We Don’t Need This

Dear @Nuno, @Andrew,

Please get rid of the profile images and usernames that appear at the top of our feed.

I’m guessing others have already suggested the same thing and I want to add my voice to theirs.

I fail to see what purpose it serves to have this display of our presence here. Many of us have chosen to not have our green light enabled and this newer feature reduces the effectiveness of turning the light off.

At the very least, could we have the choice to opt-out of this, just as we do with the green light? I think that’s a reasonable compromise.

Thanks for all the effort you put into making SW a better place. I mean that sincerely, even if I don’t always agree with the changes that are implemented here.

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

MartinII · 70-79, M

Perhaps I’m missing something, but I don’t follow the objection. The banner at the top of the feed contains exactly the same information as appears if you click on “Social” and then on “People I follow”. In both cases the only names that appear are those of people whose green light is, or has been, on, with of course their own chosen username and avatar. If your green light isn’t or hasn’t been on, you won’t be there. So there is no threat to anonymity, and indeed nothing new at all - just information in a different place. And I like it, as do others who commented when it was first introduced.

This is probably the first time I have ever said anything in support of the management, but there it is!

Loretta78 · 46-50, F

@MartinII No, the banner at the top of the feed does NOT contains exactly the same informations as appears if you click on "Social."

I know for sure that it shows users who are DEFINETELY NOT online; some even since more than 5 years.

Furthermore it shows the avatar of an user (one friend of me) who died 2 years ago... 😑

And I am not the only user here who suddenly sees avatars from users who died years ago... 😑

To be honest: I don't need such a hurtful banner at the top of the feed... 😑

At least we should have the option to "click it away" so as Rutterman suggested...

Rutterman · 46-50, M

@MartinII Yes, you are missing something. In addition to what Loretta78 said, the banner with profiles and usernames is in your face when you go to the feed. Previously, the only alternative for seeing this info was via the steps you mentioned. I don't know about you, but I rarely bothered with that. Now, we automatically get it handed to us on the feed whether we want it or not.

Also, this statement made by you isn't accurate:

In both cases the only names that appear are those of people whose green light is, or has been, on, with of course their own chosen username and avatar. If your green light isn’t or hasn’t been on, you won’t be there.

If this was true, my profile image and username would never appear in either case, yet, I know for a fact that it does.

MartinII · 70-79, M

@Rutterman Thank you for that.

On the first point, my preference is the opposite of yours. Once I had discovered the list of people I follow in “Social “, which was only quite recently, I consulted it on a daily basis. The banner just gives me the headline information more readily. Also, I like being greeted by a row of friendly faces, or rather friendly avatars, when I press the Home button.

On the second point, I assure you that the statement of mine that you quote is accurate as regards my own banner. Loretta has explained that it does not accurately describe hers. You don’t say anything about yours, only that you know (presumably because you have been told) that your name has appeared in other people’s when it shouldn’t have.

Finally, I would of course be entirely happy with a system which allowed people to opt out of banners. But I don’t want to lose mine!

Rutterman · 46-50, M

@MartinII Okay, having the banner works well for you. I have a feeling it’s here to stay (with no opt-out), which is unfortunate from my perspective. The admins undoubtedly have their reasons for it, though they haven’t and probably never will disclose them.

I should state that I have never enabled my green light. I know that my username/profile pic appears on other people’s banners because I’ve seen it via screenshots on posts by a couple of users here. One of the posts had to do with a question about a person (not me) who appeared on their banner.

It would be great if we could opt-out of appearing in people’s banners. I can’t see any problem with others making a different choice than I would make.

Loretta78 · 46-50, F

@Rutterman I agree FULLY with your words. 👍

MartinII · 70-79, M

@Rutterman Agreed. One footnote. Although my banner has so far only included people who are supposed to be there, so to speak, it doesn’t always include all of them. I noticed yesterday that several people whom I follow, and were shown in Social with their green lights on, hadn’t made it to the banner. If the right people can be omitted like that, it’s hardly surprising that the wrong people are sometimes included. So whatever our preferences, I think we can all agree that it isn’t working perfectly at the moment!