# 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:** 8
**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 1, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/141 "2011-08-01T23:31:02Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Speaking as a user, and leaving aside my being a moderator (which isn’t really relevant anyway - nobody at the Reader gives a hoot what the Game Room third-string mod thinks) I say no, no, no. no, no, no a thousand times no to avatars. No, no no. Please, no. User CP \> Edit Options \> Discover “show avatar” has already been disabled. Hell, Avatars could be enabled right now, and assuming you weren’t a mod, you likely wouldn’t even be aware of it. ---
**Author:** ![BDBoop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@BDBoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDBoop)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/142 "2011-08-01T23:38:51Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Speaking as a user, and leaving aside my being a moderator (which isn’t really relevant anyway - nobody at the Reader gives a hoot what the Game Room third-string mod thinks) I say no, no, no. no, no, no a thousand times no to avatars. No, no no. Please, no. Okay, Sir! I have you down for a ‘maybe.’ 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mewl\_Dear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mewl\_Dear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mewl_Dear)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/143 "2011-08-01T23:41:47Z")
Why do the people who do not want to see avatars get to rule? As has been established you DO NOT have to see them. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/144 "2011-08-01T23:48:01Z")
> [@Mewl\_Dear](#): > > Why do the people who do not want to see avatars get to rule? As has been established you DO NOT have to see them. Because based on previous polls on the subject, we out-number you by quite a ratio. That’s why. ---
**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 1, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/145 "2011-08-01T23:57:43Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > the fact that some are against avatars even if they were toggleable, and off by default, kinda shows what this debate is really about. It’s just about some members / mods “Ugh…avatars…yuck” reaction. There’s no logic beyond that. > [@RickJay](#): > > I say no, no, no. no, no, no a thousand times no to avatars. No, no no. Please, no. I rest my case. ---
**Author:** ![Mewl\_Dear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mewl\_Dear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mewl_Dear)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/146 "2011-08-02T00:11:27Z")
Silenus. You would never even notice. Get your head out of your ass. If some people want them we can’t have them because the old school says no. You people have some tight assholes. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/147 "2011-08-02T00:15:30Z")
I suggest a nice gouda, or maybe some Venezuelan beaver cheese to go with your whine. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/148 "2011-08-02T00:19:21Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > If visual cues are needed to keep track of the ideas and content, you’re doing it wrong. Wow. Such arrogance. Very presumptuous of you to decide how others should process information. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/149 "2011-08-02T00:22:47Z")
I mean, the board has been quite firm on a number of issues over the years and the minute they think they can make a cent off of something, they enact whether the public wants it or not. And of course, once again, because I am apparently a broken record, if you don’t check the box, no matter what the admins do, you will have an avatar free board. Everyone declaiming how much they don’t want avatars is actually saying, “I don’t want you to have avatars.” Just so we’re clear on that; you’re not making some sort of principled stand about clean lines. It’s pure pettiness. ---
**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 2, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/150 "2011-08-02T00:34:13Z")
> [@Mewl\_Dear](#): > > Why do the people who do not want to see avatars get to rule? As has been established you DO NOT have to see them. Because, for some reason, it will RUIN this board. Forever. It will destroy it. Somehow avatars are the most horrible thing in the history of message boards. ---
**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 2, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/151 "2011-08-02T00:37:37Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Because, for some reason, it will RUIN this board. Forever. It will destroy it. Somehow avatars are the most horrible thing in the history of message boards. There are some real-world debates this reminds me of… ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/152 "2011-08-02T00:50:51Z")
Avatars that you can turn off are the equivalent of having a “kick me” sign taped to your back. You might not be able to see it, but everybody else can. And to the rest of the world its very existence reflects as poorly on you as to the perpetrators. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/153 "2011-08-02T01:22:44Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Because, for some reason, it will RUIN this board. Forever. It will destroy it. Somehow avatars are the most horrible thing in the history of message boards. You forgot your precious rolleyes smiley, thats not like you. ---
**Author:** ![Mewl\_Dear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mewl\_Dear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mewl_Dear)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/154 "2011-08-02T01:33:58Z")
Really, you guys get this worked up about something that is easily ignored? I am really having second thoughts about the friend who pointed me here. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/155 "2011-08-02T01:37:36Z")
> [@Mewl\_Dear](#): > > Really, you guys get this worked up about something that is easily ignored? I am really having second thoughts about the friend who pointed me here. It’s not that bad a place, you just prodded a tender spot. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/156 "2011-08-02T01:40:46Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > I find the avatars helpful. Duplicate ones don’t seem to be an issue at all, That might depend on the circumstances. Let’s say someone changed their avatar to your longstanding one and posted after you posted in a thread frequently. They didn’t ever post anything insulting in their text. They just politely disagreed with your text. Then you change your avatar and simultaneously, they change to your new avatar. If they did this several times, would it rise to the level of insult? Would the mods ever get involved in that situation only involving avatars? On another message board I frequent, there were several socks created with my avatar to parody my posts. Since there are no rules against socks or insults there, it was not modded. Since this message board has rules against both socks and insults, it’s conceivable that there could be an issue only involving duplicate avatars even if both members in the hypothetical above were both members in good standing and the sock issue didn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/157 "2011-08-02T01:41:59Z")
[QUOTE=Mewl Dear] Really, you guys get this worked up about something that is easily ignored? I am really having second thoughts about the friend who pointed me here. [/QUOTE] Do you meet someone new, go over to their place and start ragging on their wallpaper? Or do you find out what kind of person they are before you pass judgement on their lifestyle choices? ---
**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 2, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/158 "2011-08-02T01:49:37Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > That might depend on the circumstances. Let’s say someone changed their avatar to your longstanding one and posted after you posted in a thread frequently. They didn’t ever post anything insulting in their text. They just politely disagreed with your text. Then you change your avatar and simultaneously, they change to your new avatar. If they did this several times, would it rise to the level of insult? Would the mods ever get involved in that situation only involving avatars? How does this differ from the potential “risks” of signatures? ---
**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 2, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/159 "2011-08-02T02:04:26Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > That might depend on the circumstances. Let’s say someone changed their avatar to your longstanding one and posted after you posted in a thread frequently. They didn’t ever post anything insulting in their text. They just politely disagreed with your text. Then you change your avatar and simultaneously, they change to your new avatar. If they did this several times, would it rise to the level of insult? Would the mods ever get involved in that situation only involving avatars? > > On another message board I frequent, there were several socks created with my avatar to parody my posts. Since there are no rules against socks or insults there, it was not modded. > > Since this message board has rules against both socks and insults, it’s conceivable that there could be an issue only involving duplicate avatars even if both members in the hypothetical above were both members in good standing and the sock issue didn’t exist. Since this message board has rules against both socks and insults, I guess the moderators would have to step in and moderate. Can’t imagine this becoming a widespread problem on a board like this one, though. ---
**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 2, 2011, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594/160 "2011-08-02T02:55:17Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Avatars that you can turn off are the equivalent of having a “kick me” sign taped to your back. You might not be able to see it, but everybody else can. And to the rest of the world its very existence reflects as poorly on you as to the perpetrators. Really? Because _allowing_ avatars is going to _force_ avatars upon those who don’t want them associated with their username? Kind of like how New York is forcing unattached heterosexual Christians to gay marry, right? I don’t know of any message board that _forces_ its users to have avatars. Avatars are just like gay marriage; if you don’t want one, don’t have one. I’ve seen some blogs that generate lame “gravitars” for those who comment, but not a message board. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatars/590594.md?page=9)