# Avatars **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 28, 2011, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594 "2011-07-28T05:25:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/321 "2011-08-04T04:47:18Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Honest to god, people do not yuk it up over avatars. I mean, in a MMP-type of thread, someone might say “hey, love your new avatar!”, but I’ve never seen anyone stop in the middle of a serious thread or debate and start exchanging witty repartee over avatars. It just doesn’t happen. For me, they tend to just be a visual cue as to who it is I’m talking to. I find it helpful. Why that makes me juvenile, not a grown-up, or is an indication that I am unable to communicate in writing, I’m not sure. Sounds like a bunch of bullshit, actually. I _think_ more of what he’s saying is that if someone had, say, a picture of a Crucifix as their avatar, people may treat them in a religious debate as if they’re Catholic, rather than JUST addressing their point, they may also make some snide reference to Catholicism. You could argue this could go for every avatar, i.e. people would go easier (for low values of “easy”) on people with say, delicate adorable kittens as their avatar. But this is theory, in reality I think the effect would be so negligible as to be practically nonexistent. Even in the cases where somebody might make an assumption such as someone being Catholic, anybody bold enough to have an avatar espousing a certain religion or viewpoint is also probably bold enough to be known for that viewpoint on the board already (or would quickly become known for it regardless). ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/322 "2011-08-04T04:53:11Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > You could argue this could go for every avatar, i.e. people would go easier (for low values of “easy”) on people with say, delicate adorable kittens as their avatar Could argue it for usernames too. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2011, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/323 "2011-08-04T05:46:56Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Honest to god, people do not yuk it up over avatars. I mean, in a MMP-type of thread, someone might say “hey, love your new avatar!”, but I’ve never seen anyone stop in the middle of a serious thread or debate and start exchanging witty repartee over avatars. It just doesn’t happen. For me, they tend to just be a visual cue as to who it is I’m talking to. I find it helpful. Why that makes me juvenile, not a grown-up, or is an indication that I am unable to communicate in writing, I’m not sure. Sounds like a bunch of bullshit, actually. I’m guessing this must be the ONLY message board they’ve ever visited. I’ve been online since, oh, 1996, and avatars have been around since I started on most boards. I never paid them much attention, for the most part, except to say, “hey, cool avatar.” Again, you could have a stickied thread for “Make me an avatar!” _shakes head in wonder_ ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/324 "2011-08-04T06:12:48Z")
> [@Amblydoper](#): > > … pages and pages… > [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > … Well, this is on page 6… You say fritata, I say baked omelet. Only thing I will add is this: I actively run ad blockers. I don’t pay for membership. The SDMB serves me for free. If Avatars are added, as a membership incentive, I’ll pay up. Otherwise, I will continue to leech your bandwidth. I doubt I am the only one who feels this way. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2011, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/325 "2011-08-04T06:18:03Z")
We could always create [ASCII](http://www.glassgiant.com/ascii/ascii.php?sample=mona)avatars. They are plain text so it would ensure that the intelligent discourse normally found around here wouldn’t be disrupted. That should appease the text-based purists and the 300 baud modem crowd. You have to walk before you can run. My text rendition of a crazy horse. …(}=79-8… …?..p) 8… …8:… …8… …Z …8… …=O …6.67.8… …,.=,.=…?8,…6… …,.=…6 … …=…7… …,.=8…?.:… …-.8…O…=+…D… …\<8,…8 …=-=-…7,…8… …8… .:…8…=i… …7,…I=…o=…7… …8#…i=…{8o=…8… …U…i=… …%I…8D… ---
**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:** [August 4, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/326 "2011-08-04T15:07:48Z")
Any anti-avatar members care t offer their opinions on [my proposal](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14098419&postcount=295)? ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/327 "2011-08-04T15:13:05Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Any anti-avatar members care t offer their opinions on [my proposal](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14098419&postcount=295)? Although I’m not anti-avatar (though I would never use them myself nor turn them on), I think point #9 is not quite clear… ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/328 "2011-08-04T15:13:48Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > I _think_ more of what he’s saying is that if someone had, say, a picture of a Crucifix as their avatar, people may treat them in a religious debate as if they’re Catholic, rather than JUST addressing their point, they may also make some snide reference to Catholicism. You could argue this could go for every avatar, i.e. people would go easier (for low values of “easy”) on people with say, delicate adorable kittens as their avatar. But this is theory, in reality I think the effect would be so negligible as to be practically nonexistent. Even in the cases where somebody might make an assumption such as someone being Catholic, anybody bold enough to have an avatar espousing a certain religion or viewpoint is also probably bold enough to be known for that viewpoint on the board already (or would quickly become known for it regardless). Well, that’s the thing…people let you know what they want you to know about themselves. Someone who’s Catholic enough to have a crucifix as an avatar isn’t going to be coy about it when they’re discussing something where being Catholic is relevant. