# Avatar holdouts: going to stick to your guns or eventually get one? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 15, 2021, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022 "2021-04-15T01:21:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/163 "2021-04-22T14:49:57Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > “Did we need them before they were invented, and would we lose something if they were gone?” The answer is, “No”, I disagree with your answer to both these questions. We never needed something before it was invented. That’s what inventions do - change our tool set. No one in the 19th century said “If only we had a form of transport to replace our horse and buggy.” Then Henry Ford came along and his invention created a need. On the second point, it’s not universal for all, obviously, but several Dopers have said that the avatars help them recognise the poster. I’m in that group - I have a good visual memory. I remember **Jasmine** now in a way that I did not, pre-avatar, and that’s a good thing - I like associating your posts with your avatar, and in fact makes it more likely I will click on a thread showing your avatar. The fact that avatars may not help all posters doesn’t mean the answer to your second question is a straight “No”. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/164 "2021-04-22T14:53:26Z")
The thing **Heffalump\_and\_Roo** was asking how to use? 😛 It’s the default image editor in windows. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/165 "2021-04-22T14:55:13Z")
I don’t use Windows so that’s not an option. More generally, as **Dinsdale** said upthread, there are those of us for whom tinkering with computer stuff is not really interesting or worth the effort. You’ve got no idea how long it took me to put my pipes-hummingbird-skeletal mosquito up. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/166 "2021-04-22T15:45:44Z")
I understand, but they asked how to do it in Paint, so I described the steps necessary. It’s certainly simpler than scanning a blank page. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/167 "2021-04-22T16:11:45Z")
Having both scanned a page and saved an image, there isn’t that much difference. **Scan an image** Open scanning software Scan page Save Image **Save image in Paint** Open Paint Save image Scanning the page takes less than a minute. Not much of a difference for me anyway. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/168 "2021-04-22T16:13:56Z")
What in the world? No, opening Paint, clicking save is easier than taking a piece of paper over to a scanner then opening your scanner software and clicking scan, save image. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/169 "2021-04-22T16:15:25Z")
You had to phisically interact with _real_ objects!. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/170 "2021-04-22T16:16:48Z")
Happens sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/171 "2021-04-22T16:21:00Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > It’s been said many times already; for many of us the only thing that avatars “add” is a degree of recognizability. It makes exchanges slightly easier to follow. I find that curious. While I recognize your name, I don’t believe we’ve directly communicated much. Apologies, but your avatar is one of the least easy to see. Something black and white. What is it? Someone/something playing a banjo or guitar? Or something completely different? Oh hell - I clicked on it, and slightly larger it is a dog. I see it now, but would not have guessed before. (And - honestly - didn’t even look closely.) > [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Then why are you complaining about them so much? > > Why don’t you want people who like avatars to have them? I said above that I deal best with words. You might want to try the same. Or please point out to me where I said ANYTHING that could be interpreted as “complaining about them so much” or wishing anyone else didn’t use them? If you chose to interpret my post in that manner, I suggest that is an unreasonable reading, based on something about you rather than anything I wrote. I couldn’t care less whether anyone uses an avatar or not. Doesn’t make me think any more or less of them. Now, OTOH, when someone goes out of their way to mischaracterize something I posted… ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/172 "2021-04-22T16:22:07Z")
For now… ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/173 "2021-04-22T16:27:43Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Apologies, but your avatar is one of the least easy to see. Something black and white. What is it? Someone/something playing a banjo or guitar? Or something completely different? No worries. I put virtually zero effort into choosing an avatar, it was just one of the first small PNGs I saw on my computer. Like I say, since it is not aimed at representing my personality in any way, just a visual placecard, it doesn’t bother me whether it’s a recognizable thing or not. But if it bothers people I will change it to something that is more clear at smaller sizes. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/174 "2021-04-22T16:34:28Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > But if it bothers people I will change it to something that is more clear at smaller sizes. I think it’s fine, and I don’t have any trouble recognizing what it is. On the other hand, it always throws me off a little whenever anyone changes their avatar. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/175 "2021-04-22T16:37:21Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > We never needed something before it was invented. That’s what inventions do - change our tool set. No one in the 19th century said “If only we had a form of transport to replace our horse and buggy.” Then Henry Ford came along and his invention created a need. [nitpick] Henry Ford didn’t invent the automobile by any stretch. There are several people who have claims, but Ford was way too late. [/np] ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/176 "2021-04-22T17:09:09Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Or please point out to me where I said ANYTHING that could be interpreted as “complaining about them so much” Apologies! You are quite right. I was confusing you with @elbows who has a light green avatar with an ‘E’, and you have a similar light green avatar with a ‘D’. Genuinely – I’m not playing mind games! 😀 But it certainly proves my point about those of us who find visual information important. I was simply remembering what someone with a light green letter avatar had said, and not registering the names so much. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/177 "2021-04-22T17:11:31Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Oh hell - I clicked on it, and slightly larger it is a dog. I see it now, but would not have guessed before. (And - honestly - didn’t even look closely There really does seem to be variance in the display of the avatars. **Dinsdale** and **Elbows** both report that the avatars are just smears of colours. That’s not what I’m seeing. **Mijin** ’s avatar is quite easy for me to see and recognize, on both my phone and my laptop. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/178 "2021-04-22T17:13:44Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > We never needed something before it was invented. _Mater artium necessitas_ [Necessity is the mother of invention - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necessity_is_the_mother_of_invention) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/179 "2021-04-22T17:13:45Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > [nitpick] Henry Ford didn’t invent the automobile by any stretch. There are several people who have claims, but Ford was way too late. [/np] Quite right - I should have been clearer - I was referring to his manufacturing process that put cars within the means of a mass consumer. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/180 "2021-04-22T17:15:26Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > I was confusing you with @elbows who has a light green avatar with an ‘E’, and you have a similar light green avatar with a ‘D’. Hmm. ~looks at avatar color~ ~stroking chin~ ::wondering how I can blame **Dinsdale** for things I post:: ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/181 "2021-04-22T17:25:21Z")
Yes, noticed that you removed your avatar, and now have a slightly darker green avatar than those two - who both dislike avatars and both claim they are too small to see. I _liked_ your pink Heffalump avatar. I think it’s one of the best on the board, so I hope you’ll reconsider. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022/182 "2021-04-22T17:36:05Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Apologies! You are quite right. No probs at all. So I see your avatar, and it looks like some kind of cartoon or video game character. Maybe there is a character w/ your username? But I don’t read comix/play vidgames. > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > There really does seem to be variance in the display of the avatars. **Dinsdale** and **Elbows** both report that the avatars are just smears of colours. Well, not a smear. But without pulling out a ruler, I doubt the avatars on my computer screen could be more than 1/2"x1/2". They get larger when I click on a username, but I RARELY do that. The more complicated they are, the more effort I would need to put into them to try to figure out what they are. And - as I said, I put essentially NO information into them, as they provide NO information I find useful or interesting. > [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > ::wondering how I can blame **Dinsdale** for things I post:: No worries - it’s ALL my fault! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-holdouts-going-to-stick-to-your-guns-or-eventually-get-one/940022.md?page=10)