pictures in profiles

November 2, 2007 2:08 PM

Uploading a picture to your profile? UPLOADING A PICTURE TO YOUR PROFILE!

Did I miss this, or is this a Brand New Thing? Thanks!

posted by yhbc to MetaFilter-related at 2:08 PM (229 comments total)

Brand new thing. We're also pushing this out today.

Try out the image upload/crop stuff. It's pretty cool

(and quonsar, for the love of god, please keep it clean)
posted by mathowie at 2:12 PM on November 2, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

I totally just MetaTalked this myself.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 2:15 PM on November 2, 2007

My remark was that I'm NOT gonna lead the motley conga line into Mordor and whatnot. Thanks, yhbc.

Wow, Matt. Give yourself a raise!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 2:17 PM on November 2, 2007

I totally just MetaTalked this myself.

As did I.

I'm not sure how I feel about it. On the one hand, it could be cool. On the other hand, it could make things a little... myspace-y.

Someone please convince me that this is awesome. kthxbai.
posted by dersins at 2:18 PM on November 2, 2007

This is going to ruin everything.
posted by felix betachat at 2:18 PM on November 2, 2007

Done.
posted by ColdChef at 2:18 PM on November 2, 2007

I like how the place holder figure is a total hurfdurfer.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 2:20 PM on November 2, 2007

Actually I like the default silhouette. It looks a bit like Cartman. I'm gonna keep it.
posted by WolfDaddy at 2:20 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Nice choice, Chef. For now, mine is the fantasy football team logo (the Gotham City Dark Knights). Only picture I had available at the office.
posted by yhbc at 2:21 PM on November 2, 2007

Awesome.

But Matt and pb: I assume profile pictures are visible only to logged-in members. If this is so, you need to either obscure the URL of the image file in some way, as at the moment they are entirely guessable, or perform some kind of authentication prior to serving the file.
posted by Aloysius Bear at 2:21 PM on November 2, 2007

*takes picture of scrotum*

This is just like XBox Live!
posted by eyeballkid at 2:22 PM on November 2, 2007 [4 favorites has favorites]

The placeholder thing is stupid. Could you just not display anything if there's no picture uploaded? Don't make me upload a transparent image or something.
posted by Wolfdog at 2:23 PM on November 2, 2007

YOU WILL NEVER BEAT ME MATT
NEVER
WHY DO YOU CONTINUE TO TRY???
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:23 PM on November 2, 2007 [8 favorites has favorites]

Extra points if you wear your MeFi funky blue Tshirt in your profile pic!
posted by fijiwriter at 2:23 PM on November 2, 2007

Now to upload extra pictures to my flickr account so I don't have the same picture 5 times on my profile page.

Although, the world could use a lil more me...
posted by robocop is bleeding at 2:25 PM on November 2, 2007

My Nuts Are My Life.
posted by Divine_Wino at 2:26 PM on November 2, 2007

I was just thinking that now quonsar gets to put his pissing elephant back on his profile.
posted by shmegegge at 2:27 PM on November 2, 2007

Okay fine. I held out valiantly for 30 minutes.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 2:30 PM on November 2, 2007

Oh heck yes.
posted by cortex at 2:30 PM on November 2, 2007

Note:
The Twitter profile already displays a picture of the user. You want to see more pictures of me, ala the new profile page photo? Note a big thing, just seems kinda odd to me.

(and quonsar, for the love of god, please keep it clean)

I'm sure he'll wash it before he takes a picture of it.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:30 PM on November 2, 2007

I think the move of the "Add as a Contact" link to next to the MeMail link looks nice.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:31 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

No.
posted by kkokkodalk at 2:32 PM on November 2, 2007

It's not possible to resize a cropped image area down to 140x140px when the box is bigger than that?
posted by brownpau at 2:32 PM on November 2, 2007

I was about to mention the profile pic. Very cool.

One issue, though (sorry)...Clicking on anything in my profile page (as well as everything in the Edit Profile section) launches a new window. Adding my profile photo resulted in something like 4 new windows open.

Safari, if that makes a difference.

Great additions to the place, though. This joint keeps getting better and better.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:32 PM on November 2, 2007

Wow. I especially appreciate the automatic de-aging filter.
posted by maudlin at 2:35 PM on November 2, 2007

Whatever manipulations are done as part of the crop process (which is apparently even done when the image is 140x140), it removes transparency and replaces it with white.
posted by Godbert at 2:36 PM on November 2, 2007

I'm not sure how I feel about it. On the one hand, it could be cool. On the other hand, it could make things a little... myspace-y.

I wasn't aware that MySpace was the first website to allow a picture in your profile. I guess you learn something everyday!
posted by eyeballkid at 2:36 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

brownpau, the box defaults to a 140x140px max size
posted by mathowie at 2:37 PM on November 2, 2007

Mmmm, wonderbread.
posted by cashman at 2:38 PM on November 2, 2007

I assume profile pictures are visible only to logged-in members.

