Distinguishing Graphic for Permanent Accounts & Subsequent Userinfo Changes

[adudeabides]

Title

Distinguishing Graphic for Permanent Accounts & Subsequent Userinfo Changes

Short, concise description of the idea

Permanent accounts are distinctly differnet from paid accounts. Permanent accounts should have a distinguishing graphic on their userinfo page, and the link to the paid account area on the green thumbs-up sign should be changed on permanent accounts.

Full description of the idea

While a paid account-holder and a permanent account-holder receive similar benefits, they are not quite the same. A permanent account is an account that receives the benefits of a paid account (and then some) without having to pay for those benefits.

Since they are slightly different, I feel it not entirely accurate that permanent accounts are represented by the green thumbs-up image. This is most prominent on the userinfo page, where the image actually links to /paidaccounts/ (which adds to the innacuaracy, in my mind). I feel a better option, to denote the difference, would be to use a different icon--something that reflects the distinct nature of permanent accounts. Something subtle - changing the green thumbs-up icon to a blue thumbs-up icon for permanent account holders is a good subtle symbol. Additionally, in the instances the green thumbs-up image link to the /paidaccounts/ page, I think the page it links to should be changed; either to FAQ 57 (How Can I Help?) or a page that briefly explains permanent accounts (possibly the FAQ referencing account types).

Alternatively (or additionally), the userinfo icon (http://stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) could be replaced with a different account, in the same manner syndicated accounts (and the news account) have different icons. I try to use my own icon when referencing my own journal name, but it's a pain to type the HTML to produce this image (http://sotik.com/lj/syn.gif) every time, to go next to my name (macros aren't always feasible). The standard userinfo.gif image can be ever-so-slightly modified for this different account type.

The account types are distinctly different. The idea is really no different than using the icons they use for syndicated accounts to distinguish them from personal journals or communities.

An ordered list of benefits

Different account type notation makes things more clear, or at least less confusing. Particularly if you link to a page other than /paidaccounts/.

An ordered list of problems/issues involved

May increase interest in how to aquire a permanent account (which isn't a bad thing, per se, but it will lead to more questions).

An organized list, or a few short paragraphs detailing suggestions for implementation

Same coding that's in place to display the green-thumbs-up icon in place can be used, altered to fit this change; same coding in place to reflect different account types (e.g. syndicated accounts) can be used to display a different image in user tag references.

Possible creation of a page explaining permanent accounts, or at least link to an existing page that explains it (though it may be less clear if you take the latter route).