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/329 "2011-08-04T17:34:25Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Any anti-avatar members care t offer their opinions on [my proposal](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14098419&postcount=295)? As I said in the poll thread before the Lord High Emperor started making things up, I’ve gone from vehemently anti-avatar to turn them on to get people to just shut the hell up about it. I’ll caveat that I don’t want the overall layout changed much, preferably none at all. I won’t look at anyone’s avatar, I won’t discuss it, I’ll pretty much ignore posts in the few threads I participate in that reference them, though I may put one in there and forget about it (which is pretty much how I treat sig lines now). I don’t see the need for them nor understand the anger each side has for the other (and all the analogies being tossed back and forth such donkey balls), but the fact that I don’t need nor want them they should be banned…at leash until I unseat the Lord High Emperor and rule the universe and my whims and wishes become law. Then everyone must like what I like…or else. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/330 "2011-08-04T18:41:12Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > 1. **Avatar display will be off by default.** Registered members must opt in to be able to see them. Unregistered visitors and banned users will not see them. Again, registered members must opt in to be able to see them. Otherwise, they will not see them, because they did not opt in. Members that did not opt in will not be able to see avatars. Avatars will not be visible to members unless they want them to be visible. Members will not be forced to see avatars, nor will they see them unless they choose to do so. Only members who have the “Display avatars” option checked to “yes” in their control panel will see them. All other members will not be able to see them. If a member did not choose to see avatars, they will not see them. They will not appear in any posts they view if they did not choose to see them. If a member did not check “yes” for “Display avatars” in your control panel, they will not see avatars. The display of avatars will be enabled only for those that have chosen to see them. All mon-members, and members that have chosen _not_ to see avatars will _not_ see them. The only people that will see avatars are members that have willingly chosen to see them on their own accord by selecting “yes” for “Display avatars” in their control panel. Can we nominate this for some sort of ‘Greatest post or part of a post of all time’ award? A Golden Cecil or something? Or at least a doughnut? Because it truly deserves it. I’m not even on the ‘pro Avatar’ side of the discussion, but this paragraph is all kinds of greatness. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/331 "2011-08-04T18:56:30Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > Can we nominate this for some sort of ‘Greatest post or part of a post of all time’ award? A Golden Cecil or something? Or at least a doughnut? Because it truly deserves it. I’m not even on the ‘pro Avatar’ side of the discussion, but this paragraph is all kinds of greatness. I would rather nominate it for the “Turn the damn things on to get the pro- side to shut up”. The anti- side knows this. Saying it 10 different ways in one paragraph adds nothing to the debate (though since the first 25 or so posts, there really hasn’t been anything new added to the debate, and those 25 posts just reiterated the last go-round). It also fails to take into account human nature. If anything, it makes the anti- crowd dig in their heels more because the post is addressed to them, and it treats them like dummies. Honestly, had I read that before I re-examined my decision and voted in the poll, it likely would have caused me to stick with a staunch “No Avatars for Anyone” outlook out of pure stubbornness. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/332 "2011-08-04T19:09:31Z")
A couple comments that address various concerns that have been raised: 1. Regarding the “here at the SDMB we express ourselves with words” comments. I have read my fair share of message boards in my day. Pretty much all of them allow avatars, and pretty much all of them have reasonably intelligent members who use complete sentences, proper spelling and punctuation, and generally have interesting things to say. Avatars seem to be completely uncorrelated with a membership that are incapable of expressing themselves with words. 2. Regarding the “there will be undercurrents of conversation we won’t be able to follow” comments. I’ve seen lots of people mention that they keep avatars off because the read at work or whatnot, and no one has ever complained that they feel like they’re missing something. They just prefer the board to be visually different, so they set it that way…similar to how different people use different skins when they are available, or choose to see signatures or not. It’s really not a big deal…they could enable avatars, and those who don’t change their settings would forget all about it in a week or so. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/333 "2011-08-04T20:01:31Z")
