My avatar

Avalonslight wrote: And again, MadHatter's wasn't the only one which changed.

EDIT: Do I sense a #whiteoutroundtwo ?

No

I second that NO. I dont want trouble just an answer. If it really was the system fine, if it was a person fine just tell me why it was done and why you did not bother to give me a heads up.

MadHatter wrote: if it was a person fine just tell me why it was done and why you did not bother to give me a heads up.

I echo that request.

I hear you guys and I'm investigating. Give me some time to get answers before this gets out of hand for no reason. I'm taking it seriously and I appreciate your patience.

Senan wrote: I hear you guys and I'm investigating. Give me some time to get answers before this gets out of hand for no reason. I'm taking it seriously and I appreciate your patience.

No need to worry about me. I am not going to flip a lid about this. I would just like an answer, any answer really. Its annoying and nothing more at least for me.

MadHatter wrote:

Senan wrote: I hear you guys and I'm investigating. Give me some time to get answers before this gets out of hand for no reason. I'm taking it seriously and I appreciate your patience.

No need to worry about me. I am not going to flip a lid about this. I would just like an answer, any answer really. Its annoying and nothing more at least for me.

And again, echoed.

We might have a prankster among our ranks! :laugh:

I would also like an answer.

I am not an admin and do not know the intracacies of the site. Those affected by the recent reversal to a default avatar should message Ren and/or John directly and ask them what has happened. I spent a great deal of energy around this topic when it appeared last time. I am unwilling at the moment to expend anymore. I don't know what happened. The only one's who may are admins. This is what I suggest. Change your avatar, change your password. If you need to process your feelings around this issue and want to speak with me directly I am available via PM, skype and other means. Please reach out. I am sorry this has happened. I am headed to a local cafe currently and will be unavailable until I return, and then only for a little while, so I may not get back to you right away. I will respond when I am able

Manu wrote: We might have a prankster among our ranks! :laugh:

Was there ever any doubt of that regardless

I have PMd Br. John and Ren myself to ask them to look into it. I'll let you know if I hear, but you should PM them as well if you haven't already.

Senan wrote: I have PMd Br. John and Ren myself to ask them to look into it. I'll let you know if I hear, but you should PM them as well if you haven't already.

Did that two minutes after I made the thread

All graphics are in a particular directory.

For example Senan's is https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/images/avatar/3f3a6b71edd3426bdb1a6962.jpg .

A solid white, or something that is close to white will be deleted. It makes a blank space in the forum. Any visible color is fine. Red, green, blue, and so on, as long as it does not look like a blank space. An automated program is almost complete to go through this directory https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/images/avatar/ and delete any all white, near white or clear graphics.

A white square with a user name or text in it is fine since it's not a blank space.

Nobody is going in anyone's account and changing anything. White squares (or near white) are being deleted at the system level. When they are they systems default avatar appears.

Just as the programmer of the site decides the fonts, layouts, colors, and so on, this is a programming and a sysadmin decision on the appearance of the site.

This is now a Term of Service. Continued use of the site constitutes an acceptance of this.

We've never censored avatars before. The fact that we are now (and only against those that were supposedly a part of a protest) and suddenly making it against the rules without any announcement or contacting if the users who have had theirs set that way feels.... Arbitrary to me at best, or intentionally acting against those who spoke up previously at worst. That's just how it comes across to me, though others have expressed the same opinion to me.

That said, I for one have mine set to what it is (was) for a very personal reason that frankly has nothing to do with any whiteout protest or what have you. It was just coincidence really that I figured out how to upload a transparent png at the same time. If you want that reason, feel free to PM me. Either way... I play this game and just go back to what I had been using before to convey the same meaning.

Edit: For what it's worth, the more appropriate way to have done this would have been to either contact us privately or publicly posted that the rules were changing. Not "deleting" things overnight without telling anyone and then saying after the fact it's cause "rules changed" or what have you because you got questioned on it. Just a suggestion for future reference.

Then can we please get an explanation why this only affected members that have been recently active. There are some members that were part of whiteout that still have whiteout avatars. This seems to have only affected members that have been active in the past week.

Also, solid white JPEG or a transparent PNG takes up the same amount of space as any other image. How can a system go through and find those that appear to have no... detail or whatever, and replace it with the standard avatar. I've done programming before and don't understand how this could be possible...

Why is this a new policy and when did it get put into place? There was nothing in Council about it.

And my last question to add to the mix: when will there actually be something in writing on it on the rules / terms and condition page? Cause it's not there currently.

These are all fair questions and I will try to get answers posted for all to see when I am completely clear. It will get added to the Terms and Conditions.

While this is a sensitive issue because of the personal nature of avatars, it is still something that falls under system admin concerning the function and appearance of the site. It is no different than signatures, except that this was not publicly announced beforehand as it should have been.

As this is implemented, please remember that we are all being watched and judged by our reactions. Emotion is expected, but we need to remain respectful of each other and patient. If there is one thing I learned from last time around, it was that all of us moved too quickly without considering the impact of our actions. Let's not do that again.

Br. John wrote: An automated program is almost complete to go through this directory https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/images/avatar/ and delete any all white, near white or clear graphics.

You literally have nothing better to do in the Jedi Temple you created than waste time on a crusade against avatars which aren't to your personal taste?

Just incredible. Just when I believed you and Ren couldn't discredit yourselves any further. Keep lowering that bar, guys.

Forgotten but not gone.

Br. John wrote: Forgotten but not gone.

Have you learned nothing?? Cut the shit and start acting like adults PLEASE!