That's a weird assumption. I've uploaded a profile photo to three dozen services at least and have yet to find one that allows for private photos. If you don't want your image public, don't upload.
posted by mathowie at 2:38 PM on November 2, 2007

So should we remove the dumb default icon? It encourages you to replace it with something better, but for people that will never upload an image, I could see it being kind of annoying.
posted by mathowie at 2:39 PM on November 2, 2007

I'm not sure how I feel about it. On the one hand, it could be cool. On the other hand, it could make things a little... myspace-y.

BIG BOOBED WHORE would like to be your contact!

new mefi.mail from OMGYOUNEEDMOREVIAGRA!!

new blog post from LOSERWHOYOUTRYTOPRETENDYOUDONTKNOWBUTYOUCANTBECAUSEYOURMOMSAREFRIENDS

new bulletin from RONPAULSUPPORTER

new bulletin from PLEASEPOSTCOMMENTSONMYPICTURESBECAUSEICANNOTDATEAND99%OFALLANNONASKMESAREME

new comment on your page: LOL DONGS
-------------------------------------------------------------------
man. i can't wait.
posted by Stynxno at 2:40 PM on November 2, 2007 [4 favorites has favorites]

I wasn't aware that MySpace was the first website to allow a picture in your profile.

You're more entertaining when you just talk about how you hate everybody.

Fyi.
posted by dersins at 2:40 PM on November 2, 2007

Yeah, it's kind of annoying.
posted by maudlin at 2:40 PM on November 2, 2007

I'm scared.
posted by liquorice at 2:40 PM on November 2, 2007

So should we remove the dumb default icon?
Yes.
It encourages you to replace it with something better
...or to whine about it...
for people that will never upload an image, I could see it being kind of annoying.
It's annoying now even if I might upload an image at some point in the future.
posted by Wolfdog at 2:41 PM on November 2, 2007

So should we remove the dumb default icon? It encourages you to replace it with something better, but for people that will never upload an image, I could see it being kind of annoying.

OH NOES, MATHOWEY BE STEALIN MY WONDERBREAD :(
posted by cashman at 2:41 PM on November 2, 2007

(The default icon is annoying, that is. I'm sure there is a complete universe of annoying things out there, but being specific is probably a good thing.)
posted by maudlin at 2:41 PM on November 2, 2007

Ok, I'm in!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:41 PM on November 2, 2007

Is the concern with the default icon that it'll annoy the user who hasn't uploaded a pic, or that it'll look dumb when anyone else looks at said user's profile?

Because if it's mostly the latter case, we could hide the default from everybody but the user themself.
posted by cortex at 2:42 PM on November 2, 2007

excellent!

now we can all go trawling the web for shots of models, who don't resemble us in the slightest!
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:42 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Hooray!
posted by interrobang at 2:42 PM on November 2, 2007

Cool.
posted by NoMich at 2:43 PM on November 2, 2007

The nice thing about the default icon is that it already looks somewhat like eyeballkid's scrotum.
posted by Partial Law at 2:43 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

*clicks profile*

Oh! Oh DEAR GOD. That...THAT'S how they look like? And to think I had a MeFi crush on them all these years. Christ on a crutch. I'm disgusted. I think I threw up a little in my mouth. Oh god.
posted by liquorice at 2:44 PM on November 2, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

don't use javascript to validate user input without checking on the server side as well. :(
posted by boo_radley at 2:44 PM on November 2, 2007

at last we will reveal ourselves to the mefi
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:45 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

I tried uploading a picture, realised it was too big to fit in the cropping box, so I went back and selected a different image and now when I click the Upload Picture button it spends a couple of minutes thinking and then spits out:

500

ROOT CAUSE:
coldfusion.runtime.RequestTimedOutException: The request has exceeded the allowable time limit Tag: cfoutput
at coldfusion.tagext.io.OutputTag.doStartTag(OutputTag.java:149)
at cfheader2ecfm843133822.runPage(C:\metafilter sites\www.metafilter.com\header.cfm:6)
at coldfusion.runtime.CfJspPage.invoke(CfJspPage.java:192)
...followed by another 60-odd lines of similar stuff.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:45 PM on November 2, 2007

So should we remove the dumb default icon?

please replace it with the fallout guy.
posted by shmegegge at 2:45 PM on November 2, 2007

Nah, I like this one better.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:46 PM on November 2, 2007

cortex: I swear to God, I can never see that donut picture often enough.
posted by typewriter at 2:46 PM on November 2, 2007

also that is one hell of a donut cortex
posted by boo_radley at 2:47 PM on November 2, 2007

Is the concern with the default icon that it'll annoy the user who hasn't uploaded a pic, or that it'll look dumb when anyone else looks at said user's profile?

