Turn Off Signatures - Opinions?

[EarlyOut]

I'm a regular on two other forums (moderator on one of them), and they both have the signature feature disabled completely. No one misses it. I think it's the smart move, and would suggest that HG disable them for this forum.

Some users use the signature just to load up on links to their own sites. This certainly doesn't add anything to the threads in which they're participating. It also encourages them to engage in pointless posting, just to increase their link exposure. We get a lot of "me, too" and "thanks for posting that" posts, which we can do without. The tip-off to this behavior is when someone has a total of 5 posts, all of them one-liners, and his signature block is 10 times the size of his posts, with oversized fonts, colors, links, animated GIFs, and so on.

Put the link in your profile - if others want to visit your site, they can pull up your profile and find the link.

Some users put a clever saying in their signatures. But like all clever sayings, they're not very clever after the umpteenth repetition. We can live without them.

Yes, I know I can turn off signature viewing for my own forum visits, but that's not the default, and it does nothing to discourage the sort of pointless posting I mentioned above.

I'd be interested in hearing contrary opinions. If you think signatures are a good thing, please explain why. What do they add to the process of asking and answering questions?

[EarlyOut]

By the way, some forums allow signatures only when you have a certain number of posts. But in the case of the relentless backlinker, this just encourages even more pointless posting, while he tries to boost his post count high enough so that he can start posting those links! It turns out not to work very well.

[virtvir5]

Originally Posted by EarlyOut

I'd be interested in hearing contrary opinions. If you think signatures are a good thing, please explain why. What do they add to the process of asking and answering questions?

In my own case (and a few others, I think) they just make it easy to add a sig with a real name (a bit more human than my login name). I do include my site link, but only because it's sometimes a convenient reference for examples and other follow-up. I'd happily remove it if anyone objects.

I guess I'm fairly neutral about retaining or eliminating the sig feature, but I figure people who are intent on "advertising" will always find a way no matter what. Peer pressure is probably as effective as anything. Maybe you could start a poll.

[striddy]

Originally Posted by EarlyOut

I'd be interested in hearing contrary opinions. If you think signatures are a good thing, please explain why. What do they add to the process of asking and answering questions?

My own view is that I like to show my name in my signature. Makes it somewhat more personal, and saves me typing it in each post. However, if it was eliminated, it wouldn't bother me too much.

But some limitations on new forum members would be good to stop this endless cookie stuffing, hidden images spam and affiliate link misuse.

I don't use this forum software myself so don't know its limitations in these regards.

[dwrunyon]

I like em. It gives lots of opportunities to learn something neat about the person behind the text, user name and avatar.

[EarlyOut]

Originally Posted by virtvir5

Maybe you could start a poll.

I considered that, but realized that the signature abusers would all vote in favor of keeping them. Sort of like asking kleptomaniacs whether shoplifting should be legal or not.

[citawds]

While I do not use a signature on these forums I do not find others doing so distracting. Most forums allow a custom signature. If someone is abusing the practice have them banned.

Steve

[virtvir5]

Originally Posted by EarlyOut

I considered that, but realized that the signature abusers would all vote in favor of keeping them. Sort of like asking kleptomaniacs whether shoplifting should be legal or not.

I hear you. People posting verbose clutter all over the map just for the sake of "signage", regardless of whether they actually have anything useful to contribute in context, are certainly annoying. But I'm not sure there's any "magic wand" that can make them disappear here or elsewhwere.

[EarlyOut]

Originally Posted by virtvir5

... I'm not sure there's any "magic wand" that can make them disappear here or elsewhwere.

That's what started me thinking about this in the first place. The forum I mod has signatures disabled completely. No one seems to miss having them, and the posts remain blissfully uncluttered. We don't get a bunch of "me too" posts by backlinkers.

[Keith W]

If you think someone is abusing the forum, be it by signature or any other way, then report it.

Don't penalize the majority for a few idiots that try and abuse the system

[Pazeh]

this has been an ongoing topic on almost every forum I have managed or I'm a member of.

I totally agree with not letting newbies put a link in their signature, that decreases a lot of spam too! BUT there is a way easier way around, if you are too distracted, DISABLE THEM!!

Just go you "user cp" (@ top) then edit "Edit Options" scroll down a bit & un-check the "Show Signatures"!!

you're now signature-free

[EarlyOut]

Yes, I know full well how to do that. But the fact that signatures exist leads backlinkers to make a lot of pointless posts. The fact that I can't see the signatures doesn't change that. The pointless posts are still there.

[eLIANT]

Okay! We get it! You don't want signatures. But other than the guy currently spamming us with offers for "fendi bags" do we get THAT many posers pretending to be interested in a thread just so the link in their sig shows up?

Usually, the link stuffers and affiliate pushers at least post legitimate questions.

Other than annoying you, EarlyOut (I'd refer to you by name, but you don't have a signature, and I'm too lazy to look at anyone's profile), are they doing any real harm?

