# Avatars: Yay or Nay? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 14, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353 "2008-05-14T22:47:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Mark\_Ryle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8dc957/32.png) [@Mark\_Ryle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Ryle)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/261 "2008-05-20T17:50:02Z")
[QUOTE=CoG888] I didn’t see anything wrong with **elmwood’s** GIF, except that the Avatars should be on the left side of the User names. Maybe **Mark Ryle** is upset because that kitten doesn’t look as vapid as he thought it would. [/QUOTE] I guess the next three Posters’ (# 239, 240, and 241) comments are about the cute kitten then, including **Cervaise** ’s three “Big Grin” smilies. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Ryle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8dc957/32.png) [@Mark\_Ryle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Ryle)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/262 "2008-05-20T17:53:37Z")
[QUOTE=CarnalK] It’s actually perfectly SFW, btw. No noise. Seems like you are ready to assume the worst. [/QUOTE] Maybe I’ll report the Post and force an opinion on the subject. Still wating to hear from **elmwood**. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/263 "2008-05-20T17:55:46Z")
What are you talking about? They obviously thought his little joke was amusing. You do know it was a joke, right? About people getting so touchy about and offended by avatars? Like you are being? OMG, are you being totally ironic and whooshing me? eta: ok, I guess not. On what grounds would you report that post? ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Ryle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8dc957/32.png) [@Mark\_Ryle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Ryle)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/264 "2008-05-20T18:17:07Z")
[QUOTE=CarnalK] On what grounds would you report that post? [/QUOTE] Straight Dope Message Board \>\> About This Message Board \>\> FAQ: Rules for Posting at the Straight Dope Message Board \>\> What Links Are Permitted? > [@](#): > > No jack-in-the-box links > We’re tired of seeing that site with a picture that has a face jumping up with a scream. If you’re going to post a link to that site, or another site that is intended to startle/annoy by a sudden sound/image, check with a staff member first. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/265 "2008-05-20T18:22:16Z")
[QUOTE=Mark Ryle] Let **elmwood** explain it. [/QUOTE] Thanks. It’s an animated GIF showing: 1. A SDMB post accompanied by a small avatar depicting a kitten. 2. An image of a yelling man, with the caption “THIS IS AN OUTRAGE”. This is intended to be a humorous, slightly exaggerated representation of the reaction many seem to have about the prospect of avatars on the SDMB. 3. An image of part of the SDMB user control panel, with “Show Avatars” checked. 4. An image of the same part of the SDMB user control panel, only with “Show Avatars” unhecked. 5. The same image as in #1, only with no kitten avatar. 6. A child’s crayon drawing of rainbows and smiling suns set against a blue sky There is no sound accompanying the GIF. It is technically impossible for GIFs to have embedded sound. If people are so offended by just a _link_ to an animated GIF, perhaps they should be visiting the SDMB, and maybe all other Web sites, using [this browser](http://lynx.browser.org/). For the irony and humor-impaired, it’s a link to the old Lynx browser, and contains no content that would be considered unsafe for work, even those employed for the Mutwas (Religious Moral Police in Saudi Arabia). ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/266 "2008-05-20T18:48:03Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] Then, as has been stated many times previously in this thread, [turn them off](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/profile.php?do=editoptions). [http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/3863/straightdopemessageboargz7.png](http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/3863/straightdopemessageboargz7.png) [/QUOTE] That was a bit inappropriate for ATMB. I made it clear I mean no disrespect to you. Especially ironic since you subsequently posted this: > [@](#): > > _2) An image of a yelling man, with the caption “THIS IS AN OUTRAGE”. This is intended to be a humorous, slightly exaggerated representation of the reaction many seem to have about the prospect of avatars on the SDMB._ I simply said another vote for no, it was you who over-reacted. Never the less, as far as I’m concerned you’ve made my point. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/267 "2008-05-20T18:52:22Z")
[QUOTE=Mark Ryle] Straight Dope Message Board \>\> About This Message Board \>\> FAQ: Rules for Posting at the Straight Dope Message Board \>\> What Links Are Permitted? [/QUOTE] Wow. Out of some pretty, lets say interesting since this is ATMB, things I’ve read in this thread this takes it. Were you actually startled or did you assume there was noise and are now backpeddling to cover yourself? No noise. No startling images. SFW. If I had to predict I would say that, at least at first, the biggest problem we would have with avatars would be from some in the anti-avatar crowd who would put something stupid in rather than maturely turning off the avatars and leaving it alone. just a guess. