Flag of the United States of America

Thanks Chris for the clarification that this flag is free for use on "wherever" because a Wikitree leader asked me to remove the flag on MY profile page and if you visit the tags section on MY profile page for the UNITED_STATES Project, I hope you won't be too disappointed in me. I will be glad to forward the email I received from this leader to you and I even considered posting that email on my profile page. However, I didn't want to burn a bridge over it and if you also have a recommendation, I will follow your advice.

John Williams, proud member of Wikitree's United States Project.

I could even post a copy of that email here since this would probably be the most appropriate place to put it for anyone to read because something tells me if anyone would be interested in that email, it might just be somebody who is searching for a picture of our flag and shares my American values including the right to display our American flag!

Hi John.

You don't need to forward the email. I think this would be something good to talk out on G2G (without mentioning the other person's name).

I see at least two issues:

1.) The usage on Maynard-4132. The flag looks great there! I don't see anything wrong with it, except that if you tagged 1,000 profiles on the same image things would break down. I don't know the best approach. We do discourage uploading duplicate copies of the same image. I don't know if we have a rule for this yet.

2.) Including images in comments on followed tags. That is definitely non-standard and could cause technical problems. But I don't know if it's forbidden.

Chris

Chris, you have made a good point about the way I have some badges displayed on my page and how they may be considered "non-standard". However, many of my fellow Greeters as well as other Wikitreers have told me that they like it. Some have even said that I was a "linear" thinker and that they appreciate the ideas that I come up with that nobody else has considered. For example, we are missing a great opportunity with the badges that are issued on people's profile pages. Everyone who is issued any type of project badge could be using them as a link to the various projects. I personally think it is a good way to internally advertise and is a good way to direct people to those projects.

For example, if you look at the badges I have included in the tags section on my profile page, if you click those badges, they serve as links to those projects. When the badges are issued, they only link to a page that lists those who have been awarded those badges. While recognition is important and it is a good way to list those who have received those badges since it identifies who participates in those projects, it can also be redundant because many times some of those projects have separate membership lists on their project pages.

For example, if you click the Ambassador badge in the tags section of my profile page, you will see it will take you directly to the Ambassador Project. I am only using this Ambassador badge as an example because it is obviously a missed opportunity to promote this project because obviously others may not be aware of this project because as I have stated on my profile page, it's been over a year since requests to join were answered. While delays are expected, it's okay when there is a delay in getting a response for a month or two, but when there is upwards of a half a year or even longer such as the case with this example since it's been more than a year since any new members have been accepted into this prestigious program, I think you will agree the lack of a response to other people's responses to being asked to become a member of that project, may be viewed as unacceptable.

While I agree it is important to list who is part of this paramount project, I think since we have to watch Wikitree's budget as is stated, we can't afford to purchase advertising and also as I have stated, we have to rely on our members to promote Wikitree. Consequently, I don't know if you agree, but I think the project itself is more important than who is a member of that project. So, I also don't want to miss another opportunity while I am here. I am sure you will agree that we should never allow an opportunity to pass us by even if it is an "internal" opportunity. So, if anyone sees this page, all they have to do is click the image of the Ambassador Project badge as shown below just like it is shown in the tags section of my profile page and they will be taken directly to the Ambassador project, rather than a list of people who were awarded the following badge...

Since you mentioned you don't know if the way I have displayed some of these badges in my tags is forbidden, I will continue to display them as such, unless you suggest otherwise. If you wish to discuss this further, please send me an email. I know many people who are "well-established" Wikitree members may disagree with the unwelcomed fresh ideas of a "Johnny come lately" and wish to maintain the status quo and often times the status quo is the best way to go, especially when a "Johnny come lately" doesn't know why the status quo is the best way to go, especially when there are reasons that support the status quo.

Hi John,

Some of what you are referring to are making changes to the way things are done at WikiTree, such as displaying badges in tags to advertise projects. When you have ideas for a different way of doing things, g2g is the best place to talk about it. The reason for this is no change is made at WikiTree unless it is first discussed in the g2g forum. Then a proposal for change must be made and voted on. Keeping things as standard as possible is important so everyone knows the rules to follow. It's also often important because some nonstandard things can mess with the technical side of the website. Emma