So I’m a Follower

Updated below

And you all know this. I will try anything once. Especially if it means I can somehow send my entire database into a chaotic frenzy. It’s fun to figure out problems.

Anyway, I did what Graham told me to do and installed SezWho. It’s a commenting platform that allows you to rate user comments and/or follow users as they comment on other blogs that have it (the SezWho- are you paying attention here?). I made sure that my favorite commenting plugins work with it and they do, so I went ahead and installed it.

First thing I noticed was that MyAvatar and SezWho were competing for space. That was fine. Then I noticed the gods-awful default avatar. Most regulars recognize my mad baby avatar. It’s the default. If you don’t have a Gravatar or MyBlogLog Avatar then you get to be represented by the crybaby¹. I hated the default avatar. So, I decided to change it.

Sadly, there wasn’t any information in the forums on how to change the avatar, so I had to figure it out for myself. Here’s how to change the default avatar for a WordPress installation.

Changing your default avatar. Stop reading if you don’t care.

1. Make your own default avatar.
   Mine is
   It’s dimensions are 48px X 48px
2. Upload your avatar to a file where you’ll be able to find it easily.
   Remember the file.
3. Go into your SezWho plugin folder and open the cpratecomments.php.
4. Find all instances of
   http://s3.amazonaws.com/sz_users_images/noimg.gif
5. Replace ALL of those urls with the exact url of your new default avatar
   For instance, instead of
   http://s3.amazonaws.com/sz_users_images/noimg.gif mine is images/noavi.jpg.
6. Save
7. Open cpredcarpet.php
8. Find all instances of
   http://s3.amazonaws.com/sz_users_images/noimg.gif
9. Replace ALL of those urls with the exact url of your new default avatar
   For instance, instead of
   http://s3.amazonaws.com/sz_users_images/noimg.gif mine is images/noavi.jpg.
10. Save

Then check in your comments to see if it worked. If you don’t have any comments that use the default avatar the log out and leave yourself a comment without inputting a correct email and/or url.

End of instructions. Please resume reading.

So, I went through all of this (I have to make stuff personal. That’s just how I am.). Then I decided since I’m messing everything up anyway why not upgrade?² I did my thing and thought I didn’t kill anything³.

Until I tried to change the default “Who am I?” crap on the SezWho profile link. You’re supposed to be able to click on that and see a (SezWho) commenting history in the box. I got nothin’. Then I tried to rate some comments. You’re supposed to be able to do that too (I even personalized those too!) and guess what? That’s right! Nada. Zilch. The shit stopped working.

I frown and fret wondering if I messed some crap up with my changing of the avatars. I go to the forums. Guess what? That’s right. It happened because of the upgrade because WP has to have an upgrade every flippin’ two weeks and something always breaks with a WP upgrade.

So, you currently cannot rate any comments on my site because I upgraded. Also, you can’t check out any profiles. The whole point of installing SezWho is lost on my blog. Isn’t that great?

You can, however, admire my changing of default avatar skillz. Peace, Love and Lollipops.

Update:

The issue with WordPress has been fixed. I want to send a big shout out to the dudes that code SezWho because they were on it yesterday. I didn’t actually expect anyone to hurry and upgrade anything just because, but they did. That rocks.

Ok, carry on.

1. Don’t you just love that? [↩]
2. You haven’t heard? There’s another WordPress upgrade. Woot! [↩]
3. There are actually some features that I really like with this upgrade. [↩]

Related posts:

1. About That Baby…
2. Is Something Wonky?
3. I’m Not Going To Cry…
4. Little Reminder
5. Dora, Dora, Dora