I find the default icon annoying on my own page, so I'd like it removed from there, too, please.
posted by occhiblu at 2:48 PM on November 2, 2007

that is one hell of a donut cortex

That's what all the laddies say.
posted by dersins at 2:49 PM on November 2, 2007

Oo, could we ditch the white stroke around the picture, please,please, please?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:49 PM on November 2, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

oh, oh. the default picture should be matt with his glasses askance and making The Face.

but honestly do not google for "mathowie glasses askance" unless you want to see hairy bobbin man-ass.
posted by boo_radley at 2:49 PM on November 2, 2007

Does this mean that I'm allowed to post AskMe questions about whether I'm Hot or Not?
posted by Parasite Unseen at 2:49 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

That's a weird assumption. I've uploaded a profile photo to three dozen services at least and have yet to find one that allows for private photos. If you don't want your image public, don't upload.

Heh, Flickr certainly allows "private" photos.

Heh. Heh.

Speaking of which, what are you going to do about NSFW pictures? I mean I guess most people wouldn't want to risk their $5 membership, so it probably won't be too big of a deal. But remember the Metafilter Myspace profile?
posted by delmoi at 2:49 PM on November 2, 2007

"kind of annoying" +1
posted by Reggie Digest at 2:49 PM on November 2, 2007

How about a MetaFilter facebook app?
posted by carsonb at 2:50 PM on November 2, 2007

Oh, it appears to be working again now.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:51 PM on November 2, 2007

boo_radley has a cool looking profile now.
posted by liquorice at 2:51 PM on November 2, 2007

What makes you think I want to know what you people look like?
posted by ninjew at 2:52 PM on November 2, 2007

...and then he scrolled down, and magical things happened. Odd squiggles bounced light off rods and cones, information sped through his optic nerve, and somewhere in that gray mass symbols connected with memory and meaning, and finally understanding was achieved. I can read!
posted by carsonb at 2:52 PM on November 2, 2007

boo_radley has a cool looking profile now.

Actually, it's sort of what I meant by "myspace-y".
posted by dersins at 2:56 PM on November 2, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

how is that done?
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 2:56 PM on November 2, 2007

done : )
posted by sgt.serenity at 2:57 PM on November 2, 2007

eh, I chose a picture that was well over the listed 140x140 dimensions to see how well the system would handle exceptions. The answer is "not very".
posted by boo_radley at 2:58 PM on November 2, 2007

I thought this is what you meant by "myspace-y".
posted by liquorice at 2:58 PM on November 2, 2007

Ha! Good luck stalking me based on that photo.

(seriously, if any of you wants to stalk me, just lemme know. I'm bored.)
posted by quin at 2:59 PM on November 2, 2007

but honestly do not google for "mathowie glasses askance" unless you want to see hairy bobbin man-ass.

Wow, I thought you were kidding. But no.
posted by puke & cry at 3:00 PM on November 2, 2007

radley, thats huge and looks nothing like you.
posted by sgt.serenity at 3:00 PM on November 2, 2007

This is a bad idea.

Also the sidebar on the front page is spammed by cortex.

Also, doesn't mefi work fine already? Other than the users?
posted by blacklite at 3:01 PM on November 2, 2007

This is... weird.

It's like the end of "Sybil" when all of Sally Field's multiple personalities step out from behind trees and meet her for the first time.

*shatters window, sobs*
posted by hermitosis at 3:01 PM on November 2, 2007

I think it's great! Or it makes me want to eat your faces. I just can't decide.
posted by melissa may at 3:02 PM on November 2, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

blacklite: thanks to mefi, I hardly work at all! Ha!
posted by boo_radley at 3:03 PM on November 2, 2007

Oh, and Matt, why do you have a picture of that Sylar guy in your profile? You know he's gonna be Spock right?
posted by quin at 3:03 PM on November 2, 2007

It's kind of annoying having to find a photo where the bit I want showing is within the 140px square. Can't you just make some sort of auto-resized version like Facebook does?
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:04 PM on November 2, 2007

I love this! And that's just plain adorable, interrobang.
posted by maryh at 3:05 PM on November 2, 2007

Whoa! And look at that crazy-ass sidebar! What is this, freaking Christmas??
posted by maryh at 3:08 PM on November 2, 2007

Heh, Flickr certainly allows "private" photos.

Not as your profile image. It's public.
posted by mathowie at 3:08 PM on November 2, 2007

This will shatter my carefully built perceptions of people based on reading their comments. Its kind of like reading a book and then going to see the movie and having your interpretation of what each character looks like ruined for the rest of the series. Stupid Daniel Radcliff.

Mmmm. However, I feel that it isn't the end of the world, and I have already put up a picture which is nice since I don't use teh flikrs. Also, I think the default is not good looking, and I don't dislike seeing it in profiles where people haven't uploaded pictures. Don't got a reason more specific than "it looks kinda ugly."

Ahhh, sweeeet profile pic, interrobang. I've gotta draw me a cartoon self when I get home.
posted by Mister Cheese at 3:08 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

canz plz
posted by Skot at 3:09 PM on November 2, 2007

wow, cortex really did spam the sidebar.
posted by shmegegge at 3:10 PM on November 2, 2007

Damn, I look fat.
posted by jmd82 at 3:12 PM on November 2, 2007

Hey! Somebody's already stolen my photo & used it on their Facebook profile!

