Why so concerned about images?

[Steerpike]

I see the warning "IF you must add a photograph to your post, PLEASE limit the size to 50k or less and place a warning in the subject line. "

I've posted a few miniscule images in a couple of posts to illustrate a problem or solution but forgot to add the 'warning', and had a mod edit the post subject. Fair enough, you own the site, and make the rules. But why is this such a big deal?

My images were <10kb, and hosted on my own server, so should have virtually no impact on the typical user. Images can add a tremendous benefit to the post (in my case, the discussion was about the color of the battery icon in the tray, hard to describe, easy to show in an image).

Anyway - I'll always try to honor the 'warning', I just wondered what the root cause of this is - especially in this day and age when most people (I presume!!) have broadband.

Personally, I wish people would get rid of their signatures which list their machine specs, since it causes many false hits on searches. A link to a person's profile should be enough to satisfy the need to know what kit someone has! They also make posts longer, requiring more scrolling ...

Anyway, great forum, and since you host it you get the make the rules!

[rkawakami]

Root cause: some people still browse this site using cellphones, PDAs or (gasp!) dial-up. Yes, I would think that most people have access to this site via broadband but not everyone has that luxury. Putting the fact that you have included an image in your subject line gives warning to the viewer that it might cost them additional time (or money) when clicking on the thread.

My own personal limit is around 10KB before I mod a subject line. Certainly an image which exceeds 50KB will get a change to a link; other mods/admins can (and have) broken the image tag. And if there are multiple images adding up to more than 50KB, then it gets the same treatment (mod to links).

[carbon_unit]

While most here do have broadband at home and work. The fact they are Thinkpad users indicates that they are mobile computer users and may not always be in range of broadband access. Living in a rural area I know that 2 miles from here there is only dial-up access.

[BillMorrow]

also, when the image is removed from the host server, it leaves an incomplete and possibly confusing post..

IMO images within posts are tolerated as a necessary evil..

[Steerpike]

also, when the image is removed from the host server, it leaves an incomplete and possibly confusing post..

IMO images within posts are tolerated as a necessary evil..

Nothing worse that a post that has an image, then the image disappears - especially if the image was the 'only' way to get the info. I always try to put in words what an image is conveying, and ... I try to put all my linked images on a well-defined place on my web server - one that will survive changing hosts, etc. That may be a better warning - tell people that if they post an image, they darned well better commit to keeping the image there for the next 5 years! I've setup a folder .../linked/... where I put al my linked images, used for numerous forums, and so far, I've never broken one.

Good point!