Posted 5 years, 7 months ago in the early afternoon by oso
Update (6:50 p.m.): Elena makes a good point. I make it sound like you have to upload a photo of yourself. Not at all. You can upload whatever you want. Most people upload the normal cliches: Che, Bob Marley, the Zapatista star … whatever. You can upload a picture of your butt cheeks walking for all I care. Just upload something. Thanks.
what the hell is that picture by my name, that’s not me. put the one of me getting ready for bed.
- Bobbo
It is clear that law school has made Bobbo even more astute. We didn’t think this was possible.
I have become completely addicted to Flickr. And I’m not the only one. The more you understand how flickr works, the more impressive it is. Those people are really thinking things through and I wish I had a couple grand to drop on Ludicorp stock.
What Flickr is best at is creating a sense of community and one of the ways it does it is by putting little icons, or avatars, by each of your comments. So, if you go to this photo, you can see the three comments that Cindy, Abogado, and I each made on it and by our comment is a small photo of us. I like that. Somehow it gives more personality to the conversation. And I wanted the same thing here on this blog.
Enter gravatars … or “globally recognized avatars.” You have to go sign up for one, but it’s quick and painless, I promise. Then once you do, the same avatar (photo) will follow you around whenever you comment on a blog or forum with avatars enabled. Which means Bobbo will no longer be represented by that cute hipster chick (too bad, I know).
If you don’t register for a gravatar, then it is up to me how you are represented. This will be my source of endless entertainment. This week it’s going to be cute hipster girls.
Oso, that gravatar is annoying and requires effort. I ain’t about effort.
- Elena
Yeah, I wasn’t either when I first saw this gravatar thing on a couple blogs. So I ignored it for a good while. But now with flickr, I realize that it really does add a lot. We’re so used to each other based on text, that having some sort of image really gives a lot of meaning. Besides people, we’re bloggers. We spend hours each day writing and reading online and you’re telling me you can’t spend 3 minutes (literally) to upload and register a little picture. It’s a hell of a lot easier than signing up for Friendster or Myspace.
The whole concept of gravatars has a lot of implications on information architecture for those of you interested in such things. We’re always told a network functions best when information is kept on the outside. And yet here is an example of how a centralized source of information offers something really valuable.
But, it is also more vulnerable. If the gravatar server gets hacked or goes down, all of those images on all of those sites will die. What would obviously be a better solution would be a standards set protocol with the data as decentralized as possible. Which once again brings us back to Digital ID.
Also, I included the latest five comments made on my flickr photos on the sidebar using RSS Digest which I found out about via Al. I’ll probably be moving this to the Gallery soon.
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oso … thanks for helping me get things a bit better set up with flickr … it is indeed a unique service. i’ve downloaded the flickr plugin for wordpress but haven’t had the chance to install it yet. really like the way it integrates the photostream as a gallery with your blog. looks really good. as you say, flickr has nice sense of community … the stand alone gallery programs are nice as well but can not have this sorta thing.
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this is me testing my gravatar image. i know you like the spam.
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I think it takes a while for them to register and rate them.
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oh lord … how’d i end up with a gravatar of a blue haired girl???
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There…I broke the ice. This is how the HP looks? Likes? I should have combed my hair first…Maybe next time.
Btw, nice ass.
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Well…I just re-read. I guess it takes a bit.
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that ass is fucking annoying and i like ass. btw what rating did the ass get?
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Your blog is suddenly not work safe.
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That’s a good point. I think … what does that mean, “work safe”? Does your employer want you reading weblogs, butt cheeks or no butt cheeks?
Anyway, I changed it to a flower. Hopefully these gravatars will kick in soon. Until then, I’m gonna find a new hipster girl.
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Oops, I think I just a comment on the wrong entry…
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I don’t think my advisor/boss would like to come in to see me looking at butt cheeks while I should be working. Naked body parts at work is not-good. How come my gravatar doesn’t show up yet?
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this is great. gravatar rated my chastity belt (my avatar image) a ‘G’. That is right chastity belts are good for the kiddies.
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cool…..i think i did it right.
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I understand nothing.
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Uh-oh hot dog!
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?
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One other thing, I shoulda said earlier. You have to leave the same email address here as you registered with on Gravatar. That’s how it knows whether to assign you your gravatar or a cute hipster girl. Speaking of which, let’s find that cowgirl.
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ok. done did, where the hell is my avatar?
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Elena,
Chastity belts are good for preventing kids.
DT,
It seems like it takes about 24 hours after you register. It should kick in soon though.
Seyd,
Is that actually you? I’m gonna change my gravatar too. Just haven’t though of what yet. So far I think HP’s is the most amazing. Then again, I’ve seen him in real life. It’s amazing what photoshop can do for you.
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not a bad idea
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Abo,
You should admit you used airbrushing.
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Photoshop is my friend ;D
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check it motherfucker. I’M GANGSTA
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god damnit.
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Bobbo, I hate to be the one to break this to you … but you are not gangsta.
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For what it’s worth, I really like the gravatar idea; my right-brain finds it refreshing. It’s a great way to break up the monotony of text.
Thanks for pointing it out. I never knew it existed before.
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So are cocktails. Good choice. Damn, I’d love a gin and tonic right now.
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Is this thing on?
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TS, your image is by far the best
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Yeah, I agree. My mantra in life has always been, “everything is better in a tortilla.” I’m kinda surprised you went with flour though.
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elenamary-Thanks!
Oso-I dumped Atkins a while back, I have re-established a friendship with carbs and flour once again.
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[...] is up with those images next to the comments? Well, I am glad you ask, those are Gravatars. Let me quote Oso about these things since he is such a big fan: Enter gravatars … or “globally recognized [...]