Can't we mark these as copyright, or something?
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:12 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

This is exactly the sort of feature that might drive me away (not that I've been active for too long, though I've lurked since 9/11, and not that too many people would care). I want this place to be, as much as possible, text only. I've swallowed it until now, but I did not like the flickr (etc) profile links, I do not like the mail feature (almost everyone lets the quality of their writing slide in private messages), and I especially, especially do not like profile pictures. I want this place to discriminate. I want it to scare away people who can't read and write. Adding these social networking features lowers the bar by broadening the appeal--there's now something here for you, even if you're functionally illiterate. "Most of the rest of the internet already is for you, thanks", it used to be. "Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out", it used to be.

I think that the day is coming when users routinely end sentences with 'lol' unironically, and no one bothers to correct grammar or spelling mistakes in their comments with a subsequent comment, because there will be so many of them. I think the day is coming when the shit drowns out the content. I'll be gone by then for sure; and I'll be really sad.
posted by Kwine at 3:12 PM on November 2, 2007 [10 favorites has favorites]

Also the sidebar on the front page is spammed by cortex.

You know, I've thought off and on that I don't use the contacts feature enough. And a couple weeks back, I started to do some adding, but then got distracted.

So this hullabuloo today made me realize I should really get on it, and contact a bunch of people who I've met or whose stuff I like or whatever.

And it was only about twenty goddam contacts in that I realized there was that fishbowl on the sidebar showing my every move. Heh.
posted by cortex at 3:12 PM on November 2, 2007

In the side bar it says: "MeTaTalk" shouldn't that first 'T' be a small t or, if not, shouldn't there be no 'talk'?
posted by liquorice at 3:13 PM on November 2, 2007

Ok, we'll drop the default image. There won't be anything there unless you add a profile image. I thought it was no big deal but can see how it would be annoying.
posted by mathowie at 3:19 PM on November 2, 2007

This is exactly the sort of feature that might drive me away (not that I've been active for too long, though I've lurked since 9/11, and not that too many people would care). I want this place to be, as much as possible, text only.

Your complaints are only relative to user profiles. The main pages have been left relatively fugly-free.

and no one bothers to correct grammar or spelling mistakes in their comments with a subsequent comment, because there will be so many of them.

Eh, fret not friend. People like to bitch & moan and call out people for that stuff. Between out grammar nazis and the overlords, I wouldn't worry too much.

And thanks for proving my point, liqourice!
posted by jmd82 at 3:22 PM on November 2, 2007

I think you mean our not out.
posted by liquorice at 3:24 PM on November 2, 2007

Damn, Ubu is HOT!
posted by vronsky at 3:24 PM on November 2, 2007

What Kwine said.

This is also what I meant by "myspace-y."
posted by dersins at 3:25 PM on November 2, 2007

Cool. Like. Thanks.
posted by rtha at 3:28 PM on November 2, 2007

thanks for drawing attention to me, vronsky. now i've gotta go change my pic to something more anonymous.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:28 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Ok, so who's got the Greasemonkey script that displays the user profile pictures next to their comments?
posted by blue_beetle at 3:28 PM on November 2, 2007

MetaFilter: Lowering the bar broadens the appeal.
posted by ColdChef at 3:29 PM on November 2, 2007

Do you know who else is hot? Me. I'm like the adonis of the modern world. Mmmm, yeah.
posted by liquorice at 3:29 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Welcome to the social, motherfucker.
posted by signal at 3:32 PM on November 2, 2007

I wish I could put up the largest version of my photo, where my ginger nose hair is clearly visible. Ah well.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 3:34 PM on November 2, 2007

Drat. I'm too late.
posted by hydrophonic at 3:34 PM on November 2, 2007

I think this will lead to much humor. It's kinda like Jessamyn was saying way back in one of the podcasts, about working in constraints forces people to be creative, I would not be surprised if the vast majority of Mefites won't use this to display a picture of themselves, so much as an opportunity to post something weird and amusing.

I like the idea of seeing what people look like, I'm equally amused by crude sketches of cats coughing up hairballs.

It's a tiny, free form box where you can let your strangeness out.
posted by quin at 3:34 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Behold my hawtness.
posted by brain_drain at 3:36 PM on November 2, 2007

hydrophonic wins.
posted by ColdChef at 3:36 PM on November 2, 2007

Getting 500 page on upload. Cold Fusion times out. Why does it hate me?
posted by Toekneesan at 3:37 PM on November 2, 2007

I think Kwine has some good points, but Metafilter just isn't a full on social networking thing. Logging into metafilter.com takes you to the front page, not your own profile. You've got to hunt down profiles to find user information. There isn't a public wall like thing where you you can read messages to you from other users. I feel that this is a lot different from internal e-mail.

The level of discourse will only degrade if the atmosphere of grammar monitoring and content snarking lets up. So don't leave, Kwine, or you'll contribute to the bar lowering.

