SURELY WE HAVE SOMETHING BETTER TO CHAT ABOUT
THX!
The case for pictures next to usernames on Hacker News
71–80 of 87 posts
Re: The case for pictures next to usernames on Hacker News
#72Earlier quoted context omitted.
Identicons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identicon
The only problem with identicons I have seen is that the algorithm used causes a majority of them to look like swastikas. But that seems like an easy thing to fix. Most of the identicons are quite pretty (including a large number of swastikas), but most people still associate swastikas with naziism.
Not only did the Nazis ruin an ancient symbol, they ruined rotational symmetry.
Re: The case for pictures next to usernames on Hacker News
#73I think it's better if people make their own portraits with their ideas.
Then why have usernames (displayed) at all? Why is a picture so different than a username in terms of degrading the painting of a "portrait" of ideas? You could drop them altogether or replace them with a random string (generated each page view).
Fine by me. I randomly generated my username with the explicit intent of not being identified.
Re: The case for pictures next to usernames on Hacker News
#74Earlier quoted context omitted.
Where would you get the images? Just generate them randomly?
Identicons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identicon
I think the human brain is optimized for recognizing faces. Those geometric variations of identicon don't look different enough in my opinion. I like the general idea, though.
Re: The case for pictures next to usernames on Hacker News
#75[deleted]
Re: The case for pictures next to usernames on Hacker News
#76Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sure it is, just add another pixel :) "Look at that 3 pixel noob..." You could use the user's top bar preferences!
only the elite have the privilege of changing the topbar color.
Only the elite deserves their very own pixel.
(I recently joined the elite - that's why I'm smug.)
Re: The case for pictures next to usernames on Hacker News
#77Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree. I think we can all give links to our blogs, or make a community on facebook. Actually, I am just going to do that and submit a link for those who are interested.
Here is a group for facebook. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14841858677
I won't succumb to facebook anytime, soon. Sorry.
Re: The case for pictures next to usernames on Hacker News
#78There is one reason I can think of for adding profile pictures: reducing anonymity.
People say a lot of things online that they wouldn't say face-to-face because of anonymity. I'm not sure if profile pictures would be a step towards anonymity, but I think it would be a good experiment.
For example, comments written on a wall on Facebook are much less hostile than comments at YouTube or MySpace. I don't recall seeing the words gay or faggot used at all on Facebook, ever.
Even adding more text info may be a good idea. Eg: pkaler. Vancouver, BC. Smartful Studios Inc.
Re: The case for pictures next to usernames on Hacker News
#79Earlier quoted context omitted.
Then why have usernames (displayed) at all? Why is a picture so different than a username in terms of degrading the painting of a "portrait" of ideas? You could drop them altogether or replace them with a random string (generated each page view).
Fine by me. I randomly generated my username with the explicit intent of not being identified.
Hey, you're the guy with the randomly generated user name!!
Re: The case for pictures next to usernames on Hacker News
#80"For me at least, I think I would start associating usernames more with their set of comments. And I think that would greatly increase the sense of community gained from the site. I’m sure there are other (low-impact) things one could do as well, but I just haven’t thought of them."
if that si true its obv great but: "Think of some of the more memorable opinions from the past. Would your opinion of those comments be different if you knew before reading them that the poster was a 15-year-old girl, a 23-year-old transgender, a 55-year-old male? For a very small few of us, the answer is no. For the large majority of us -- myself included -- the answer is yes. The less information I have about the person, the more I can stick to what is being said."
is a very good point made by rewind.
i personally dont feel a need for it, i like the simplicity of hacker news.