Forums » Suggestions & Development Discussion » Upload avatar from url

Before we get going, two things: yes, I realize this would be more of a niche-use thing, and if this is already doable, I apologize.

Anyways. Would it be possible to upload your avatar via URL eventually or even just hotlink it to an image host? This would probably not be an often used feature, but as a mobile user sometimes things get a little bit interesting when trying to use basic site features. It might also reduce bandwidth by a marginal amount (kilobytes become gigabytes eventually, right?).

If this would prove problematic somehow - maybe uploaded user avatars are monitored by Kim so they aren't too debaucherous, who knows - please feel free to ignore this idea. Its more for mobile convenience anyway...but why would anyone want to improve mobile browsing ? (For the record, the site works wonderfully for mobile browsing, in multiple browsers I've tried).

Avatars are policed by the mods already anyway, so where they were uploaded from wouldn't change this one jot!

Re: Hotlinking, we will never ever do this. Not only does it make it easier for people to engage in internet rudeness (such as art theft + making the artist PAY for the bandwidth you use while stealing their art), multiple requests for images from other sites on a page could have major consequences for page load lag. And down with lag! Boooo!

We might at some point do upload from URL. It makes me really nervous because, again, it pretty much streamlines theft, and has the RPR doing it for you, like a little minion burglar. I'm not saying that all uploads from URL would be theft, nor am I saying that the current system doesn't allow for people to upload stolen art -- just that we'd be making it thaaat much easier. And I think upload from URL kind of gives the impression that any image online is fair game!

It's a growing segment of our user base! I've started thinking more and more of mobile lately, though alas, it's on that giant to-do list with so many other things on it I barely know which direction to go.

I should have phrased what I was thinking a hair better: in my mind, hotlinking is the same as having it hosted off-site on a site like photobucket or imageshack - lets just chalk it up to learning what I thought it meant when I was young and then didn't retcon its meaning.


I was thinking about the possibility if increased image theft (moar leik exponential increase amirite) quite a bit while posting this up, and to be honest there isn't any way around that particular bump in the road, people are going to keep being people as long as free will is allowed. That isn't some bizarre shot at you or anything at all (really), its just what I think.


I expected to receive about this response, but I am pleasantly surprised that it might come later down the road. Thanks for your input, Kim.