21-09-2001 04:11									#1
	The Right to an Avatar Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

When the new forum features came around I was very excited; especially having an avatar. The requirements were 500 or more posts and/or being a member of Apolyton for over one year. So I chose an avatar and roatated and then left my current one there for a while. Then the WTC bombing happened. I was 90 blocks away at the time I feel really moved by what happened. SO I decided to change my of my personal preferences to reflect this. One I wanted to implement was change my avatar to an American flag. But when I go to change it it says you need 500 posts NOTHING about one year membership. This really bothers as it probably does to others. So to the administrators (MArkG and DanQ) please set it back to one year membership or if not that than two year membership. Why should faithful members be penalized just because they don't post nearly as much as other people?

	21-09-2001 06:34									#2
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

Hear, hear!

Forgive my ignorance, but why and when did the rules covering custom avatars change?

	21-09-2001 07:01									#3
	Increase Your PM Length

So does this mean that even though I currently have a custom avatar, I can't change it to a different custom avatar? I've been here since 1969 for crying out loud!

	21-09-2001 09:42									#4
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

The hack for doing this dissapered when Mark upgraded to 2.0.3
He can rewrite it anyway. He've made it once

	21-09-2001 12:59									#5
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

Agreed! We lurkers want our custom avatars back!

	21-09-2001 14:37									#6
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

So to the administrators (MArkG and DanQ) please set it back to one year membership or if not that than two year membership

You know you could just ask them to raise your post count to 500.

	21-09-2001 15:00									#7
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

quote: Originally posted by Big Crunch So to the administrators (MArkG and DanQ) please set it back to one year membership or if not that than two year membership You know you could just ask them to raise your post count to 500.

Or they could give you an avatar that you can't change

	21-09-2001 18:22									#8
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

I think my way is better.

	21-09-2001 19:42									#9
	Get a bigger avatar today!

I agree. Loyalty beats spammers. (does this give me one point towards a custom avatar?)

	21-09-2001 19:46									#10
	Put an end to popups!

quote: Originally posted by Big Crunch I think my way is better.

Anyway, the best way would to reimplement that hack, it used some code from the title system I think.

	21-09-2001 19:59									#11
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

Or just spam this thread long enough to get 500 posts .

	21-09-2001 20:07									#12
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

spam

	21-09-2001 21:08									#13
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

Looking at the direction where this thread is going, I wouldn't be surprised to see it get closed...

	21-09-2001 21:08									#14
	Lesson #12: How to spam with subtlety Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

So much for subtlety.

The most subtle way to spam is to use three or four lines so that it appears that you are saying something important and valid. As most people fail to read all posts thoroughly, and that includes mods, they will not notice the well-hidden spam.

A one liner saying "spam" just screams out to the mods that you are a spammer.

It also helps if you say something vaguely on topic....

	21-09-2001 22:48									#15
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

I have to say Big Crunch that your post was the epitomie of good sense.

More seriously, I have been around months and will probably never get anywhere near 500 posts but I have a funny name and a great avatar waiting to be used so go on mods do the decent thing! Here is my avatar if you are feeling kind

Attachment: gasmaske_avatar.gif
This has been downloaded 269 time(s).

	21-09-2001 23:13									#16
	Well, the time has come..... Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

MarkG, DanQ- what is your answer and decision?

	23-09-2001 07:43									#17
	Re: Well, the time has come..... Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

quote: Originally posted by The ANZAC MarkG, DanQ- what is your answer and decision?

they haven't added stefu's smilies yet either

i really wanted to use the some of those smilies.

(does the quote count as part of those four lines?)

	23-09-2001 08:08									#18
	Lesson #12a: How to spam with subtlety Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

quote: Originally posted by Big Crunch So much for subtlety. The most subtle way to spam is to use three or four lines so that it appears that you are saying something important and valid. As most people fail to read all posts thoroughly, and that includes mods, they will not notice the well-hidden spam. A one liner saying "spam" just screams out to the mods that you are a spammer. It also helps if you say something vaguely on topic....

A lesson by practical example?

Humour also keeps the mods from detecting spam, even weak humour.

	23-09-2001 10:13									#19
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

Humour depends on the Mods having a sense of Humour in the first place. How anyomje can accuse AH of being a troll when he is so funny.......

	23-09-2001 12:21									#20
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

So people want custom avatars, eh? Too bad. Maybe the rules have just changed on you.

On the other hand, maybe Markos has just been busy - with what, I don't know. He hasn't even uploaded some "fixed" smilies yet.

	23-09-2001 14:51									#21
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

Power to the newbies!

	23-09-2001 16:55									#22
	Lesson #12c: How to spam with subtlety Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

quote: Originally posted by KrazyHorse A lesson by practical example?

How can you say such a thing.

Now this is definitely on-topic thank you very muh....

The next method is to regularly change avatar. If you have a new avatar then it psychologically appears as a different poster.

Appearing as different poster => prior spamming more easily forgotten.

Lesson #12d will cover changing username.

	23-09-2001 17:43									#23
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

I agree... oh wait... I´m just over 500 now!

*changes avatar*

Don´t listen to these ****ers, MarkG!

	23-09-2001 18:09									#24
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

quote: Originally posted by red_jon Power to the newbies!

i second that!

	23-09-2001 20:51									#25
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

Power to the veterans who haven't posted very much!

	23-09-2001 22:15									#26
	Remove this text

You have no right to a custom avatar!

Now bow before your king, peasent!

+1

	24-09-2001 01:08									#27
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

quote: Originally posted by Mercator I agree... oh wait... I´m just over 500 now! *changes avatar* Don´t listen to these ****ers, MarkG!

	24-09-2001 01:27									#28
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

quote: Originally posted by red_jon Power to the newbies!

quote: Originally posted by Kyller Power to the veterans who haven't posted very much!

Powaahh to everybody!!!

It's more fair when everyone has the chance to have his/her own avatar...and now that OT-posts don't count...it's going to be harder for them to get to the 500 mark...

(+1 and testing new avatar )

	24-09-2001 01:33									#29
	Pre-empt: lesson 12d Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

Spam is not spam if includes a personal anecdote about family or friends, or an inspirational message of some kind.

This reminds me of the time my brother got hit in the face with a baseball bat. It was a very trying experience for our family, but we pulled together and got through it. I hope all of you can learn something from my experience.

It helps if the experience actually happened, as this avoids the inconvenient "you've contradicted yourself" accusation.

	24-09-2001 02:25									#30
	Remove this text

ONTOPIC: Well, some people here actually want to get a custom avatar, so I'll shout out again "MarkG and DanQ: change it back to one year membership!!!!"