feat: support cat-blocks as a configurable theme

[KManolov3]

Resolves

https://scratchfoundation.atlassian.net/browse/UEPR-416

Proposed Changes

• Introduce logic allowing for the configuration of a blocks theme
• Add conditional logic for using the cat blocks theme

Reason for Changes

As part of the membership initiative, we want to reintroduce the cat blocks theme as an optional theme for supporters of Scratch

[adzhindzhi]

Looks good! We should do some code cleanup and ensure it's stable enough for production, but it's a great PoC.

[adzhindzhi]

Looking at clearTimeout() docs, we probably can, but I think it's better to leave it that way

[KManolov3]

Noticed that the outer layer of the cat ears is missing - we'll have to debug why (me missing/changing something when adapting the code seems like an obvious candidate) once we get back around to this

[rosics-code]

Why? Cat Blocks were meant to be a fun April Fools joke to have some laughs, not some dumb membership only feature. This is basically going to create bullying and harassment because members can slid into non-members Scratch profile (because there's apparently going to be a marker). But the member can say something like "HEY LOSER! U DON'T HAVE MEMBERSHIP HAHA!". This also makes Scratch look money-hungry and just some another gaming controller social media clone where you have to pay $10 for a subscription and an extra $8 an avatar decoration. We can't keep supporting a site that want's main-site features locked behind a paywall, also cheddargirl said Scratch Membership won't spread onto main-site features.

This is not okay Scratch Team.

[ampelectrecuted]

As part of the membership initiative

#dontpywallcatblocks

[ampelectrecuted]

don't paywall cat blocks else the entire userbase will end up leaving scratch

[ampelectrecuted]

as a former scratch user who got banned a while ago but still lurks the forums, the membership system is getting crazy.
at first it seemed like just a small donation to get a few sprites (which anyone could get anyways via the backpack.)
now the navbar literally replaces the About link with a Membership link, and soon you will have to pay for cat blocks?
the Scratch Foundation is supposed to be a non-profit. now they are taking the "non-" prefix away from that.

[ampelectrecuted]

also an ST member has rejected this, and i can remember that very clearly .not trying to be rude to the members of the company that partnered with the ST and caused this chaos, but i guess it'd be best if you had a look at https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/topic/343602/ (this is the first time i had to say this to a scratch developer)

[ajskateboarder]

@ampelectrecuted as much as this feature addition is bad I don't really think developers have to listen to a list of rejected suggestions for Scratch forumers 😭

[rosics-code]

@ampelectrecuted as much as this feature addition is bad I don't really think developers have to listen to a list of rejected suggestions for Scratch forumers 😭

.. yes they do, remember these are features ST said they WILL NOT add so it's not like they aren't community driven.

[cambegonefr]

Absolutely not! Why would you think rejecting Cat Blocks as a permanent feature can be a solutinized by putting it behind a paywall? (https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/topic/851694)

[raynecloudy]

scratch team, what are you doing? i love you, and i get that you want perks for donators, but this is overstepping. you guys have said yourselves that cat blocks were intended to be an april fool's joke and that they won't be back¹, except possibly for future april fool's events². now, you're changing your minds in favor of the membership initiative, which is just a little depressing. though there is no doubt in my mind that this will bring in some cash, i don't support this change. it just feels icky to me.

not to mention, the number of people that use browser extensions like Scratch Addons and related will make this perk obsolete immediately.

please reconsider.

Footnotes

1. https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/topic/392902/?page=27#post-3899362
   "This is just for April Fool's Day, so they will not be permanent. Just a fun thing for a few days ^.^" ↩

2. https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/topic/343602/
   "...the cat blocks were intended to be temporary, and the Scratch Team has stated that they do not plan to bring them back as a permanent option. However, it is possible that they may temporarily come back during future April Fools' Day events." ↩

[ampelectrecuted]

1. this is technically a flame war, please stop (though i have to confess i myself may have spread the flames too much)
2. the user who opened this PR seems to be part of a company the scratch foundation is in a contraction with, which is likely why many of their PRs have been merged, i have the feeling this one won't though unless it is refurbished to be an option anyone can enable or if it's just for april 1st

[cambegonefr]

@ampelectrecuted This is not a flame war. A flame war is offensive/abusive banter between users or a community. What's happening here is a protest, a protest for the right reasons might I add.

[DawnRooney27]

No No No No No! How scummy/money hungry do you have to be to lock a fan-favorite but once a year feature behind a paywall? The Scratch Foundation claims there are no paywalls then turn around and do stuff like this. This is so disappointing. If I wasn't banned on Scratch still, I'd have some words for the Scratch Team in the forums.

~ DangerousDawn