Forum Request: Allow to adding a screenshot to a post

[Thany]

Please add functionality to attach a screenshot to a post. It's REALLY helpful to be able to show what I mean when I post a bug report or suggestion.

I know about the image button btw, but it just inserts img-tags into a post, which is not helpful at all. I'd expect to drag an image in, like on github, but if that doesn't do anything, then I don't know what will.

This also doesn't work:
[img]data:image/png;base64, iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAYAAAAfFcSJAAAADUlEQVR42mNkYPhfDwAChwGA60e6kgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==[/img]

Even though the [img] promises to show an image if I place the url between its tags. And that right there, is a completely valid and perfectly working url.

[bogordo]

+1

And better SPAM filter please, following by RSS there are days where i get dozens of new spam posts...

[Dalai]

It's been possible to post links to an image uploaded to an image hoster since the forum existed. IIRC Ghisler explained somewhere that he doesn't want images on his server(s) for legal (and probably some technical) reasons. As a hoster, you have to make sure you don't host content, especially images, that infringe copyrights, otherwise you're in trouble.

Regards
Dalai

[Thany]

I get that, but that doesn't make it okay to delegate that concern to all users of this forum.

For instance, the forum could upload to an external service automatically, if need be.

[tuska]

IIRC Ghisler explained somewhere...

It's a triple legal problem:
1. People could post things which would make you a criminal only by viewing it, like certain types of porn
2. The new European data protection laws forbid it: Just by visiting a page,
    you would unwillingly give away your IP address to any third party sites hosting these images
3. If I hosted the images myself, it could be viewed as illegal copying of copyrighted materials

Avatars have similar problems, but according to EU regulations, smaller previews of images are legal, e.g. as used by Google Images.
But even Google stopped showing the original size of images directly.

[Thany]

1. That could be the case *whereever* they are hosted. Delegating a problem does not solve it. It also shows distrust in users. Adding attachments could, for example, be granted to users who have been around for a certain amount of time and/or have a certain amount of posts.
2. Agreed. All the more reason to host pictures here. Also an external service may die - take tinypic as a real-world example. External services may also willy-nilly change their T&S or become paid services.
3. Again, it's a matter of trusting your users first and foremost. Trust leads to more trust. Also there's already a system in place to report a post (the "!" button). Also there is such a thing as fair use. A screenshot of a program does not infringe their copyright, for example.

If a large site like Github "gets away" (legal-wise) with self-hosting images, surely a smaller site like this can do it too.

[Dalai]

Delegating a problem does not solve it.

It does solve it, for oneself at least. If someone uploads illegal stuff to an external site (and links to it here), the legal stuff is the external hoster's problem, not one's own; just the link needs to be deleted, but you can't be made responsible for the content itself.

It also shows distrust in users.

Yes, and no. Taking the recent massive spam waves into account, it's a good thing that only links could be posted, not images or other stuff. Of course, this also makes regular users a collateral damage. It's a matter of weighing the pros and cons of such a feature.

Also there's already a system in place to report a post (the "!" button).

Yes, but a forum hoster has also to consider how fast a response to such reports can be made. Moderators are not present around the clock. This legal stuff really is a thick and obscure territory...

Also there is such a thing as fair use.

IANAL but although such a thing exists in Ameria, AFAIK it doesn't exist here in Europe.

A screenshot of a program does not infringe their copyright, for example.

A regular user might want to post a screenshot, but that's not what makes it difficult. Any image could be uploaded and posted, even copyrighted material.

If a large site like Github "gets away" (legal-wise) with self-hosting images, surely a smaller site like this can do it too.

Uh, smaller sites usually don't because they don't have a (large) legal department that can deal with any claims that come up. Avoiding to fight legal claims probably also saves money (and one's nerves).

In the end it's Ghislers decision. And if he doesn't want to allow it, we have to live with it.

Regards
Dalai