Forum:Blogging Images - A suggestion

Dear Community, as you have probably noticed, in recent times, the Administrators began using images in blogs again. For some background info, this was banned a few months ago when users began spamming them, making this wiki seem like an image board. Now, my proposal is to allow the images once again. They were a fun part of the wiki, and images can sometimes be used to demonstrate valid points in serious blogs. (On a side note, this is also to make it more equal. This is not an important point, however) However, in order to prevent the spamming of them like has happened, make spamming the images a bannable offense. I would imagine this as an adding point to the blogging policy, something in the form of "Spamming images can be considered a bannable offense".

Ideas?  Commander W567123daniel Wanna Talk? 02:20, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

Discussion
Agreed. I really miss blog pictures. DarkMetroid567 02:30, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

Sounds good to me.  Magma-Man  02:33, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

No, because people will just start to spam again... 03:11, December 20, 2011 (UTC)at


 * But that is the whole point of this forum...re-instate the "priviledge" but make spamming bannable. When people begin to spam again and bans will be issued, the spamming would theoretically subside.  Commander W567123daniel Wanna Talk? 03:15, December 20, 2011 (UTC)


 * Per CoD4, it would be nice to have them, but people abused it last time. 05:07, December 20, 2011 (UTC)
 * Idk if you people are reading the article. Daniel's saying get back with the images on blog, if they get spammed, ban the User in question, thus, people knowing what will happen if the spam it (say, 3 images per article), they will follow the rules embeded on COD:BLOG. And that's pretty much it.-05:11, December 20, 2011 (UTC)
 * Silly admins. Not bothering to read the article.  Magma-Man  05:26, December 20, 2011 (UTC)
 * COD:DBAD 07:24, December 20, 2011 (UTC)
 * You folks are misunderstanding Callofduty4. When he said "users spammed images," he wasn't referring to one user; it was the fact that any user could post an image in a blog that caused the problem. There were blogs where each user that commented had only posted one picture, but as a result the blog became an image board. If you allow users to post images in blogs, there would be no moderation for the amount of images seen in those such blogs as every user could potentially contribute to the problem. I recommend we stay the course and continue to disallow the use of images in blog comments. Shotrocket6 03:18, December 21, 2011 (UTC)
 * That would be included on the re-written policy, or on COD:NOT (say, "....an image board: blah blah blah". And BP and Admins can delete the OP, and the whole thread is gone. Simple enough.-03:32, December 21, 2011 (UTC)

Daniel has a point. I saw some admins post pictures in blogs too. Shouldn't they get a warning for breaking policy? If Admins can post pictures, everyone should be able to. CoaZ Talk  05:15, December 20, 2011 (UTC)


 * Per CoaZ. 05:16, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

I agree with Daniel, CoaZ, and Diego. If admins can post pictures, why shouldn't the other users?

But I also agree that people who spam images should be banned, and pictures that are heavily spammed should be deleted. I know, that will give WHISKEY35 a hard time, but images also can make credible points in blog discussions. Metlman Talk 05:26, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

If this does pass, I'd like it if Blog Patrol got in increase in size (currently 5 pending requests) due to the expected wave of spam images we'll get in blogs. Carb 0Stop Censorship 06:03, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

*cries in corner because I'll never get BP* 15:48, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

When the images are off topic its annoying, when they're on topic they're funny and good. When the wiki is spammed with "U WIL B AMSSMSILATED IN2 TEH HERD OF PONIES" is kinda sux. 12:54, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

I think this is a good idea. Also, if someone starts to spam them, not only can he be blocked, but besides admins the blogpatrol (such as me) can delete the spam ones. 13:54, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

Solution?

 * New users and anons won't be able to post images. I literally have to change one word in the abusefilter and we'll be set to go.
 * Bans will be handed out for image spam just like any other form of spam.
 * Images may only be inserted via imgur links, so we don't get a flurry of spammy images being uploaded to the wiki just for usage on blog comments.

