We've enabled Avatars in the forums, so that people don't need such large signatures, and in particular don't need to include graphics in them.
The forum team will be monitoring and moderating avatars and signatures based on the following rules.
Avatars
- maximum resolution is 100*100 pixels.
- animated images are prohibited.
- images should be either related to FlightGear/aviation or show the member's face.
- we do not act as a filebin, so upload your avatars elsewhere (eg. http://imageshack.us).
Signatures
- should not contain images (that's what the avatar is for!)
- should be less than 255 characters and/or 5 lines (remember, less is more).
- callsign can be set through User Control Panel > Profile, and thus should not be placed in the signature.
As the avatar and signature represent part of the forum itself, they obviously should not contain inappropriate content etc.
As these rules are new, we will not moderate signatures up to two weeks from now. In this period, every member is supposed to apply the new rules himself. After those two weeks, the moderators will scan through the signatures and remove/edit those that do not comply with the rules.
If you have any questions (that are not listed in the FAQ below) or if you are unsure about your avatar/signature, contact the forum team.
FAQ
Can I hide avatars/signatures?
Avatars and signatures can be independently hidden by each user, through the User Control Panel > Board preferences > Edit display options.
How do I add an avatar?
First you'll have to upload your image on some public place. This can be anything, from http://imageshack.us to http://picasaweb.google.com. Then you'll need the direct URL to the image file. This URL should end on .png, .jpg etc. Browse to the User Control Panel > Profile > Edit Avatar and paste your URL in the box. Click submit to add your avatar.
What should I do when I come accross an innapropariate avatar/signature?
Notify the moderators (through PM) about the issue. They will deal with it and contact the avatar/signature "owner".