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/268 "2008-05-20T18:55:24Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Wow. Out of some pretty, lets say interesting since this is ATMB, things I’ve read If I had to predict I would say that, at least at first, the biggest problem we would have with avatars would be from some in the anti-avatar crowd who would put something stupid in rather than maturely turning off the avatars and leaving it alone. [/QUOTE] Since our crowd is bigger than your crowd, I guess we will never know. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/269 "2008-05-20T18:59:31Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] Since our crowd is bigger than your crowd, I guess we will never know. [/QUOTE] What crowd am I in? If they are here, I’ll probably use a small representation of my user name. If they are not, I won’t. Don’t care either way but I am amused by the venom, I’m concerned about the health of the SDMB and I think the conservatism of the board my become the death of it. Not just over this issue, this is just a symptom. And what makes you think there will be a vote? This isn’t a democracy, it’s a business. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/270 "2008-05-20T19:04:41Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] This isn’t a democracy, it’s a business. [/QUOTE] I don’t know what business you are in, but in my business, we try to pay attention to what most of our customers like. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/271 "2008-05-20T19:05:43Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] I don’t know what business you are in, but in my business, we try to pay attention to what most of our customers like. [/QUOTE] If the current customer base is shrinking then you try to get new customers. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/272 "2008-05-20T19:07:45Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] If the current customer base is shrinking then you try to get new customers. [/QUOTE] We have no reason to believe avatars will increase the membership. For all we know, it will drive members away. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/273 "2008-05-20T19:08:46Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] If the current customer base is shrinking then you try to get new customers. [/QUOTE] Right. By appealing to…? Anyone? Yes. Customers who have preferences more in line with what you are now selling. Which means that as your demographic changes, so will your product. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/274 "2008-05-20T19:09:45Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] We have no reason to believe avatars will increase the membership. For all we know, it will drive members away. [/QUOTE] It doesn’t matter what we believe. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Ryle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8dc957/32.png) [@Mark\_Ryle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Ryle)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/275 "2008-05-20T19:10:37Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Wow. Out of some pretty, lets say interesting since this is ATMB, things I’ve read in this thread this takes it. Were you actually startled or did you assume there was noise and are now backpeddling to cover yourself? No noise. No startling images. SFW. [/QUOTE] I’ll bold it this time: > [@](#): > > No jack-in-the-box links > We’re tired of seeing that site with a picture that has a face jumping up with a scream. If you’re going to post a link to that site, or another site that is intended to startle/annoy **by a sudden sound/image** , check with a staff member first. It was sudden, it was an image. Are there any other parts you don’t understand? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/276 "2008-05-20T19:12:18Z")
[QUOTE=Mark Ryle] I’ll bold it this time:It was sudden, it was an image. Are there any other parts you don’t understand? [/QUOTE] The part where you forgot to bold “that is intended to startle/annoy”. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/277 "2008-05-20T19:12:23Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] It doesn’t matter what we believe. [/QUOTE] So on what basis will TPTB make a decision? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/278 "2008-05-20T19:14:19Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] So on what basis will TPTB make a decision? [/QUOTE] I don’t know. I don’t have to answer to a company that owns six newspapers. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Ryle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8dc957/32.png) [@Mark\_Ryle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Ryle)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/279 "2008-05-20T19:17:16Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] Thanks. It’s an animated GIF showing: 1. A SDMB post accompanied by a small avatar depicting a kitten. 2. An image of a yelling man, with the caption “THIS IS AN OUTRAGE”. This is intended to be a humorous, slightly exaggerated representation of the reaction many seem to have about the prospect of avatars on the SDMB. [/QUOTE] Why, in #1, is it a “small avatar depicting a kitten,” but in #2 it’s simply “an image of a yelling man”? It’s a large image of a yelling man. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Ryle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8dc957/32.png) [@Mark\_Ryle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Ryle)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353/280 "2008-05-20T19:20:39Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] The part where you forgot to bold “that is intended to startle/annoy”. [/QUOTE] I was startled and appalled as I came to realize a very inappropriate thing had just happened to me at work, from a site I trust. And, intended or not, it _really_ annoyed me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars-yay-or-nay/449353.md?page=15)