Thoughts? 13:59, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

Me gusta. 14:12, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

Sounds good. Anything I need that's off topic goes on my Photobucket anyway. 14:14, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

Wonderful CoD4, a practical solution. I'm assuming new users is the old 50 mainspace edits? 14:21, December 20, 2011 (UTC)
 * It goes by autoconfirmed, which means that the account must be 4 days old. 14:54, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

Can we also ban people from using images by using an abusefilter if we need? (or something). Just to check though I used and  with photobucket and sometimes they don't work, so that may need checking if we get blog images back. (Or it's just me.) 15:27, December 20, 2011 (UTC)


 * Yes we can block certain people from using images. The Abusefilter is pretty powerful. 15:41, December 20, 2011 (UTC)
 * Good, it's pretty amazing power. 15:45, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

Excellent solution. 15:49, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

Sounds good. What would be counted as image spam? Also surely we could get an abuse filter to stop being allowed to be used. 15:59, December 20, 2011 (UTC)


 * Image spam would be something like using an image with every blog comment, or simply putting tons of images on one blog, I.E. overuse can count as spam. Also I've put in that filter, or rather modified the old one to include it. 16:09, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

Per MLG and FireBird. 16:09, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

As the forum creator, I have to say, I like.  Commander W567123daniel Wanna Talk? 17:35, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

I love this whole idea. Per all.

I know we cant upload images to use in comments, so it doesnt get spammy but can we use images already uploaded? 19:04, December 20, 2011 (UTC)


 * "Images may only be inserted via imgur links" but I don't see why not if that's the case. 19:10, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

I agree with COD4's solution, it is fair and reasonable. Damac1214 19:43, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

Me gusta. I miss being able to use images in blog comments. And besides, if admins are disabling the abuse filter (I assume) to put images in comments, it defeats the whole purpose of banning them in the first place. Sgt. S.S. 20:18, December 20, 2011 (UTC)
 * The abuse filter is just modified so that only autoconfirmed users can use images. 20:35, December 20, 2011 (UTC)
 * That still rather defeats the purpose of banning them though, doesn't it? Sgt. S.S. 20:44, December 20, 2011 (UTC)
 * Well, when we banned them, we probably didn't know they'd be later allowed again. 20:52, December 20, 2011 (UTC)

Callofduty4, you suggested that we should only be allowed to use ingur links, but what about images already uploaded to the wiki (e.g. File:Wut.png)? Would we still be allowed use them as part of a "grandfather clause" sort of thing, or would they be prohibited as well? Sgt. S.S. 20:21, December 20, 2011 (UTC)


 * No, it's only possible to either disallow all uploaded images to be used, or allow them all. There is no midway. 20:57, December 20, 2011 (UTC)
 * Okay. That's a pity, I loved that image. :( Sgt. S.S. 21:16, December 20, 2011 (UTC)
 * OR program a bot that deletes that blog comment if the image is used. that way we can have a midway! (I hope) 22:00, December 20, 2011 (UTC)
 * Can admins still use the wikia servers? (i.e. smuff wiki etc) 22:01, December 20, 2011 (UTC)
 * Eeyup 03:20, December 21, 2011 (UTC)

Good idea CoD4. Conqueror of all Zombies 20:03, December 22, 2011 (UTC)

Vote
Pushing this to a vote now.

4 choices -


 * 1) Use the solution provided above.
 * 2) Remove the ability for admins to post images, so no one can post images.
 * 3) Free for all. Everyone can post images without restriction.
 * 4) Keep things as they are now (i.e. admins can post images, others cannot).

Put your vote down below. 02:39, December 23, 2011 (UTC)

1

 * 1, so everyone can post images without cluttered filespace. Also because most people won't know how to use the R template, this means the unexperienced users won't be posting lots of images, actually protecting them from getting a block. 13:23, December 23, 2011 (UTC)
 * I didn't know copy pasting a URL was out of the reach of new users. 15:10, December 23, 2011 (UTC)
 * Right then, so how about we ask some new users what the R template is? Bets are 99% won't have a clue. 21:33, December 23, 2011 (UTC)
 * If they don't know how, we could simply tell them. :P 20:45, December 31, 2011 (UTC)
 * 1) 15:19, December 23, 2011 (UTC)
 * 2) As "nominator"  Commander W567123daniel Wanna Talk? 21:46, December 23, 2011 (UTC)
 * 3) 21:51, December 23, 2011 (UTC)
 * 15:38, December 24, 2011 (UTC)
 * 1) Per all. DarkMetroid567 17:52, December 24, 2011 (UTC)
 * 2) It seems the best idea to me. And if it doesn't work, it is always possible to revert this, right? RC95 21:32, December 25, 2011 (UTC)
 * 3) Seems fair, it's only realy anons that we have to worry about, I doubt a trusted user will do anything too bad. 21:38, December 25, 2011 (UTC)
 * 4) Per reasons above. 19:25, December 28, 2011 (UTC)
 * 5) Per all. 22:31, December 31, 2011 (UTC)
 * 1) Per all. 22:31, December 31, 2011 (UTC)