Also, I left out the apostrophe in "it's" in my last comment in this thread and I wanted everyone to know that I'm not a complete idiot and caught it. Just now. Also, "teh flikrs" was intentional. Perhaps I hearken the bar lowering.
posted by Mister Cheese at 3:37 PM on November 2, 2007

I like how there's a good split in here between real pictures and funny pictures. Maybe one day I will go for the funny pictures, Wbut today I have real picture with vignette crop. It's a variation on the fat girl angle shot.
posted by sugarfish at 3:38 PM on November 2, 2007

done (circa '73) ; >
posted by amberglow at 3:45 PM on November 2, 2007

brain_drain: i never knew you were so well plumbed!
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:46 PM on November 2, 2007

Still getting a 500 page when trying to upload. It's because I'm fat, isn't it?
posted by Toekneesan at 3:47 PM on November 2, 2007

Being mentioned as added by someone in the sidebar is an awful lot like being "Cool New People." My new contacts are multiplying.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 3:47 PM on November 2, 2007

and since when was the adonis of the modern world a girl? of apparently indian origin?
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:47 PM on November 2, 2007

Thanks for removing the default icon!
posted by occhiblu at 3:48 PM on November 2, 2007

I'm not going anywhere yet, Mister Cheese. Except right now, when I'm going to go have beer and pizza and watch basketball. Have a nice Friday, everyone! Or have a nice Saturday, people across oceans! Which isn't to suggest that people not across oceans shouldn't have a nice Saturday or anything. In any case, to the evening!
posted by Kwine at 3:49 PM on November 2, 2007

and since when was the adonis of the modern world a girl? of apparently indian origin?

Well, I originally had up a photo of the Real Adonis(tm) but in fear that I would be inundated with love letters, put a picture up of myself to put a stop to that.
posted by liquorice at 3:51 PM on November 2, 2007

yes, i can sympathise, liquorice. believe me, i know exactly how it feels.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:57 PM on November 2, 2007

That pic doesn't do you justice Princess Jasmine. You should change it to the "ethnic much" pic on your flikr.

*not stalking you*

(but will if you ask nicely;)
posted by vronsky at 3:59 PM on November 2, 2007

I'm trying to upload but get a page of this -

500

ROOT CAUSE:
coldfusion.runtime.RequestTimedOutException: The request has exceeded the allowable time limit Tag: cfoutput
at coldfusion.tagext.io.OutputTag.doStartTag(OutputTag.java:149)
posted by vronsky at 4:07 PM on November 2, 2007

I'm equally amused by crude sketches of cats coughing up hairballs.

Crude sketches? CRUDE? I'll have you know people have paid dozens of dollars for t-shirts bearing that very same masterwork of design you so casually dismiss as a "crude sketch."

You, sir, are a cretin and a philistine, and a discredit to the fine people of Wisconsin.
posted by dersins at 4:08 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

I'm just wondering who the first person to post boobs in their picture is.

I'm betting it is m_c_d.

And that is why I love that guy.
posted by dios at 4:10 PM on November 2, 2007

I think posting anything for the sole purpose of grossing people out (see: goatse) should be an action worthy of the banhammer.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:14 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

I don't think boobs counts as "grossing people out." In fact, a picture of some nice cans would probably be the opposite.

But if we are betting on who puts goatse in the picture first, I'm going with that wildman derek.
posted by dios at 4:17 PM on November 2, 2007

I want this place to be, as much as possible, text only. I've swallowed it until now, but I did not like the flickr (etc) profile links, I do not like the mail feature (almost everyone lets the quality of their writing slide in private messages), and I especially, especially do not like profile pictures. I want this place to discriminate. I want it to scare away people who can't read and write. Adding these social networking features lowers the bar by broadening the appeal--there's now something here for you, even if you're functionally illiterate. "Most of the rest of the internet already is for you, thanks", it used to be. "Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out", it used to be.

One the one hand, I'm a huge fan of the "wall of text" minimalism, and I think it does bolster the quality you find at MeFi. On the other hand, I have never participated in a forum very long without eventually "networking," as they call it now, forming friendships. You don't see much on the surface, but I would bet a hefty sum that many members are IMming each other, calling each other, etc., while they surf. It happens. So the cycle goes: get interested, join site, form bonds, move to email, move to IM, phone, meetup. You might notice that in this scheme people are moving away from the site, toward general socialization. It happens; most people on the Internets are human.

I think the members-only bells and whistles are a great compromise. But I admit that the "contact activity" above the sidebar creeps me out a little bit. Not that I don't love my contacts. I'd be happy if I could disable that.
posted by zennie at 4:21 PM on November 2, 2007

(see: goatse)

huh? what's -

OMFG! Gross! Thanks a bunch, TPS. I feel sick.

Flagged.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:22 PM on November 2, 2007

Well... I would post one if I had a funny reddit image, ironic play-on-my-name pic, or a photo of me taking a nap with a giant tortilla, but alas, my pictures aren't cool enough for Metafilter.
posted by Ugh at 4:31 PM on November 2, 2007

Just put up a funny picture of a cat. Everyone loves those.
posted by puke & cry at 4:35 PM on November 2, 2007

* runs to glamorshots *
posted by croutonsupafreak at 4:38 PM on November 2, 2007

Is the close your account thing new too?
posted by Mitheral at 4:44 PM on November 2, 2007

"I'm just wondering who the first person to post boobs in their picture is.

