Pictures During NaPo

[stealthefleece]

I'm going to go awkwardly delete my comments like someone who just lost a facebook argument.

[Donner]

Don't be silly. Comments during NaPo are part of the fun and we're not trying to be party poopers. We're just trying to make people aware of something that will make them think before they post.

[suzanne]

A techie I am farthest from being, so I appreciate all information there. But, it is my understanding that there are two options available for replicating a picture, one is to copy the image itself, and the other is to copy the image's URL. I wouldn't think a mere URL link would do that much to the data base (unless it's going to a virus-laden spot that needs a whole can of Lysol). But, the other kind might. And, it might make some folks a little grouchy one way or another.

Anyhow, my sincere thanks to all who are reducing their pictures! Please feel free to continue to leave lots of fluffy comments, especially once the poems start coming. Fluff always feels comfy to land on at the end of a long, poem-pounding-out day.

And the best of luck to all you brave participants venturing forth into April with but one thought: I think I can, I think I can...

[GreaterMandalaofUselessness]

Hi Suzanne,

I hadn't known that I could just copy the image into a post. I just tried it. Then I looked at the html source for the page and found the image. The image source specified was the original website, so the database is still just storing the URL link to the original image. So in neither case is the picture stored on the database.

Anyway, I'm removing the pictures I posted (except one where the person concerned has explicitly said they liked the image I posted). Maybe next year the best thing to do would be to assume that no one wants photos unless they explicitly state otherwise.

-Matt

[suzanne]

Hey, that looks like my cupboards and pantry. And attic. And garage.

[GreaterMandalaofUselessness]

Sorry, that was me trying posting an image by copying it to see if it was stored on the database (see edited post above). Turns out it isn't whichever way you do it. I'd hoped I'd be quick enough that no one would see!

-Matt

[Sorella]

Uh, are my links to youtube songs ok?
Only just saw this thread. Sorry!
will a techie moderator please just tell me and I will delete my link in the posts.

[Featherless Biped]

Even if that's the case, not everyone necessarily enjoys having his/her thread cluttered up with this sort of thing. That doesn't mean people can't have fun, but maybe slathering loads of images over others' threads isn't the best way to go about it, as suzanne mentioned. Individual threads are primarily for poems, after all, aren't they?

Possibly in the future there can be a specific thread specifically for images just for fun.

I'm happy to not give photos to people who don't want photos, but let's keep this conceptually separate from "photos will crash the database". I like to have other people riffing off the title of my thread, and off each other, in photos; I don't see how it's any worse than fluffy text comments. The point is the poetry, yes; that doesn't mean we have to be dour about it.

(Huh. I think after five years here, I am becoming grumpy too.)

P.S. I'm not posting any new photos now because I don't know it won't crash the database. Still, there is the principle of the thing to be considered.

[HowardM2]

That particular reason was in fact listed as "conceptually separate" from the database issues, to wit:

Nextly, while everyone enjoys conviviality, not everyone wants someone else's picture choices taking over their thread. In fact, this listening ear has heard some grumbles.

Just saying, database issues are not the only reason for this new policy.

[Hare]

In not knowing who does and doesn't want photos, I'm now going to assume that no one wants photos.
Phew! it was hard work trawling for all those photos.

[PClem]

I am very sad people felt they needed to remove photos from my thread. Please, anyone who still has photos on my thread, do not feel compelled to remove them. Hare, I really loved your "junk Scottie." Sorry, I haven't been around to thank people properly. If anyone objects to any of the very few things I have posted, let me know via PM and I will be happy to remove them.

[Rik Roots]

I thought posting images to other people's threads was part of the pre-NaPo ritual, old friends meeting up with each other and slapping backs/hugging before the real work begins. Oh, well ...

(And still not happy about the indexing lark. I'll do it, but I refuse point blank to be restricted to black text)

[GreaterMandalaofUselessness]

I am very sad people felt they needed to remove photos from my thread. Please, anyone who still has photos on my thread, do not feel compelled to remove them. Hare, I really loved your "junk Scottie." Sorry, I haven't been around to thank people properly. If anyone objects to any of the very few things I have posted, let me know via PM and I will be happy to remove them.

Hey Laurie, apologies for removing the pic. I'll go repost it.

In not knowing who does and doesn't want photos, I'm now going to assume that no one wants photos.
Phew! it was hard work trawling for all those photos.

I guess next year we should assume that no one wants photos unless they explicitly say so at the top of their thread, and then we can happily photo-bomb those who want bombing.

-Matt

[Donner]

No, we don't have to be dour about it all, but when there is the possibility of 60+ people, each posting a pre-NaPo image to everyone's thread, that's a lot of back slapping to wade through before we even get started. And I doubt most people would object to a friendly "Welcome! I'm glad you're here!" post. (I don't for the record nor will I be deleting any images that anyone has posted. We did, after all, start the conversation after we opened the forum.) And we allow for lots and lots of fluff and camaraderie during the month.

We don't want to get anal about it or quash anyone's fun, we're mainly trying to make people aware that it can get annoying. Some people truly object to the practice, it's gotten WAY over the top the last few years - turning into a one-up manship competition (admit it, you know it's true) - and we'd like people to consider that others may not share the same preference for images that they do.

Here's a solution that should work for everyone. Write "Image Friendly Thread!" to your opening post - maybe even "IFT" to the thread title - to give people a head's up that you don't mind your fellow NaPo'ers wallpapering your thread with images.

T minus 9 hours and counting. *tickticktick*

Donner

[Featherless Biped]

Here's a solution that should work for everyone. Write "Image Friendly Thread!" to your opening post - maybe even "IFT" to the thread title - to give people a head's up that you don't mind your fellow NaPo'ers wallpapering your thread with images.

Hooray! This basically addresses my grump. Thank you.

Actually, two more obnoxious questions, because I do really badly with tacit rules and really well with clearly stated explicit rules.

1. Am I right that it's OK to hotlink images, from a non-virus-laden site, on the thread of somebody who specifically says they don't mind images? And it is not OK to put images up to be hosted on PFFA, or put them on the thread of somebody who has not specified that they would welcome images, or (god forbid) hotlink to a site that might harm somebody's computer?

2. In future years, could the instructions for how to participate in NaPo maybe include a line about when it is/isn't OK to post images? I know I'm one of the slow kids in the class here, but on the other hand, for every slow kid in the class who's confused and says something, it's a good bet that there are several more who are confused and say nothing.