2

 * 1) I'll put down for 2 because it would be a fair ground for everybody, Admin or not. 02:43, December 23, 2011 (UTC)
 * 2) # 2, per Argorrath and because I have a bad feeling with bringing them back. Spam or not, I think that the blogs are better without image comments. The restriction keeps things more organised and such.  03:50, December 23, 2011 (UTC)
 * 3) After thinking for a bit, this seems like the fairest road to take the wiki's proverbial minibus down. Sgt. S.S. 21:38, December 23, 2011 (UTC)
 * 4) Anything else isn't fair. Shotrocket6 21:03, December 25, 2011 (UTC)

Comments
Comment -- I'm going to throw this in here, because I did not have the chance to participate in the above discussion.
 * To be fair, I don't see why the abusefilter was modified to stop it from triggering for administrators. When I created the filter back in August, it was my understanding that the rule which was decided upon was "No images in blog comments, period ." To comply with this, I set the filter to trigger for all users, regardless of their user rights. In fact, looking at the logs and minutes for the CoDFerence at which the topic was discussed, "Consensus was to prohibit images in blog comments completely." Where in that statement does it say "which will eventually not apply to administrators"? Nowhere! And was there a forum which discussed the topic of allowing administratiors to use images in their blog comments? No.
 * Now, I see this as a violation of all editors are equal, as well as the image policy. Administratorial powers were used to circumvent a tool that was designed to uphold a policy for everyone, not just regular users. If we should be allowed to use images in comments, why not just let everyone? Regardless, I have been bold and removed the clause which prevents the filter from triggering for sysops,, from the run conditions, in adherence with the original decision to ban images from comments. I also support the 2nd option described above, as I feel it is the most sensible option.  14:43, December 23, 2011 (UTC)
 * No, it's not really any violation of COD:AEAE, AEAE says nothing about what users can/can't do, only how they are treated and how much their argument is worth (i.e., equal for both). 15:07, December 23, 2011 (UTC)
 * So inserting an image into a blog comment when it was agreed that no user would be permitted to do so just because they have the ability to do it isn't a violation of AEAE? From the minute I saw administrators posting blog comments with images, I was deeply disappointed and quite appalled that some of them chose to break that rule. Shotrocket6 07:42, December 25, 2011 (UTC)
 * Sorry, I was not aware that AEAE said that all users are able to do the same thing as any other user. If that were the case, then we should hand out admin rights to users by default. I always figured that AEAE only enforced the equality in treatment and value of argument. I already mentioned to Sactage that the restriction on posting images in blog comments was handled by an abusefilter. Administrators are under the authority to edit abusefilters. 21:17, December 25, 2011 (UTC)
 * Also, Shotrocket, I wouldn't call other users using images a "disappointment" by any stretch of the imagination. 21:20, December 25, 2011 (UTC)
 * I think by "disappointment" he meant that admins did something they weren't allowed to. It wasn't prohibited, but neither allowed. 21:24, December 25, 2011 (UTC)
 * None of us were aware that modifying an abusefilter was apparently disallowed. 21:31, December 25, 2011 (UTC)
 * What about modifying it to your advantage, breaking a deal that was set? 21:43, December 25, 2011 (UTC)
 * Why would any administrator be permitted to modify the abuse filter without community consent to their direct advantage? Shotrocket6 17:36, December 26, 2011 (UTC)

Abusefilters do not require any consensus to be edited. They're for maintenance only. 17:56, December 26, 2011 (UTC)

I'm pretty sure that we decided that no one, not even admins, could post images on blogs. Conqueror of all Zombies 01:33, December 29, 2011 (UTC)


 * Image macros in blog comments: Consensus was to prohibit images in blog comments completely. -That's what it says on the CoDference page. Isn't Admins posting images on blogs an abuse of power? Conqueror of all Zombies 01:36, December 29, 2011 (UTC)


 * And that's what this forum is overturning <_> 11:47, December 29, 2011 (UTC)
 * I maintain that nobody should be permitted to post images in blogs for precisely the reasons we banned them in the first place. Shotrocket6 07:42, December 31, 2011 (UTC)
 * Originally I was on the side of re-instating blog pictures, but as Shotrocket said it's probably best to stick with the original plan. If we re-allow them, we will probably be seeing another, "banning blog pics" forum within a couple months. 03:46, January 1, 2012 (UTC)