I'm betting it is m_c_d."

dios, I tried to upload an animated .gif of a chick flashing her (enormous) boobs, but apparently everything's converted to .JPG on upload? And frankly, ginormous boobs aren't nearly as much fun in a static image as they are in animated bouncing glory.

Sorry.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 4:44 PM on November 2, 2007

Is the close your account thing new too?

Pretty new, yeah. Last couple weeks or so. We get requests from people every once in a while to just close their account down; now it's there as as self-service thing.
posted by cortex at 4:47 PM on November 2, 2007

crash, you could just spend the whole day uploading individual frames, and folks could refresh your profile page once a minute.
posted by cortex at 4:47 PM on November 2, 2007

Is there a "are you sure" step and is it reversible?
posted by Mitheral at 4:49 PM on November 2, 2007

It would be nice to have a auto-resizing feature, such that we could make the square be as big as we like, and then whatever is in it gets shrinked down to 140x140.
posted by Rock Steady at 4:52 PM on November 2, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

Oh, and thanks, Matt.
posted by Rock Steady at 4:52 PM on November 2, 2007

Mitheral, if you have a profile picture you'll see the option to remove the photo when you click "Change Picture" in your profile.
posted by pb at 4:53 PM on November 2, 2007

now it's there as as self-service thing

Woah, that's way too much like a "Do not touch; Apocalypse button" for my tastes.

I wanna click the link...

*resists*
posted by quin at 4:55 PM on November 2, 2007

Nice! I went with the boring for testing, but I like the idea of being able to post MeFi art projects in there. That will be cool to watch...
posted by DarlingBri at 4:56 PM on November 2, 2007

pb, I think Mitheral may have been referring to the "close your account" link.

(For that, I hope there is more than one "are you sure" step. Yeah, I'm that clumsy.)
posted by zennie at 4:56 PM on November 2, 2007

pb is a giant white block, just like I always guessed!
posted by quin at 4:56 PM on November 2, 2007

There is an "Are you sure" step on the close account thing.
posted by mathowie at 4:58 PM on November 2, 2007

"crash, you could just spend the whole day uploading individual frames, and folks could refresh your profile page once a minute."

Are you saying they don't do that already?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:04 PM on November 2, 2007

i can see it now.. "hottest snarker, december 07"
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 5:15 PM on November 2, 2007

This is the best ever!
posted by aubilenon at 5:20 PM on November 2, 2007

I can't get it to work:( You'll just have to imagine a darkly handsome, aristocratic man, with an eye-patch and a deep scar down one side of his face who looks like he has a mysterious past.
posted by vronsky at 5:21 PM on November 2, 2007

Just put up a funny picture of a cat. Everyone loves those.

Funny pictures of dogs are also acceptable, particularly if they're in costume.
posted by cmonkey at 5:21 PM on November 2, 2007

I'm just saying it would finally pay off, crash.
posted by cortex at 5:22 PM on November 2, 2007

I tried to upload an animated .gif of a chick flashing her (enormous) boobs, but apparently everything's converted to .JPG on upload?

The same thing happened to my hypnotoad. Poor hypnotoad. Who will do his bidding now?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 5:26 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

So I take a nap for a couple of hours and you fucking fucks decide that the little default cartman silhouette is "annoying" and "doesn't inspire" you to ever put up a profile picture and bitch about in such numbers that m'howie takes it down?

SCREW YOU GUYS! I'M GOING HOME!

I mean, I'm seriously here: can you put it back long enough for me to grab a screenshot of it and upload it as my profile picture? No?

SCREW YOU GUYS! HOME! I hate you guys. Especially you, Kenny.
posted by WolfDaddy at 5:36 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

So, yeah...about that white stroke around the picture, can we ditch it or make it optional?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:37 PM on November 2, 2007

OK, I tried uploading this and got:

Couldn't upload your file. Please go back and make sure the file you're uploading is a JPG, GIF, or PNG. If you're sure it's the right file type and you're still getting this error, please contact the admins and describe your problem.

Yeah, it's a friggin' JPG. So why won't it upload?

I CAN HAS EZRA POUND PIKCHUR PLZ?
posted by languagehat at 5:40 PM on November 2, 2007

I'm very tempted to upload that picture of my ass with a 'kiss this' caption.

But I won't because I am pure of heart.
posted by jonmc at 5:43 PM on November 2, 2007

Eh WolfDaddy, this picture is still there.
http://images.metafilter.com/mefi/userphoto.png
posted by puke & cry at 5:46 PM on November 2, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

languagehat, did you save it and then upload it from your computer? I don't you can just put in the URL of a picture on the web, it needs to be saved somewhere locally.
posted by Aloysius Bear at 5:48 PM on November 2, 2007

Thank you puke & cry.
posted by WolfDaddy at 5:48 PM on November 2, 2007

the picture
posted by puke & cry at 5:48 PM on November 2, 2007

...except when I re-upload it, it shows up as a gray rectangle.
posted by WolfDaddy at 5:51 PM on November 2, 2007

While there's profile changing going on, how about making IM services work like the social apps thing, where you select from a drop-down and then put in your name?
posted by Pope Guilty at 5:52 PM on November 2, 2007

Couldn't upload your file. Please go back and make sure the file you're uploading is a JPG, GIF, or PNG. If you're sure it's the right file type and you're still getting this error, please contact the admins and describe your problem.