> [@Wakinyan](#): > > As one doper said above, “invisible ketchup is still ketchup”. That’ll go into my sig if I had one, because in short, I simply do not like ketchup. I do not like ketchup, Sam I Etchup. Hmmm, needs work. > [@Revenant\_Threshold](#): > > Why should the person asking for the change be the one to leave? I mean, I tend to think it’s a silly argument; I don’t plan to leave if avatars (as seems certain now with **Ed’s** dislike added onto **Tuba’s** ) don’t come in, Then it’s a non-issue. The point was aimed at those who feel so abused by the status that their continued posting is in question. There’s a large existing community with things the way they are. Someone comes in and says we should change. A vocal component says no, it’s better the way it is. Do you keep things the way they are, or change? I say keep things the way they are - the one wanting the change has to justify the change more than the ones who like the status quo have to justify their like of the status quo. Sure, you can argue majority rules, or whatever, but on a divisive and seemingly evenly balanced topic, seems like the default should be the way it is, not something new and different. Could you specify which posts of mine you consider to be bitching and whining (if you did mean me specifically)? [/quote] I thought it was pretty clear I was being generic. > [@elmwood](#): > > Okay, folks. Here’s a **serious** proposal to implement avatars on the Straight Dope, based on Guin’s suggestion for a trial period. Mostly good suggestion. > [@](#): > > 1. **Avatars will never be enabled for the “serious” forums.** **NEVER.** This includes General Questions, Great Debates, Elections, Comments on Cecil’s Columns/Staff Reports, Cafe Society. Avatars will also never appear in Ed’s forums: Straight Dope Chicago and The Barn House. For the proponents arguing for avatars, one of their big reasons is helping tell posters apart, especially in discussions and debates. Not providing avatars in the threads most centered on discussion and debate seems insufficient to the stated needs. Furthermore, this is unnecessary. If issues and tone change don’t arise in the trial period in the “lesser” forums, then there’s no reason to expect it in the more serious ones. If issues do arise, then they can be assessed and addressed at the time on their merits, not an a priori conclusion. > [@](#): > > 1. **Only paid members will be allowed to have avatars.** This also reduces the likelihood of socks registering just to display a NSFW or offensive avatar. A better solution might be a minimum post count before you can have an avatar, but it’s not a big issue to me, and perhaps is an incentive to pay up. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > Nope, you wouldn’t have to host them here. You’d upload them to a site like photobucket, or tinypic. Who would upload them? The avatar owner? Link to their own host site? Or a board-wide solution? ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/334 "2011-08-04T21:09:56Z")
I think I need a few more analogies before I can make up my mind properly on this one. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/335 "2011-08-04T21:20:20Z")
> [@ntucker](#): > > I think I need a few more analogies before I can make up my mind properly on this one. It’s like… a group of users who would like to read their posts in a different font. And no other users would ever need know about it or care. But in order to allow some users see posts in this font, the Admins would need to check a small checkbox on the board setup, and do a small bit of extra modding just to make sure nobody is ‘abusing’ the font. Every time the question comes up uninvolved bystanders start to speak up about why they like Serif more than Monospace fonts, and how Gutenberg would have selected fonts if he ran a message board, etc. ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/336 "2011-08-04T21:27:20Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > It’s like… a group of users who would like to read their posts in a different font. And no other users would ever need know about it or care. But in order to allow some users see posts in this font, the Admins would need to check a small checkbox on the board setup, and do a small bit of extra modding just to make sure nobody is ‘abusing’ the font. Every time the question comes up uninvolved bystanders start to speak up about why they like Serif more than Monospace fonts, and how Gutenberg would have selected fonts if he ran a message board, etc. Not doing it for me. You got anything involving food preferences? ---
**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:** [August 4, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/337 "2011-08-04T21:33:53Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > The anti- side knows [avatars will be off by default]. Saying it 10 different ways in one paragraph adds nothing to the debate. You say that, but people keep dropping into this (and past) debates saying words to the effect of “I hate how avatars make a forum look, therefore no to avatars”. I think we need to add animated emoticons just so I can use the classic banging-head-against-something smiley. (just kidding folks) ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/338 "2011-08-04T21:41:53Z")
> [@ntucker](#): > > Not doing it for me. You got anything involving food preferences? Sorry, ketchup was covered I think on page one. I could do…school uniforms, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/339 "2011-08-04T21:57:03Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Any anti-avatar members care t offer their opinions on [my proposal](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14098419&postcount=295)? I already did in my last post. I thought you had some good ideas in there, but I think some tweaks would be good too. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/340 "2011-08-04T22:01:13Z")
> [@ntucker](#): > > I think I need a few more analogies before I can make up my mind properly on this one. It’s exactly like abortions\*. One group says “They should be allowed and the choice should be up to the individual woman. It’s a private matter and no-one else needs to be involved.” The other group says “OMG!!!1!! If we allow women the right to choose, EVERY WOMAN WILL BE _FORCED_ to have abortions! Plus, the only thing everyone will be talking about is abortions and that’ll bring in the riff-raff and the low-class people.” Did that help? \*😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594.md?page=18)