[EarlyOut]

Are they providing any real benefit?

And if I wanted to be addressed by my real name, I'd have signed up for the forum using it. Isn't the purpose of screen names to provide some level of anonymity?

I'm just asking for opinions, and making a suggestion, so don't go getting your panties in a bunch.

[EarlyOut]

Well, I guess the group opinion is "leave them alone." :shrug:

I pretty much said it all in my OP. I don't think signatures add anything, and I haven't seen a persuasive argument that they do. I think they have only downsides. There's no signature function in most blogs, on Facebook, etc., etc., and no one is clamoring to add them there.

Subject closed.

[amcg]

Originally Posted by eLIANT

Okay! We get it! You don't want signatures. But other than the guy currently spamming us with offers for "fendi bags" do we get THAT many posers pretending to be interested in a thread just so the link in their sig shows up?

Usually, the link stuffers and affiliate pushers at least post legitimate questions.

Other than annoying you, EarlyOut (I'd refer to you by name, but you don't have a signature, and I'm too lazy to look at anyone's profile), are they doing any real harm?

I agree with the above.
Apart from the one guy who is spamming, that's all the abuse I've seen here, either with or without Sigs on, spammers will still post their ads non the less.

In other forums, I agree that they may need to disable Sigs, but here where we are all competent Web masters ourselves, it is less likely that we are going to go around spamming like crazy.

I personally like looking at other members Websites through their Sigs on here, so I can see what kind of ideas their using and what type of sites their making to give inspiration back to me. I'm not going to troll through each Members Profile to find these otherwise.

And then Back link wise, there's no real harm in having a simple link as long as its legit. Knowing that I may get an extra back link for posting, gives me a reason to post in these forums, otherwise I wouldn't normally engage in. What I write is up to you to decide whether its spam or not.
HG aren't going to mind if it means we get more visitors to our site, which will then mean we have to upgrade our Hosting Package...

[EarlyOut]

Originally Posted by amcg

Knowing that I may get an extra back link for posting, gives me a reason to post in these forums, otherwise I wouldn't normally engage in.

Hmmm.........

[striddy]

Originally Posted by amcg

Knowing that I may get an extra back link for posting, gives me a reason to post in these forums, otherwise I wouldn't normally engage in.

Then don't bother posting. We won't miss you.

If you are here to ask a valid question or provide a valid answer to a question, then do post.

[virtvir5]

Originally Posted by EarlyOut

Well, I guess the group opinion is "leave them alone." :shrug:

I pretty much said it all in my OP. I don't think signatures add anything, and I haven't seen a persuasive argument that they do. I think they have only downsides. ...

FWIW, I agree with your underlying concerns in essence. My reservation relates to purely practical aspects -- i.e., balancing the actual likelihood of dissuading "polluters" with the risk of discouraging some valuable contributors.

On the one hand, I think some of the latter would ultimately be put off by a scenario where this board degnerates into a "hit generator" full of "fluff" postings. So yes, there certainly is a downside, at least potentially. On the other hand, there are some very fine judgmental issues involved in making the "fluff management" distinctions involved.

In the final analysis, I guess we just have to rely on Hostgator's recognition of their own best interests in drawing approriate lines and managing their forums accordingly. Their judgemental capabilities may be no better than ours, but at least we know who to blame.

[Pazeh]

Originally Posted by EarlyOut

Yes, I know full well how to do that. But the fact that signatures exist leads backlinkers to make a lot of pointless posts. The fact that I can't see the signatures doesn't change that. The pointless posts are still there.

Great!!

if there is any user that you think is making pointless posts then add them to your ignore list & they are puuuuufff... GONE! for good!

Applying these two simple personal customizations will make things just the way you want it to be, without going to the hazel of convincing others

[striddy]

Originally Posted by fanlynne

I agree with the above.I personally like looking at other members Websites through their Sigs on here (spam link removed)

You are a moron..... go away......

[ericpepin]

I also agree there are alot spammer these days they just use signature for creating hyperlink to their websites keyword. But disabling signature is not a solution I think you should moderate the posts before accepting it and then show up it on the forum. If you found spam you can report it as spam and use some no. of posts to enable the signature option. Thanks

[striddy]

Originally Posted by ericpepin

I also agree there are alot spammer these days they just use signature for creating hyperlink to their websites keyword. But disabling signature is not a solution I think you should moderate the posts before accepting it and then show up it on the forum. If you found spam you can report it as spam and use some no. of posts to enable the signature option. Thanks

Great.. another spammer.

[ldearing]

this seems to have turned into a debate about sinatures in forums in general. i think it's more of a per "population" basis. we have a pretty up-front bunch of people here and not a lot of sig abuse. if something is offensive, report it. otherwise, i think we are fine here just the way we are.

also, if someone is just posting to get a back-link, i don't think they are very current on how Google treats hundreds of backlinks from the same source

[WEG0508]

Somebody Please... Shoot this thread and put it out of it's misery.