I get the same message. Over and over. In every browser. Grrr.
posted by iconomy at 5:54 PM on November 2, 2007

...except when I re-upload it, it shows up as a gray rectangle.

Conversion to .jpg nukes the transparency, I guess. Consider rendering it as a jpg in your image software of choice, or something.
posted by cortex at 5:59 PM on November 2, 2007

Funny pictures of dogs are also acceptable, particularly if they're in costume.

Done.
posted by chundo at 6:01 PM on November 2, 2007

Ah, apparently when you upload a picture it takes the transparence out and turns it white.
posted by puke & cry at 6:01 PM on November 2, 2007

Or what cortex said.
posted by puke & cry at 6:02 PM on November 2, 2007

Yeah, it's a friggin' JPG. So why won't it upload?

We might be running into the oddball MIME-type problems like we have on Music. Try a different browser and if it works, that's the reason.
posted by mathowie at 6:04 PM on November 2, 2007

Here's that fixed user picture if anyone else doesn't want to mess with it.
posted by puke & cry at 6:15 PM on November 2, 2007

That's the spirit, chundo.
posted by cmonkey at 6:18 PM on November 2, 2007

Ok, I just realized how totally hot you all are. I heart MetaSpace.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 6:25 PM on November 2, 2007

puke & cry: I am offended, sir. There is neither puking nor crying in your profile pic. Please see to this at once. At once!
posted by Justinian at 6:37 PM on November 2, 2007

Funny pictures of dogs are also acceptable, particularly if they're in costume.

Done.

Pfft. Johnny-come-lately...
posted by pupdog at 6:38 PM on November 2, 2007

languagehat, did you save it and then upload it from your computer? I don't you can just put in the URL of a picture on the web, it needs to be saved somewhere locally.

Thanks, it worked! (Except for the stupid cropping necessary.)
posted by languagehat at 6:57 PM on November 2, 2007

puke & cry: I am offended, sir. There is neither puking nor crying in your profile pic. Please see to this at once. At once!

You can borrow mine, p&c.
posted by dersins at 7:18 PM on November 2, 2007

heh
posted by puke & cry at 7:35 PM on November 2, 2007

This is sweeeeeeeeet.
posted by sperose at 8:04 PM on November 2, 2007

It would be nice to have a auto-resizing feature, such that we could make the square be as big as we like, and then whatever is in it gets shrinked down to 140x140.

prepare your image beforehand using photo-editing software. metafilter is not photo-editing software.
posted by quonsar at 8:43 PM on November 2, 2007

exxxxcellent picture, quonsar.

(my new one is me accepting the last-place trophy in my league, on behalf of the team that was, understandably, not there to accept it themselves)
posted by yhbc at 8:45 PM on November 2, 2007

q that is a great pic.
posted by exlotuseater at 8:46 PM on November 2, 2007

well, it's a single frame from this animated .gif.
posted by quonsar at 8:50 PM on November 2, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

such emotion!
posted by exlotuseater at 8:52 PM on November 2, 2007

I move we allow q to put that animated .gif on his profile.
posted by yhbc at 8:53 PM on November 2, 2007

I'M HOT
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:29 PM on November 2, 2007

and gay, apparently.
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:37 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Is that SRK?
posted by liquorice at 9:49 PM on November 2, 2007

I'm kinda logo-y.
posted by sparkletone at 9:55 PM on November 2, 2007

Yay pictures! Now I can finally fulfill my desire to see what everyone looks like. Totally fascinating imo.
posted by MadamM at 10:07 PM on November 2, 2007

I'M HOT

Is that why you took your shirt off, East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94?
posted by dersins at 10:22 PM on November 2, 2007

I SEE YOU. I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW. ALSO, I'M CHAOTIC!
posted by WolfDaddy at 10:32 PM on November 2, 2007

There I was, trying to figure out what picture to upload when I remembered that, oh yeah, it's MetaFilter!
posted by Kattullus at 10:56 PM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

All you're gonna get for now is what looks like a hate crime mugshot. I guess I should see my camera-wielding friends more often.
posted by Anything at 11:33 PM on November 2, 2007

I may or may not be HOT, but I am most definitely overfilled with nitrates, insect legs, and snouts. And I never leave home without a Sack O' Sauce. It completes me.
posted by maryh at 12:14 AM on November 3, 2007

Am I the only one clicking on everyone's name to look at their picture as I read this thread?

