this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2026

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The Agora

agora@sh.itjust.works

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[Discussion] New sidebar banner submissions for sh.itjust.works (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 4 days ago by kersploosh@sh.itjust.works [M] to c/agora@sh.itjust.works

33 comments fedilink hide all child comments

A recent post in c/main has sparked interest in finding a new sidebar banner for our instance. The current one is AI generated, and was chosen by our users from a bunch of other AI-generated submissions. It has been three years since then. Also, the mood toward AI has shifted. Maybe it's time for something new, and human-made?

This post is a place to collect submissions for new banner artwork. Put your art in the comments below! We plan to leave this post open for two weeks, and hold a vote on Friday, Sept. 11.

For context, here is the recent post in c/main: https://sh.itjust.works/post/65729579

Here is the old banner discussion: https://sh.itjust.works/post/1022097

And here is the old banner vote: https://sh.itjust.works/post/1432783
(Unfortunately, some of the image links are broken.)

all 33 comments

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[–] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone 8 points 17 hours ago (1 child)

perfect for this place, angry little thing mad someone has posted some ai with a side pouch full of unused condoms

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[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 hours ago*

Boo malformed AI beaver boooo

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[–] Sinopa@sh.itjust.works 29 points 2 days ago (1 child)

Well... Let's try. ^^

https://files.catbox.moe/3blz5x.jpg

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[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 days ago

I love this.

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[–] Yerbouti@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Cool.

Maybe something that could also help people remember that this is a billigual instance too would be nice? I'm 0% visual artist so I can't help on that but I could compose an instance anthem if you want.

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[–] Sinopa@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 day ago

Yes. What do you think of a little beret on the lemming's head ? :D)

But... aside from the sh.it presentation, I haven't really seen any posts or comments in French, so is the bilingual aspect actually a reality ?

Je peux aider, si vous voulez vous lancer... :)

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[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago

That would be the absolute coolest thing!!! I'm not going to tell you to do it, because I recognize how much work it would be, but I will absolutely let you know that it's an incredibly interesting idea

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[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 57 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (4 children)

Throwing my human made garbage into the mix just to make certain that the competition will not contain 100% AI. You're welcome.

Edit: and if you'd like a public domain lemming photo, I recommend this site, suggested by the incomparable unique_emerald_soul_I

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[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 17 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Did we use the same pic?

I did this for best of lemmy. I just took the pic from wikipedia and put some crappy special effects on it. It's so ugly that I can't really stand to use it as an award, as a I originally intended.

Behold my absolutely no AI was used.

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[–] Unique_Emerald_Sol_I@sh.itjust.works 9 points 3 days ago

If either you or St.Elsewhere need more CC0 images of animals specifically, check out inaturalist.org. User-submitted wildlife images and you can filter by license including CC0 (public domain) under [more filters]. There are currently 1,892 observations under [Voles, Lemmings, and Muskrats] that are public domain.

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[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Definitely. I got tired of starting a banner and then deleting it once I noticed the watermark on my "public domain" image, so I turned to wikipedia

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[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 7 points 4 days ago* (1 child)

It seems to be a trend that when you want anti-AI media, use Wikipedia.

Edit: I also like yours for some reason. It has a shitposting kind of quality that's endearing.

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[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 5 points 4 days ago

Candidly, if Wikipedia goes down, I'm leaving the internet permanently. You will not see me again.

And thank you, it's terrible and barebones in a very catered and intentional way. If I win, I know something has gone awry

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[–] Unique_Emerald_Sol_I@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 days ago (1 child)

Double-posting b/c I don't think I have the ability to tag you on Lemmy but if you or pelespirit need more CC0 images of animals specifically, check out inaturalist.org. User-submitted wildlife images and you can filter by license including CC0 (public domain) under [more filters]. There are currently 1,892 observations under [Voles, Lemmings, and Muskrats] that are public domain.

