most, but not all, images on vbulletin have alt tags. the alt tags come from the vbulletin software. the admin here can change them, but every little update wipes them out and they have to be done over.

the problem is not mostly alt tags. most of the problem is in the sizing of the images. if the image is sized when it is loaded then what i see is a little box the size that was written, regardless of the length of the alt tag. then i can mouse over the square and read the alt tag, if there is one, and the page loads correctly. for example, currently the icons below this message box have all been sized, and i can see what they would be by holding my mouse pointer over them. this is new, on OBT several of these icons were not sized.

if the trigger icon is sized, then the only way i will know it is there is to mouse over every single square representing an icon to me. if i am required to post a trigger icon on a post then the only way i will find it to check it is to run my mouse over every single square representing an icon until i find the trigger icon. if the trigger icon has alt tags.

if an icon is not sized and it has an alt tag, then i have a worse problem. the page does not load correctly because the alt tag on the unsized icon will spread as far as it needs to. this distorts the page badly and sometimes makes it impossible for me to read it. at best i have to do a great deal of scrolling.

this is a problem for many disabled computer users, especially the blind who use screen braillers or screen readers, or the learning disabled who use screen readers.

the icon sizing/alt tag problem has a very simple solution. size your icons and put in alt tags.

requiring me to use a trigger icon does not have a simple solution. i find the whole idea quite peculiar, since one of its reasons is supposed be to label threads which will be a trigger for my photosensitivity. but i can't see the trigger icons because of my photosensitivity. somehow i do not the idea of a trigger icon was followed to its logical conclusion.