My avatar

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!

Ok fine sure works for me. But John I really wish you would have given a more formal heads up on this for us. Outside of that folks lets just drop it we got an answer and while it might not be one we like it is a valid one I suppose. Its not a hill to die on or anything to lose our heads over its an annoyance and not much more.

Senan wrote: 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.

Are you serious!!?? Come on man, I never pegged you as one that would drink the Coolaid. I'm disapointed.

As another who was affected by this, I agree with MadHatter. Let's not turn this into a repeat of last time. Time to let the matter drop.

I am sorry that you feel threatened by my use of a white avatar. But, you're the boss. So, I'll just leave it as the default. Kinda matches my hair color and style, actually.

Kyrin Wyldstar wrote:

Senan wrote: 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.

Are you serious!!?? Come on man, I never pegged you as one that would drink the Coolaid. I'm disapointed.

I am entirely serious and I'm not drinking Kool-Aid either. I am as aware as anyone that this situation is unorthodox and not being handled the best way, but I am also here every day trying to ensure that this is a peaceful home for those who consider it an escape from the usual crap of life. This Temple is sacred space to many here, and I'm not willing to accept a public pissing contest over pictures because I have bigger priorities. I am a Knight, and that stands for something. I believe in our Doctrine and I try to follow it. I am trying to make this place better by working on the inside with the people running it. It is easy to criticize from the outside. Much harder to actually effect change from within.

It's almost as if both sides have nothing better to do than this, over and over and over.

Time to get out of the house for a while, guys.

Let's take a breather for a bit. This thread has run its course. I'm going to lock it for the weekend until Councillors are back to address it properly.

I'm still here waiting for an answer as to why this affected only people that have were active in the last week before this policy was rushed through. There are still people around that have whiteout avatars, and if this was a program or whatever going through and changing avatars, this would not be the case.

Senan wrote: Let's take a breather for a bit. This thread has run its course. I'm going to lock it for the weekend until Councillors are back to address it properly.

Thank you Senan, I know you are working on it and appreciate it. Now to me personally its just a little picture we add meaning to to represent us in a a place we find sacred to us. Having taken part in the original white out I would have found this annoying (just by principle) indeed, so we have one answer thus far. I would say let's move on, however, I stand with Arisaig here, there at least one deserves to be have an answer with some haste.
After that is provided, I respectfully request all parties involved to drop it. I am not here meaning to insult, but it's kinda dumb guys, something we are some what attached to has been violated, on that note the principle of it is bothersome indeed, however, there are bigger fish to fry; and much more gregarious violations of what should be our principles that happen all the time that we should really be trying to look for and eliminate at this time.

Much Love and Respect,
Kobos

Kobos wrote: I am not here meaning to insult, but it's kinda dumb guys, something we are some what attached to has been violated, on that note the principle of it is bothersome indeed, however, there are bigger fish to fry; and much more gregarious violations of what should be our principles that happen all the time that we should really be trying to look for and eliminate at this time.

Much Love and Respect,
Kobos

I hope you don't think that's what motivated the initial protest, something as simple as an avatar change....