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[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 days ago* (1 child)

I might take a crack at a slightly better one once the mood strikes me. I had an hour to kill while waiting for an appointment when this pic happened. I'll include this link in my submission, in case someone cares to improve upon... what's the opposite of perfection in this context? Debasement? Improve upon my debasement

(Edit: also, I'm a lemming. Check my username)

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[–] Unique_Emerald_Sol_I@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 days ago

I would go for something like debauchery or degeneration, tho the latter has kinda been completely subsumed by horni culture (tho TBH I like the juxtaposition with "generation" as an genAI term)

Also I can't help but give you a slow clap for that username, my friend ( ಠ_ಠ)ﾉｼ You got me.

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[–] HerbalGamer@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 days ago (1 child)

We're done here.

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[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 days ago

Don't put this evil on our glorious instance

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[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 days ago (1 child)

As long as no one else makes any submissions, this will win by default

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[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 days ago (1 child)

I'm counting on the threat of this banner to be the impetus for something better

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[–] Susaga@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 days ago

Ah, like my temporary code.

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[–] sorrybookbroke@sh.itjust.works 5 points 4 days ago (1 child)

Kingshit, absolute vibe. My vote lays here

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[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 days ago*

Thanks, it took me 40 minutes because the internet endlessly lied about what is or is not public domain imagery so I had to start over 7 times

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[–] rowrowrowyourboat@sh.itjust.works 15 points 4 days ago (1 child)

Maybe you should put the technical details for the banner?

Resolution, dimensions, format...

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[–] kersploosh@sh.itjust.works [S] 23 points 4 days ago

File format: .webp
PNG or JPEG might work, but Lemmy seems to like .webp.

Dimensions: The image may be scaled differently by various Lemmy UIs, so there is no exact size requirement. Here are some current instance sidebar image sizes for reference:
sh.itjust.works: 1792 x 672
lemmy.world: 1863 x 713
lemmy.blahaj.zone: 1400 x 650
lemmy.dbzer0.com: 2048 x 640

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[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 11 points 4 days ago

I can't wait to see submissions! Since I can't do art of any kind myself, I'm just going to post a link to some inspiration photos of lemmings, most with photographer attribution or at least credit of some kind. The little fella in the first image looks like he could be at a tiny keyboard. Some of the others look more like they're traversing a human-sized keyboard.

https://www.hww.ca/wildlife/mammals/lemmings/

[–] ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I vote for keeping the old one.

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[–] eyekaytee@sh.itjust.works 3 points 17 hours ago* (1 child)

good lord, people hate on ai then submit dogshit for images and want people to do work for free, it’s hilarious:

ai art steals work from artists!!!!

ok then if any actual artists want to step up feel free to

crickets

i guess thanks to the anti ai people for giving another reason why ai art is useful even if it isn’t 100% accurate

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[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 1 point 4 hours ago*

The competition is less than halfway done and AI folks want it to be over already. Be patient, bud. Gloat after it's over, not 4 days in

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[–] mindbleach@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago

Seconded. It's fine. It's a product of a particular moment, but it's only intended to be seen as a little side image for flair. I've thought about painting over it, but (1) it would look identical in situ and (2) the reactionaries would not care. They can complain about the details, but addressing those complaints doesn't work. The nature of bad faith is that there is no right answer.

Admittedly the case for keeping it is weaker than e.g. the Games community's "name any object in this image" sidebar. There, the abstraction is a feature, looking appropriate at a glance but devoid of specifics. It never needs to be updated with newer games or pruned of fallen creators. It's cover art impressionism. Here, though, it's just a cute rodent and some computer shit, as illustrated by a robot. People being mad at the robot is not reason enough to drop in any slapdash alternative as if the human wrist has magically imbued that with intent.

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[+] cantstopthesignal@sh.itjust.works -9 points 3 days ago (2 children)

My submission.

https://i.imgflip.com/azwg65.jpg

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[–] eyekaytee@sh.itjust.works 2 points 17 hours ago

is this a joke?

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[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 11 points 2 days ago

Methinks that plastering a hammer and sickle across the top of our server would likely not help to dispel the myth that "all Lemmy users are tankies"...

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