# Avatar not specified, but I get one in the grease monkey script **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 26, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155 "2012-11-26T14:53:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/181 "2012-11-29T02:55:46Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Let me break this down as simply as possible. If a script-user sees an avatar picture next to someone’s name, without the script-user having chosen to put it there, most script-users would conclude that that picture was chosen by the poster in question. With the way the script is set up, in many cases, this is a false conclusion. If you are making it look like I chose a particular image, when I did not, then you are misrepresenting me. I should not have to do _anything_ to say that I do not wish to be misrepresented. I understand that you feel that way. However, that opinion is not reflective of reality. You do now have to do something to avoid being misrepresented in the fashion you describe. (Luckily, it’s something really easy.) What is the point of arguing that this situation shouldn’t exist? > [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > It’s the embellishments that change the tone and color of what you claimed I said. > > It was rude and unnecessary and nothing I posted deserved such an obnoxious reply. I think you may have been reading my words with derision that wasn’t actually there, but I apologize. It wasn’t my intent to be rude or obnoxious. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/182 "2012-11-29T02:56:19Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Why the hostility? The intent wasn’t hostile. The intent was to try to get **Banquet Bear** to understand that as much as he/she wants to “vote” what I do with my computer, his/her “vote” doesn’t really control anything. > [@](#): > > Sure anyone can put up an obnoxious (or nice) photo every time my post comes up. You could even do it by hand. Knock yourself out. Having an individual do that deliberately is different than having it built into the system and everyone using the script getting the photo, without realizing its not the users intent. Even if its no biggie to you, can you see why someone might be bugged by it? Yes, I can see how someone might be bugged by it. If you read my previous post, I think it’s an interesting issue that is black and white when it’s a single user and turns grey when it’s a default mechanism for a script used by many. I think ultimately it boils down to courtesy on the script makers part, but I am having trouble separating that kind of courtesy from the kind of courtesy in which I request a rich person give me a bunch of money. Those two aren’t the same things, but my difficulty is in calculating how far apart they are. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/183 "2012-11-29T02:59:50Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > The intent wasn’t hostile. > > The intent was to try to get **Banquet Bear** to understand that as much as he/she wants to “vote” what I do with my computer, his/her “vote” doesn’t really control anything. …and that part of the script has, apparently been disabled, thanks to the “votes” of the people in this thread. And I haven’t made any comment on what you do on your own computer apart from feel free to do whatever you like. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/184 "2012-11-29T03:02:46Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …and that part of the script has, apparently been disabled, thanks to the “votes” of the people in this thread. And I haven’t made any comment on what you do on your own computer apart from feel free to do whatever you like. No no, it has been deactivated because people who use the avatar script didn’t necessarily want to see default avatars and I heard their complaints and realized it was presumptuous of me to send them to everyone without an option to turn them off. The feature was not disabled to allay the unreasonable concerns of unrelated posters who don’t even use the script. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/185 "2012-11-29T03:08:49Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > No no, it has been deactivated because people who use the avatar script didn’t necessarily want to see default avatars and I heard their complaints and realized it was presumptuous of me to send them to everyone without an option to turn them off. The feature was not disabled to allay the unreasonable concerns of unrelated posters who don’t even use the script. …firstly: thats exactly what I said. And secondly, my concerns were not unreasonable. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/186 "2012-11-29T03:14:04Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …firstly: thats exactly what I said. And secondly, my concerns were not unreasonable. Since you aren’t a user of the script, and you were replying to someone who told you ‘you don’t have a vote’ by saying that the feature was disabled due to the voting going on in this thread, I took that to mean that you thought the complaints of unrelated peanut gallery members who want to chime in with their 2 cents even though they aren’t impacted by anything related to avatars was the reason it has been shelved for the moment. If you meant the votes of 3 or 4 script users, posted clearly and without overly dramatic emotional reactions helped me understand the feature needs to be made optional, if available at all, you are right on. If you don’t use the avatar script, any concerns you may have about others who do are unreasonable. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/187 "2012-11-29T03:38:37Z")
**MODERATOR NOTE:** > [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > Then your algorithm sucks. This is what I got for me… : > > [snip] > > That’s on searching Google Image Search on ‘sdmb cheshire human’s photo’. > > Your search criteria sucks, and you also suck. I’m not surprised at all that people are upset at what it turns up, given what it turns up for me. The only reason I’m not calling for your head on a platter is that I don’t give a shit. You ain’t going to see me calling for the mob to restrain themselves. I shouldn’t have to remind youo that personal insults are not allowed in ATMB. If this gets any more heated we’ll start issuing some Warnings. Dial it down. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/188 "2012-11-29T03:59:24Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …and that part of the script has, apparently been disabled, thanks to the “votes” of the people in this thread. And I haven’t made any comment on what you do on your own computer apart from feel free to do whatever you like. So when you “voted” to alter the script that I run on my computer, you weren’t trying to influence what/how I use my computer? I’m not sure I understand your logic on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/189 "2012-11-29T03:59:44Z")
The Grease Monkeys started it! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/190 "2012-11-29T04:02:16Z")
