re: #1: Reputation is probably my least favorite attribute of any web community. Reputation should mainly be earned, organic, and kept track of in the minds of the individual users according to their own metrics. If rep is given, it should be given unto discussion or content, -not users. Anything that is too "in your face" about letting a user's reputation precede their output puts the emphasis in the wrong place. I like encouragement and recognition of value, but I prefer Hubski's method of giving a handful of "spokes" before ceasing to count them any longer, and letting you badge a noteworthy comment or link. re: #2: Personal opinion is that images next to usernames have always been extremely annoying and distracting. They also "define and box in" users prematurely in my mind. I much prefer getting to know someone over time via their posts than seeing a "Spock" image right off the bat telling me "Hey, I'm logical sci-fi guy/girl." Maybe it seems trivial, but I'd rather have to work to get to know you a bit. That being said, I guess if the default was hidden it wouldn't be so offensive. But still...meh. re: #3: I've seen this work to good effect in other places, -specifically certain subreddits on Reddit. Being that it inhibits the sharing of some types of media to some degree though, I wonder at its application site-wide on general interest forums like Hubksi or even Reddit. If I'm following someone who posts quality links, I find I'm not minding if they link to interesting content without much to say about it. But it's an intriguing idea. This is an area where I feel I could benefit from other people's perspectives. re: 4: I think this is a fantastic idea right off the bat. Now I'm going to go try and think up reasons why it sucks, but it feels so right to me. (EDIT: Already found good counterpoints in the discussion. Still digging the idea though)
re 2. I actually like this idea, especially if it takes a few seconds of scrolling over for it to populate. I think people would use it creatively too, which I'm all for. -worth considering mk, insomniasexx, forwardslash and b_bwhat do you think? doesntgolf did you know you can embed an image currently on your profile? Check mine out. re#4 This one I'm pretty adamant about; It's my opinion that restricting someone's ability to post until they've commented is a bad idea. Some of my favorite content on the site comes from users that rarely comment. For instance, scrimetime. -The guy might as well have been born a mute, he rarely comments but the links he posts are quality and I can usually count on them to be something I'd like to share. -There's a lot of value in that.Reputation should mainly be earned, organic, and kept track of in the minds of the individual users according to their own metrics. If rep is given, it should be given unto discussion or content, -not users.
I think that you hit the nail right on the head ecib. I like the "decentralized" aspect of Hubski and the minute Hubski starts determining "worth" we're in trouble imo. All the tools that we've implemented to this end, following, badging, ignoring, muting and hushing are all user specific. I like that.
My guess is that 9/10 users have no idea that you can embed an image on your profile page. Maybe that's what we could do. Make it obvious and easy. -No hover image, just profile.
I like your thoughts on point 1 a lot. I agree with you 100% that images next to usernames would suck very badly, because it would clutter everything up way too much. My thinking is that the image would be invisible unless you hover over someone's username for a second (the delay is so it doesn't pop up when you're scrolling through an article), at which point a 90x90 (or whatever size) image would be displayed on hover. EDIT: Another alternative to having the hover-images might be just this part: and have it display basically only what's in the left column of the profile page, which can already include images.Also, if clicking on a user's name led first to a popup similar to the markup popup, rather than directly to that user's profile page, I'd be a lot more likely to click their name to learn about them, since I wouldn't have to leave the comment page.
It could be anything though, I think that's what could be interesting about it. A form of expression more than a "hey this is what I look like." For example, my profile image clearly says, I like Hubski and I drink too much
It would be cool if the image along with some stats populated. mk has been really in to the spark-line graphs of late, that could be cool. We used to have profiles that popped up a while back, right mk? Might be cool to have a little popup teaser where you could see a bit of info as well as a "follow" button.