbols after their name such as ^_^ or <3 and symbols used to represent smilies/emoticons aren't allowed here at all. Then there are the ones who like to sign XXX/xXx after their name. I am not exactly sure what that is even supposed to mean unless they are blowing kisses at us. And because of the ones who want to take it further, the mods discussed this issue ages ago and decided that we aren't going to allow any signature at the ends of posts. Also Teresa (CavySpirit) doesn't like them and doesn't want them.

Most people think of signatures as those flashy banners and smilies and stuff like that. Here we regard signatures as putting your name, smilies/emoticons, your pigs names, etc. at the ends of your posts.

At the end of the day this is still CavySpirit's website and forum. She is allowed to run it however she sees fit and we mods uphold the rules. If we want to add in new rules, we discuss it with her and she either says yes or no. If she says no then the rule isn't added. We mods may seem anal to some but we do our jobs as we are expected to do and we do it well. I'm actually more laid back now than I used to be regarding posting rules. But there are some things us mods just won't tolerate. This is not a flashy, cotton-candy, eye-candied filled forum like many others.

[sasnpipp]

I don't think anybody's arguing about sigs, as I've said, I really hate them, too. I like a professional looking, adult site where the information will be taken very seriously. I like smilies to express emotion, avoid misinterpretations and lighten the tone when needed, but otherwise, give it to me straight.

But to police something that MIGHT happen takes up just as much time (or more) as policing it when it does happen, so I fail to see the reasoning.

Isn't it easier to tell people who have smilies and stars and colors that THEY'RE breaking the rules than it is to tell the (larger number) of people who are just using their names?

Judging by the speed the Mods respond to this kind of infraction, it's hardly an issue that others will see it and think it's allowed, I'm sure you'll have it 'fixed' in your usual lightening fast Mod manner. And even if that's not the case, having to tell one more person is probably still 10 people less than the next set of newbies or occasional lurkers who didn't get the memo and (like most) don't think twice about simply signing their name.

Sorry guys, this one really is over the top. It really makes the site look officious and silly, and that is just as distracting as the glitz. People with badges who blindly follow the 'letter of the law' without flexibility are not going to garner a lot of (true) respect. Professional doesn't mean tyranical. Being obsessive about trivial things is a childish trait, not a professional one.

I'm done now. And this isn't harassment, it's a debate.

[daftscotslass]

Originally Posted by sasnpipp

Sorry guys, this one really is over the top. It really makes the site look officious and silly, and that is just as distracting as the glitz. People with badges who blindly follow the 'letter of the law' without flexibility are not going to garner a lot of (true) respect. Professional doesn't mean tyranical. Being obsessive about trivial things is a childish trait, not a professional one.

For an "officious" and "silly" site it certainly does have a lot of members and, believe it or not, it does have the respect of most of the active ones.

For someone who suggests being obsessive is a childish trait you seem to be obsessing about the rules of this site a great deal.

[sasnpipp]

This is one of the most awesome sites on the Net, CavySpirit has done an amazing job.

It's hard to fault the Mods because they are giving it 110% in loyalty and effort. But it's overkill! Lighten up!

(If I didn't like this site, I wouldn't care).

[Percy's Mom]

Originally Posted by sasnpipp

(If I didn't like this site, I wouldn't care).

Originally Posted by sasnpipp

I'm done now. And this isn't harassment, it's a debate.

If you did like this site, you wouldn't bother arguing about a rule that isn't going to change because you think it's silly or over the top. You'd follow the rules, or if you had a problem with one or more of them, you would send a private message to a moderator or administrator instead of trying to stir up the general membership.

I'm closing this thread. It's honestly pointless. If any other moderator wants to reopen it or make comments, feel free.