**Banquet Bear** , we actually had someone post a NSFW avatar previously, on purpose, so I don’t see the difference here. While I can see why people might be somewhat upset, the way some of yinz are carrying on it’s like the entire internet is going to see what you look like naked. O noes!!! Now, I’m going to put goatse on non-avatar person’s spot. Hehehehe _rubs hands together in glee_ ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/191 "2012-11-29T04:04:01Z")
> [@](#): > > I think you may have been reading my words with derision that wasn’t actually there, but I apologize. It wasn’t my intent to be rude or obnoxious. > [@Giraffe](#): > > You’re actually lucky it’s something you even _can_ do. **Crazyhorse** had no obligation to add that feature – he could have easily argued that people running a browser script to modify a web page on their computer can put any image they want next to any name regardless of how the posters involved feel about it. \*\*Sure, you can think he’s a terrible person \*\*for writing such a script in the first place, and you can feel unfairly treated for having to type three words in your profile to opt out, but arguing that **no one should have written such a horrible script** is kind of moot. They did. End of story. That’s the stuff that’s not nice. You took my comments and turned them into me calling him terrible and his script horrible. You don’t think that misrepresented me? I actually said I thought he wasn’t trying to be an ass. I try really hard to not use hyperbole or vilify someone I disagree with, so it was hurtful to be treated as if I did. I’m not stupid. I know it’s easy to fix. I may or may not. Since my first post I’ve been discussing this mostly as a philosophical discussion and replying to what I thought were mischaracterizations of this position. I still think his interpretation of all this is incorrect, but I’ve argued what I can argue. I just think its rude to be treated as if we’re whiny babies when the concerns do have merit to those of us who see this differently. A little respect is not a bad thing. ETA: cf post above mine that makes my point. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/192 "2012-11-29T04:30:00Z")
Be glad he didn’t give it to other people on other boards to assign images to people. SDMB can close this thread, delete this thread, the posters can grab tar and feathers, and nothing upon nothing can actually be done about it. This AFAIK wasn’t and isn’t a SDMB sanctioned thing, that is why Giraffe stated his opinion that it would have solved all the problems had they checked the box in the admin panel. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/193 "2012-11-29T04:42:38Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > So when you “voted” to alter the script that I run on my computer, you weren’t trying to influence what/how I use my computer? > > I’m not sure I understand your logic on this one. …when I ran the script I saw the image that IvoryTowerDenizen didn’t want used as her avatar as her avatar. She then had to go to her Flickr account to delete it. She didn’t delete it from your computer, she deleted it from the net. I saw the image on my computer, not yours. What you do to your own computer is irrelevant. What the script was doing was global and seen by any user of the script, including myself. You can do whatever you like on your computer. But your computer isn’t assigning me an avatar pulled from a post I made nearly a decade ago and then broadcasting that image to every user of the script. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/194 "2012-11-29T04:46:04Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I just think its rude to be treated as if we’re whiny babies when the concerns do have merit to those of us who see this differently. A little respect is not a bad thing. If there were no way to avoid having a script assigned image I’d agree to the lack of respect argument. As it is the complaint is rooted in who should have to do the work to eliminate the script assigned image. The offended party youths script writer. If you don’t wish to participate why are you surprised that your feedback falls on deaf ears? I don’t run the script but I assigned an image when I first heard of it. Why? Because even though I don’t care to use it, I do want to control how I am represented by it. Happily the author was kind enough to grant me that ability Without having to run the script myself. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/195 "2012-11-29T04:56:13Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > If there were no way to avoid having a script assigned image I’d agree to the lack of respect argument. As it is the complaint is rooted in who should have to do the work to eliminate the script assigned image. The offended party youths script writer. If you don’t wish to participate why are you surprised that your feedback falls on deaf ears? > I don’t run the script but I assigned an image when I first heard of it. Why? Because even though I don’t care to use it, I do want to control how I am represented by it. Happily the author was kind enough to grant me that ability Without having to run the script myself. Frankly, I utterly ignored the issue as it was billed as a way for people who wanted avatars to see them and for anyone who cared enough to assign someone a picture only they will see. It’s not a board function and it fell off my radar as soon as it appeared because it wasn’t for me. It was a surprise to realize that some old picture from ages ago, posted in one long buried thread (not the gallery) was being automatically broadcasted to all script users, as if I had chosen to put it out there. Obviously I know stuff thats out there remains out there, risking being seen. But a risk of it being seen shouldn’t become a certainty. I think it’s simple curtesy to make the assumption choosing to not opt in be more true than not, when that ability is in the scriptwriter’s hands. Clearly, not everyone agrees, but its not a crazy idea worthy of mockery. