Re: [proposal] Update Profile > Social Networks ICQ/AIM/MSN/YIM
I've read through the topics helpfully posted by logfiles (thanks, man), and I've looked at the relevant SMF code, and I think I can put together a patch to improve the usefulness of those old fields. It's a little tricky because those fields have been baked into SMF's code without much forward-thinking or extensibility in mind, so I don't think it's wise to keep adding new fields using the current approach (both from a programming point-of-view and in terms of visual clutter). Even though most of those fields now refer to defunct services, I also don't think it's wise to remove any of them (with Bitcointalk, especially when messing with existing functionality, my inclination is to have a conservator/preservation mindset and to steer well-clear of destructive updates).
I think the "Skype" field should probably be moved upwards to sit with the other fields, like this:
Then, I think those 5 field labels could be converted into dropdowns, like this:
That way, everyone's existing field values would remain intact, but people would be free to switch them out for more modern alternatives (and whenever those get out-of-date, adding new choices would be really simple).
There's some extra per-choice stuff to keep track of in the background (an icon, a regex to limit what can be entered, a template to transform what was entered into a link, etc.) and some database adjustments would be needed (I think ~5 new columns on the members table, and 1 new table to catalog the available choices would probably do it).
I'll see what I can come up with in my test environment...
(If anyone has any notes/ideas about this, feel free to either leave them here or PM me about it.)
Hehe. Cheers! (I actually didn't get around to opening a bottle of anything when 2FA got merged; there was too much IRL stuff going on at the time. I think I'll open a bottle of the "good stuff" tonight, though.) 
It wasn't part of my plan to work on forum improvements when I joined Bitcointalk, but it's work that suits my temperament, and I'm happy to try to improve things where/while I can.
What about something like this:
- The number of fields, platform names and user input remains the same. This is how existing information is preserved.
- In the Forum Profile Information page a dropdown menu is added next to the defaults to switch with some new ones (Discord, Telegram, etc). This also keeps the same number of contact fields.
- Updating the contact fields should also update the small logo under the user's avatar, displayed in posts.
Yep. That's just about the best way to approach it, IMO.- The number of fields, platform names and user input remains the same. This is how existing information is preserved.
- In the Forum Profile Information page a dropdown menu is added next to the defaults to switch with some new ones (Discord, Telegram, etc). This also keeps the same number of contact fields.
- Updating the contact fields should also update the small logo under the user's avatar, displayed in posts.
I think the "Skype" field should probably be moved upwards to sit with the other fields, like this:
Then, I think those 5 field labels could be converted into dropdowns, like this:
That way, everyone's existing field values would remain intact, but people would be free to switch them out for more modern alternatives (and whenever those get out-of-date, adding new choices would be really simple).
There's some extra per-choice stuff to keep track of in the background (an icon, a regex to limit what can be entered, a template to transform what was entered into a link, etc.) and some database adjustments would be needed (I think ~5 new columns on the members table, and 1 new table to catalog the available choices would probably do it).
I'll see what I can come up with in my test environment...
(If anyone has any notes/ideas about this, feel free to either leave them here or PM me about it.)
[1] I'm 99% sure that the 2FA/TOTP patch will get merged. And I'm 100% sure that I'll open a bottle of something special when it does. 
Then allow me to be the first to raise the glass when it happens!PS: Thanks again @PowerGlove for your efforts!
Right back at you, Cyrus. It wasn't part of my plan to work on forum improvements when I joined Bitcointalk, but it's work that suits my temperament, and I'm happy to try to improve things where/while I can.