# Can we get 'how to enable avatars' added to the 'FAQ - Technical issues for Posting' sticky? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 22, 2012, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033 "2012-07-22T10:51:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/61 "2012-07-24T00:02:42Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > That came up several times in the last big Avatar thread in ATMB. Putting offensive material in your SDMB profile would be a rules violation whether or not it was intended to display as an avatar in an unsupported script, or just to offend random profile viewers, which it would also do. Yeah, but since use of the script encourages and increases the amount of people posting such links to their profiles, and also greatly increases the amount of people who view the images that those links lead to, the result of all that is substantially different than the situation that existed previously regarding the potential need for moderation of links contained in users’ profiles. ---
**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:** [July 24, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/62 "2012-07-24T00:09:58Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > Yeah, but since use of the script encourages and increases the amount of people posting such links to their profiles, and also greatly increases the amount of people who view the images that those links lead to, the result of all that is substantially different than the situation that existed previously regarding the potential need for moderation of links contained in users’ profiles. Well, no one’s objected to my lemon party avatar so far, so assume it’s no big deal. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/63 "2012-07-24T00:22:26Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > Temptation large… must resist… must warn others… > > Okay, I’m going to do it then. (Besides being morally obsessed, I also have a pathologically open mind.) > > But if God smites me… I set up a photobucket account, I installed support for greasemonkey in my firefox, i installed greasemonkey, i installed crazyguy’s script, i put the sdmb-image link in my profile… still no go, and my profile says sdmb-image link. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/64 "2012-07-24T00:24:40Z")
Wait, wait, though! One other little detail. I see avatars! But… mine is my old profile pic and not the one i loaded into that “sdmb image” line in my profile… ---
**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:** [July 24, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/65 "2012-07-24T00:30:14Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > Wait, wait, though! One other little detail. I see avatars! But… mine is my old profile pic and not the one i loaded into that “sdmb image” line in my profile… Sometimes it takes a while for a pic change to be picked up. Also, I’m not sure you can have all that other info in the Bio section. Might have to leave only the pic’s url. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/66 "2012-07-24T00:36:32Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Sometimes it takes a while for a pic change to be picked up. Also, I’m not sure you can have all that other info in the Bio section. Might have to leave only the pic’s url. You’re right. It was just sneaking up on me. Seems weird for code, but it’s arrived now. Thank you. And CrazyHorse. Good instructions! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/67 "2012-07-24T01:12:22Z")
This is so damn cool. Why did I wait so long? While it’s not the end of the world, it’s utterly asinine that the knee jerk reaction is to not allow a sticky about this. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > Notice that quite a number of mods and admins have taken advantage of the script themselves. So it’s not just a case of “looking the other way”. How can you tell that SDMB mods are using the script? ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/68 "2012-07-24T01:50:11Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > You’re right. It was just sneaking up on me. Seems weird for code, but it’s arrived now. Thank you. And CrazyHorse. Good instructions! Well, now mine’s gone. But I can see others’. Good night! Oh, hajario, I think because you can see that they have avatars themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/69 "2012-07-24T02:12:42Z")
Just because a Mod has a pic in their profile or a link to an “avatar” image does not mean they are using the greasemonkey script to view avatars. However, some mods did post in one of the previous threads that they would use it or are using it, so that’s how we know. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/70 "2012-07-24T10:53:39Z")
So are you saying, anyone who has a picture in their profile, that picture is now being seen ‘as an avatar’, for those using the script, regardless of whether the poster intended to have an avatar or not? ---
**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:** [July 24, 2012, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/71 "2012-07-24T10:58:25Z")
Yes. Essentially I have flipped a switch in my browser that shows me the avatar you’re displaying in your profile next to each of your posts in a thread. ---
**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:** [July 24, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/72 "2012-07-24T14:56:16Z")
They are not “avatars.” All who pay a yearly subscription to support The Straight Dope are allowed to post profile pictures, which can be seen by everyone. The posting of these pictures is optional but is a feature available for Members and Charter Members. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/73 "2012-07-24T16:06:31Z")
AVATARS!!! WE DON’T NEED NO STEEENKEN AVATARS!!! Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/74 "2012-07-24T16:10:36Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > They are not “avatars.” Yes, they are. “Avatar” is a word referring to a graphical representation of a user in an online environment. Could be a drawing, cartoon, photograph, whatever. The fact that this picture is located in the user profile section rather than displayed in every post does not mean it is not an avatar. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/75 "2012-07-24T16:14:28Z")
I think we know what she meant. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/76 "2012-07-24T16:17:25Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Yes, they are. “Avatar” is a word referring to a graphical representation of a user in an online environment. Could be a drawing, cartoon, photograph, whatever. The fact that this picture is located in the user profile section rather than displayed in every post does not mean it is not an avatar. No, it is _not_ an avatar-it is a profile picture that this program grabs to use as an avatar. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/77 "2012-07-24T16:17:29Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > I think we know what she meant. I know what she meant and I am pointing out that she was incorrect in what she actually said. And while this looks like a stupid semantic nitpick, I think it points to the ridiculous attitude that the management of this board has on this issue. “NO! It’s not an avatar! We don’t have those! Don’t say avatar!” Pff. Any user picture online is an avatar. Calm down. Edit: > [@Czarcasm](#): > > No, it is not an avatar-it is a profile picture that this program grabs to use as an avatar. Yes, it is. Profile pictures = avatars. An avatar is merely a user photo (or drawing, or 3-D pictogram, etc.). It doesn’t matter where it shows up online. It is an avatar. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/78 "2012-07-24T16:24:00Z")
Let me just get this straight: you’re telling me to calm down. . . . ---
**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:** [July 24, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/79 "2012-07-24T16:25:29Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > No, it is _not_ an avatar-it is a profile picture that this program grabs to use as an avatar. So rarely do you see someone manage to disagree with their own self in one sentence. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033/80 "2012-07-24T16:26:49Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > Let me just get this straight: you’re telling me to calm down. > . > . > . No. I was telling TubaDiva to calm down, and now am adding Czarcasm to the list. You seem reasonably calm already. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-how-to-enable-avatars-added-to-the-faq-technical-issues-for-posting-sticky/629033.md?page=5)