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/196 "2012-11-29T05:03:44Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > You can do whatever you like on your computer. But your computer isn’t assigning me an avatar pulled from a post I made nearly a decade ago and then broadcasting that image to every user of the script. But the SDMB Avatar script is! Or was, or actually wasn’t in your case - but was in some cases, dammit. So, what exactly? If you use the script and see an image you don’t want as someone’s avatar you can choose to see something different. And if you are concerned about what avatar someone may see for you, you can choose something that you want them to see instead, and if you are concerned about the possibility of a future re-emergence of an automatic avatar assignment that isn’t currently in use, but once was kind of, and didn’t assign any avatar to you anyway, you can tell the script preemptively that you don’t want it to find you - just in case. There is really no additional accommodations that can be made short of all of us covering our eyes when we read the boards. If you are interested enough in avatars to care what anyone else might see if and when they use them, just choose one or none for yourself and problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/197 "2012-11-29T05:04:25Z")
Missed edit: I’ve invested way more in this, not because I’m irate or its the end-times, or i think **Crazyhorse** is evil but because I can’t let a debate lie quiet or let a misrepresentation go unanswered. I’m sure everyone thinks I’m a fool, but I try to argue fair and get frustrated when I feel others don’t. **crazyhorse** you do get that not everyone is paying attention to what your script does or doesn’t do, right? Because people reasonably assumed it had nothing to do with them, doesn’t mean they don’t care that it does affect them? ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/198 "2012-11-29T05:37:29Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Missed edit: > > I’ve invested way more in this, not because I’m irate or its the end-times, or i think **Crazyhorse** is evil but because I can’t let a debate lie quiet or let a misrepresentation go unanswered. I’m sure everyone thinks I’m a fool, but I try to argue fair and get frustrated when I feel others don’t. > **crazyhorse** you do get that not everyone is paying attention to what your script does or doesn’t do, right? Because people reasonably assumed it had nothing to do with them, doesn’t mean they don’t care that it does affect them? That’s the whole point it actually doesn’t affect them. That is the heart of the entire issue - if it does affect them, that means that they are aware of, and give enough of a damn about avatars to use one of the variety of ways available to choose what their avatar will be by default. I don’t think you are a fool nor do I think you irrational but the premise on which you are basing your concern is flawed and so it is necessarily irrational. There is a way to choose your own avatar if you care what people see as an avatar for you, and there is a way to remove yourself from any default avatar thing if it is restored as an option. If you don’t care to use or see avatars you don’t have to. If you do you can. If you don’t care to offer something to those who do see them as your desired avatar you don’t have to, and if you do it will be your default avatar. There’s currently no script that finds additional avatars by images posted here but if there were it would be no different than someone googling for those images while they read your posts in another window. Its just a tool like google itself which can index, sort, cross-section, keyword search and present every single word and image you have ever posted here in a third of a second for anyone at any time. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/199 "2012-11-29T05:54:44Z")
\ > [@Crazyhorse](#): > > There is a way to choose your own avatar if you care what people see as an avatar for you, and there is a way to remove yourself from any default avatar thing if it is restored as an option. If you don’t care to use or see avatars you don’t have to. If you do you can. If you don’t care to offer something to those who do see them as your desired avatar you don’t have to, and if you do it will be your default avatar. \ One thing I think you are overlooking about some of our complaints is that the information I quoted above was not known to us or explained to us at the time the avatar script was first offered. If we knew what was going to happen we could have acted appropriately. But all we knew was the second sentence about not having to use avatars if we didn’t want to. We weren’t aware that if we didn’t want to have an avatar showing up automatically to others, we had to do something. ( And in fact, I get the idea now that in the beginning we didn’t have to do something in order to have no automatic avatar; that came later, right?) Well, Nobody Told Us. That’s the part I think maybe you are missing. Not how it works as much as how it was presented or explained. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155/200 "2012-11-29T06:04:59Z")
> [@](#): > > The intent was to try to get **Banquet Bear** to understand that as much as he/she wants to “vote” what I do with my computer, his/her “vote” doesn’t really control anything. I think the potential for voter fraud is too great. We need to institute some sort of voter photo ID software or script. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-not-specified-but-i-get-one-in-the-grease-monkey-script/642155.md?page=11)