UPDATE: Due to many complaints that this new rule is too harsh, I have comprimised. Instead of no pics, you will be allowed 1 image (maximum 100 x 100 pixels / avatar size). You will be allowed 6 lines of text max 540 characters (1080 including bbcode). The max letter size of 3 still applies. I hope this new comprimise will be more acceptable to those of you who objected to the new rule, as I don't want to ruin anybody's fun but I do think we need to put some sensible limits in place regards signatures. Thank you.


Hi,

Signatures serve to identify or distinguish a person by use of a phrase, slogan, quote, short message, piece of poetry or lyrics from a song etc.

To date we have allowed users of this site to have large signatures, with big text, photos etc.

However, many users of this site find these big signatures annoying and unnecessary. They also slow the message boards down as pages take longer to load with all these big signatures.

I have decided after considering all the issues (special thanks to Carlos who has been working hard behind the scenes getting feedback etc on this) that we should limit signatures to 5 lines of text / 450 characters and that we shoud allow the text to be no bigger than size 3. I have also decided it isn't necessary to have pictures in signatures. Remember you can have an avatar, a profile pic, a gallery etc, plus you can include an image in any post if they want to. Do you really also need an image in your signature? On reflection I think not.

So these are the changes:

- No pictures
- Maximun 5 lines of text / 450 characters
- Biggest text size 3

These rules are being applied with immediate effect.

Everyone will have to keep to them... If you try to edit your signature and don't keep within these rules, you will get an error and your signature will not update. Because our systems will enforce these new rules, there is no need to add them to our rules page or have them enforced by moderators or admins.

Regards previously created signatures which violate these new rules. In one week on 15th December 2009, all signatures on this site will be automatically re-built and if your signature violates these new rules it may be edited or deleted. We are not re-building the signatures for one week in order to give all users the chance to edit their signature themselves instead of have our systems do it, which will not necessarily do it in a pretty fashion!

These new signature rules will not apply to staff or site helpers, who may still use bigger text or images in their signature to promote important site news like Escort of the Month or competitions. However I will ask all staff and site helpers to keep to the signature rules that apply to other users unless they are promoting something of benefit to this site, i.e. not to deviate from them for personal reasons.

One final point is that all users will still be able to use smilies in their signatures if you wish to add a bit of colour and imagery.

Feedback welcome of course.

Thank you,

Patricia

P.S. I know this is not the only rule update needed but one thing at a time please!