Poll

What is your preference regarding the smilies?

Keep the current ones - I am happy with them.
4 (33.3%)
I would prefer the smiles be changed - I have included an example of my preferred style in my reply comments.
8 (66.7%)

Total Members Voted: 10

Voting closed: January 15, 2012, 02:12:58 PM

Author Topic: Smilies - your preference  (Read 9042 times)

Online GTX_Admin

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Smilies - your preference
« on: January 01, 2012, 02:12:58 PM »
Folks,

A few of you have commented regarding the smilies and your desire for something different to the ones currently being used. 

We haven't been ignoring you in regards to this ( well maybe one of you... ::)).   We I have simply been distracted...damn EggNog tasting competition... :sick:

However, before making any changes, we would need to first know what the preference of the majority of members is and secondly, if there is a majority preference for a change, what the new preferred style is.

Hence this Poll.  Would you please first vote whether or not you would like a change form the current style of smiley, and secondly, if you would prefer the style be changed, provide an example of what your new preferred style would be.

To do the latter part, please include an example ( just one should suffice so that we know the general style).  This can be done either by copying the smiley image location and then using the [img] function, or by simply providing a URL link to somewhere with the relevant smily type...or by simply PMing me.

I have set the Poll duration for 14 days.

Regards,

Greg
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Offline Litvyak

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Re: Smilies - your preference
« Reply #1 on: January 01, 2012, 03:30:59 PM »
I don't care about the style! So long as they're smaller, say about half the current size? If it's an option, perhaps just keep the current ones, but make them smaller?
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Offline ChernayaAkula

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Re: Smilies - your preference
« Reply #2 on: January 01, 2012, 06:06:15 PM »
I also think they're way too big. And some are rather ambiguous, which kinda contradicts their intended sense of making emotions in a written post clearer. Examples:

 :(  Supposed to mean "Sad" - looks sulky.
 :slow: Supposed to mean "Slow", as in: didn't get it the first time 'round - actually looks surprised.
 ::) Supposed to mean "Roll-eyes" - actually looks like he either didn't get the joke or or is suspicious of something.
 8) Supposed to mean "Cool" - looks more like "not listening to ya anyway".

And we could use "thumbs up" and "worship/bow" smilies. And one sticking the tongue out. This one...  :P looks more dead than cheeky.  :D A shrugging one would also be neat.  This one ... :-\ (undecided) doesn't quite cut it.

Which ones I would prefer? The ones on ARC and the "old style" (AIUI; as on Whatifmodelers) are better. They don't disrupt the flow of the text (with some exceptions, but none as much as the "new style" ones) and are much clearer.


EDIT: Please note that the smilies have changed since I posted the above!
« Last Edit: January 07, 2012, 11:01:37 AM by ChernayaAkula »
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Offline Scooterman

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Re: Smilies - your preference
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2012, 12:54:00 AM »
I lean towards the smaller, older style, but with a few added.

Quick search-I think these could cover it.  Collection 1 is cool.
http://www.big-boards.com/smileys.php#

Of course, just my $0.02. 

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Smilies - your preference
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2012, 01:59:15 AM »
smaller would be good, especially in the 'reply' texting box, they just spring right out at you too much

Offline Doom!

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Re: Smilies - your preference
« Reply #5 on: January 02, 2012, 02:05:13 AM »
I lean towards the smaller, older style, but with a few added.

Quick search-I think these could cover it.  Collection 1 is cool.
http://www.big-boards.com/smileys.php#

Of course, just my $0.02.

I like Smileys Collection 1 off the above mentioned page.
 
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Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: Smilies - your preference
« Reply #6 on: January 02, 2012, 05:28:30 AM »
I don't care about the style! So long as they're smaller, say about half the current size? If it's an option, perhaps just keep the current ones, but make them smaller?

I agree with Xenia, smaller would be preferred since these larger images disrupt sentence and paragraph structure for anyone making a longer reply that wishes to insert one of these things you end up with a two or three line separation which is annoying.
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Offline Weaver

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Re: Smilies - your preference
« Reply #7 on: January 02, 2012, 05:54:56 AM »
I vote to change them: the current ones are too big and too ambiguous.

As to what style to use instead, I'd go for the standard small smileys seen on What If Modellers and most other web forums.

Regarding the selection of smileys, while it's fine to include quirky, amusing or even custom ones, it's VERY IMPORTANT to have a full suite of the basics, i.e. smile, laugh, frown, angry, rolleyes, wink, thumbs up, thumbs down, confused, shocked (i.e. popping eyes), blush etc.. These are the ones that you actually use most often and in the way there were intended: to convey emotion.
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Offline ChernayaAkula

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Re: Smilies - your preference
« Reply #8 on: January 03, 2012, 02:16:08 AM »
I lean towards the smaller, older style, but with a few added.

Quick search-I think these could cover it.  Collection 1 is cool.
http://www.big-boards.com/smileys.php#

Of course, just my $0.02.

I like Smileys Collection 1 off the above mentioned page.


Yup! Me too!
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Re: Smilies - your preference
« Reply #9 on: January 03, 2012, 06:50:16 PM »
At the risk of sounding like a party-pooper, I simply do NOT like the current smilies...

Why?

1°) They are too big. Whenever inserted in a text they cause a jump in the lines that is annoying (ideally smilies should be used like punctuation and therefore inserted anywhere in a line without disrupting or complicating the reading).
2°) They have no transparency. The big white square area around them disrupts the reading even more.
3°) Most of these characters express negative behavior. Only seven smilies show happy/smug/content characters, the rest are bored, angry, annoyed, sick, ill... I'd like more shades of positive feelings to pick from (bowing in respect, having a toast with a friend, stuff like that).

To me, the icons from the "other" site were just perfect! More arty or more sophisticated doesn't necessarily more user friendly.

Offline Clave

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Re: Smilies - your preference
« Reply #10 on: January 05, 2012, 01:20:54 AM »
Why not swap them for the transparent ones I made?  Just as a temporary measure while things are decided?

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Smilies - your preference
« Reply #11 on: January 05, 2012, 07:54:20 AM »
Scoot's always the height of style and fashion. I like his "collection 1" suggestion.

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Offline coops213

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Re: Smilies - your preference
« Reply #12 on: January 06, 2012, 01:59:37 PM »
I lean towards the smaller, older style, but with a few added.

Quick search-I think these could cover it.  Collection 1 is cool.
http://www.big-boards.com/smileys.php#

Of course, just my $0.02.

I like Smileys Collection 1 off the above mentioned page.


Yeah, I like these too. They're similar to the ones used over on the ARC boards.