User Avatars (Clear those caches!)

[Ottoman]

This board's recent migration to a new server has brought an interesting tidbit to light. Skimming through the top few topics, it seems that more than half of the members who posted are missing their avatars.

Why did this happen, you ask? When the board was moved, the avatars that had been uploaded to and stored on the old server were left behind, or got reset. Now, when displaying posts by certain members, the poor board is trying to load resources that no longer exist. Hence, the broken-image box that says 'user avatar'.

This is easily fixed by re-uploading your avatar, of course. But what would have been even easier is never running into this problem in the first place. Which brings me to a point that's bothered me for a while: for those of you who choose the 'upload' option for your avatars, why?

From what I can tell, linking off-site has no disadvantages. It does, though, have the major advantage of not having any caps on file size or quality, so you don't have to compress the shit out of your avvy and end up with horrible artefacts. As far as loading times, there's no noticeable delay in loading just a 100x100 image.

The only possible downside I could see if you exceeded your hosting service's bandwidth; however, for images this small, on a board with so few members, it seems unlikely that this would ever be a problem. Not to mention, if you have a Google account, I don't think Picasa limits your bandwidth at all (or at least not nearly as much as Photobucket and the like).

Have I missed anything? What motivated your guys' decisions to use uploading over linking?

(EDIT: Apparently the move hasn't actually happened yet, the downtime last night was just preparations. My bad.)

[OMGItsSarah]

This made me realize that I haven't updated my avatar in a while, so I did that.

Oh, Tim Curry...-drool-

[WBAGNR]

I tried linking offsite, but it told me the image couldn't be more than 6kb so I didn't bother

EDIT: Successfully changed

[TheRocket]

This made me realize that I haven't updated my avatar in a while, so I did that.

And I absolutely love you for it.

[Evil Jim]

That's weird. I've linked to a placeholder until I decide which one I want to use later.

[AmazingPjotrMan]

Oh noes!

[Elomin Sha]

The forum likes our avatars, and us as people more than you lot.

[madrak_the_red]

Well, mine survived to continue to spread fear

[8bitmaster]

I should change my avatar... I haven't found anything good to make a new avatar out of in a while though. Maybe I'll just start using sc2 avatars idk..

[Evil Jim]

For ideas, you might try C64 Yourself. You just drag & drop any image into the window & it converts it into a C64 style graphic.

[AlexanderDitto]

I don't really know why. I've changed mine to link offsite now. It's... it's also cropped slightly differently.

Clearly I need more pictures of myself with the LRR crew so I can change my avatar more often.

[The Jester]

I keep thinking the same thing...

[Gap Filler]

The joys of having an offsite avatar. Gotta wonder how many gif avatars King Kool lost in the shuffle (assuming they were onsite).

Sod's law dictates I should probably change my avatar at some point.

[semysane]

Well, mine survived to continue to spread fear

*High-five*

[EnglishMQ]

Well that's the excuse I needed to change Avatar, now if only I could change my user name.

[Gap Filler]

I dunno, EnglishMQ sounds recognisable yet enigmatic in just the right way.

[Geoff_B]

Well that's the excuse I needed to change Avatar, now if only I could change my user name.

I asked that very same question and was advised to PM Paul. I now offer you the very same advice.

[Vanguard]

I think mine is linked to a file on the LRR wiki, so I believe I made it through the transition just fine.

EDIT: Eh, it's still there, regardless of how I put it up, so yay for that.

[semysane]

Hahahaha, no.

[GreigKM]

My avatars are always transparent, so linking off site is just what I do.
So I'm good.

[Ottoman]

Ah, some of you may think your avvy is still there even though it isn't. Vanguard. Clearing your cache should fix that, I think?

[Keab42]

I had to go and check because I honestly couldn't remember whether I uploaded mine or used an offsite link. Gordon lives!

[theDreamer]

Nope, I don't see yours keab.

Is mine up?

[Master Gunner]

Yours is up.

[Drinnik]

Mine didn't survive. I need a new one, I was getting bored of Evil the Cat anyway.