On preview: ooh, haven't seen Kattullus or Anything yet!
posted by Locative at 1:04 AM on November 3, 2007

Shiny.
posted by Olli at 4:11 AM on November 3, 2007

So is MeFi joining OpenSocial or what?
posted by Eideteker at 6:09 AM on November 3, 2007

Yes. (Eventually)
posted by jacalata at 7:23 AM on November 3, 2007

I love this metafilter pony!
posted by DarlingBri at 9:13 AM on November 3, 2007

Posting black and white pictures is NOT fashionably retro, it is disappointing.
posted by Cranberry at 11:24 AM on November 3, 2007

who does that?
posted by exlotuseater at 11:46 AM on November 3, 2007

Would you add color to mine if I'd put it up?
posted by Anything at 11:53 AM on November 3, 2007

Love this!
posted by astruc at 12:02 PM on November 3, 2007

Posting black and white pictures is NOT fashionably retro, it is disappointing

What on earth could possibly be disappointing about my picture?
posted by dersins at 12:35 PM on November 3, 2007

On the internet, no one knows that you are a dog.
posted by caddis at 1:06 PM on November 3, 2007

woof!
posted by vronsky at 1:22 PM on November 3, 2007

Everyone knows the monkey, but the monkey knows no one. -- Ancient [Russian/Baltic/Finnish?] proverb
posted by Anything at 2:03 PM on November 3, 2007

JUST POSTED: ACTUAL, REAL LIFE PHOTO OF the inside of MY HEAD.
posted by loquacious at 2:19 PM on November 3, 2007

Would it be too much to ask everyone to upload a handwriting sample?
posted by hermitosis at 3:19 PM on November 3, 2007

Also, I really hope a mod uploads a telltale image to anonymous's profile.
posted by hermitosis at 3:26 PM on November 3, 2007

Boy, this really stresses me out. What picture shall I choose? Do I really want to know what bevets looks like? Gah!
posted by Dantien at 3:48 PM on November 3, 2007

This and contact activity is awesome. I gotta go add some folks now.
posted by lazaruslong at 4:59 PM on November 3, 2007

Would it be too much to ask everyone to upload a handwriting sample?

You wouldn't be able to read it.
posted by caddis at 11:16 PM on November 3, 2007

I love this.
posted by justonegirl at 9:12 AM on November 4, 2007

I like it! Now I can use my profile photo to make the subtle point that if I post a stupid comment, it's only because I was probably drunk at the time.
posted by TochterAusElysium at 10:26 AM on November 4, 2007

I did it. After posting my geeky halloween costume, I had to have something up that proves I don't always dress like that.
posted by FunkyHelix at 12:20 PM on November 4, 2007

i have a snake on my head.
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:33 PM on November 4, 2007

Look I got a haircut.
posted by rmless at 8:49 AM on November 6, 2007

hawt!
posted by vronsky at 9:25 AM on November 6, 2007

It would be nice to have a auto-resizing feature, such that we could make the square be as big as we like, and then whatever is in it gets shrinked down to 140x140.

Done! And I added a note that you can hold the Shift key while you adjust the crop box to keep a perfect square. That way whatever you select won't be distorted when it gets resized to 140.
posted by pb at 1:35 PM on November 6, 2007

Oh sweet! Thanks pb.
posted by Kattullus at 1:54 PM on November 6, 2007

That's cool, pb, thanks.

Also, damn am I hot right now.
posted by liquorice at 2:05 PM on November 6, 2007

Is this the part of the thread where we drop all pretense of modesty and get attention the easy way? I got boobs on and they're all soapy and stuff. Oooh. ooh.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 2:17 PM on November 6, 2007

I also have soap on my boobs.
posted by cortex at 2:24 PM on November 6, 2007

you know, you really should rinse off properly before putting your clothes back on. nothing like a mouthful of crusty dried suds to sour a romantic encounter.
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:36 PM on November 6, 2007

What makes you think he's wearing clothes? Maybe the admins have stopped doing that, in order to increase transparency.
posted by languagehat at 2:39 PM on November 6, 2007

I know it's been mentioned umpteen times before, cortex, but that's a really, really big donut.
posted by Kattullus at 2:39 PM on November 6, 2007

What makes you think he's wearing clothes? Maybe the admins have stopped doing that

what? no more furry suits?
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:00 PM on November 6, 2007

Yeah srsly cortex, can I have a bite of that donut?
posted by vronsky at 3:01 PM on November 6, 2007

I know it's been mentioned umpteen times before, cortex, but that's a really, really big donut.

Also mentioned before: that's what all the laddies say.

Yeah srsly cortex, can I have a bite of that donut?


That, too.
posted by dersins at 3:08 PM on November 6, 2007

How 'bout you dersins.. got any donuts?
posted by vronsky at 3:15 PM on November 6, 2007

No, but I've got a giant creme-filled eclair for you right here, IYKWIM.

AITYD.

sorry.
posted by dersins at 3:41 PM on November 6, 2007

Hey, I can favourite things in my Recent Activity now. Coolies.
posted by liquorice at 4:02 PM on November 6, 2007

Now we just need the ability to comment on profile pages and add music that plays automatically...
posted by hjo3 at 5:21 AM on November 15, 2007