# I turned on avatars today. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 8, 2018, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255 "2018-08-08T00:29:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/201 "2018-08-09T05:47:29Z")
Well, FWIW, **Sherrerd,** I’m seeing your avvie regardless of what else the board might be saying to you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/202 "2018-08-09T05:54:05Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > Well, FWIW, **Sherrerd,** I’m seeing your avvie regardless of what else the board might be saying to you. 😉 No kidding?! I see the words “Sherrerd’s Avatar” to the right of a small icon that looks like a picture with the top right corner turned down, and some sort of break or cut running diagonally near the right bottom. I assume it’s a pre-coded placeholder—I thought maybe VBulletin provided it for forums that wanted to have moderators approve avatars manually before they could appear. Odd! Anyone else seeing the placeholder? (Thanks, SmartAleq—I might never have known! 🙂 ) ---
**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:** [August 9, 2018, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/203 "2018-08-09T05:54:49Z")
It would probably be best if we could get everyone to do the 50x50px avatar picture AND the 125x125 profile picture of the same image. (Like I did, accidentally) That way, if you want to see to see someone’s avatar with a bit more detail, you just click on it. (Again, like mine, for example.) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/204 "2018-08-09T05:56:03Z")
I see the place holder and the words like yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/205 "2018-08-09T05:57:24Z")
Well, something’s there. It has a “broken image” image and a link to your profile. No idea what it means though. But it’s unique, so, maybe, keep it all fraggled up? ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/206 "2018-08-09T05:58:19Z")
Are you guys using the new skin or the old classic one? I’m suspecting the new one isn’t playing well with new board features. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/207 "2018-08-09T06:04:50Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > No kidding?! I see the words “Sherrerd’s Avatar” to the right of a small icon that looks like a picture with the top right corner turned down, and some sort of break or cut running diagonally near the right bottom. I assume it’s a pre-coded placeholder—I thought maybe VBulletin provided it for forums that wanted to have moderators approve avatars manually before they could appear. > > Odd! Anyone else seeing the placeholder? > > (Thanks, SmartAleq—I might never have known! 🙂 ) De nada–here’s what your post looks like to me on a very out of date version of Firefox: [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](https://imgur.com/TqeQacc) ---
**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:** [August 9, 2018, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/208 "2018-08-09T06:15:13Z")
Well, if it’s not supposed to be all swirled, it’s supposed to [look like this](http://www.duerpress.com/), I’d bet. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/209 "2018-08-09T06:21:26Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > No kidding?! I see the words “Sherrerd’s Avatar” to the right of a small icon that looks like a picture with the top right corner turned down, and some sort of break or cut running diagonally near the right bottom. I assume it’s a pre-coded placeholder—I thought maybe VBulletin provided it for forums that wanted to have moderators approve avatars manually before they could appear. > > Odd! Anyone else seeing the placeholder? > > (Thanks, SmartAleq—I might never have known! 🙂 ) I see the placeholder. I use the classic Straight Dope theme. FWIW, I don’t see **Colibri’s** avatar, either. I just see a placeholder where his should be, too. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2018, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/210 "2018-08-09T06:25:13Z")
Maybe it’s got something to do with .gif format pics? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/211 "2018-08-09T07:39:52Z")
Hey, Look at me with my new avatar AND paid membership! Thanks! ---
**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 9, 2018, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/212 "2018-08-09T09:06:21Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > No kidding?! I see the words “Sherrerd’s Avatar” to the right of a small icon that looks like a picture with the top right corner turned down, and some sort of break or cut running diagonally near the right bottom. I assume it’s a pre-coded placeholder—I thought maybe VBulletin provided it for forums that wanted to have moderators approve avatars manually before they could appear. > > Odd! Anyone else seeing the placeholder? > > (Thanks, SmartAleq—I might never have known! 🙂 ) There’s a comma in the filename of your avatar image. (“DuerPressLogo, twisted JPG 50 px sq C.jpg”) That confuses Chrome but not other browsers. If you change the name to something without a comma and set it as your avatar it should show up for Chrome users too. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/213 "2018-08-09T10:45:42Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Rittersport: I’m sorry you’ve been so unhappy about this. I’m glad that other Dopers have been able to provide a workaround for you. > > As to the decision to opt-in instead of opt-out as default, that was my decision, though I did solicit input from users on the board and discussed it extensively with the moderators. Ultimately what made me decide for opt-in as default is that this is something new users expect as a matter of course and so we did want people to see them instead of having to find out via stealth mode. I believe ultimately it’s better for the board as a whole. > > It’s one of those “needs of the many versus the needs of the few” choices, and I made it on the side of the many. I’m genuinely sorry for the few that this affects adversely. Please don’t go away; work with us to make this a better experience for you, for everyone. > … > > Jenny > your humble TubaDiva > Administrator Thanks for the response! I’ve just started blocking them on the machines that I view the board on (three so far!), so I’m back to normal. I’m sure you’ll get to it, but it really does look terrible on the new skin, which is also the default – user names are tabbed about an inch away from the avatar. One other suggestion – some people will probably never get an avatar. Would it make sense to have one of those default generic heads, like the various social networks use, when there’s no avatar specified? Otherwise, the user names move back and forth depending on whether there’s an avatar. The page might flow better if there were always a place for the avatar. Thanks again for getting back to me. I doubt I could leave this site for long. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/214 "2018-08-09T12:17:03Z")
I don’t mind them at 50x50. It keeps the avatars from dominating the page while still allowing us a bit of individual flair. I’m not sure the Dope is ready for 100x100 avatars. Besides, it takes some effort to come up with a design that works at this size–one has to think a bit. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/215 "2018-08-09T12:42:19Z")
Sherrerd’s avatar appears fine for me on my mobile Firefox, but displays as a broken image in Chrome. I think there’s something wrong with the image, and Firefox is compensating, but Chrome isn’t. So I downloaded the image and tried to fix it, and PM’d Sherrerd a link to the fixed image. I tested that image, and it seems to work fine. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2018, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/216 "2018-08-09T13:40:04Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > There’s a comma in the filename of your avatar image. (“DuerPressLogo, twisted JPG 50 px sq C.jpg”) > > That confuses Chrome but not other browsers. If you change the name to something without a comma and set it as your avatar it should show up for Chrome users too. > [@BigT](#): > > Sherrerd’s avatar appears fine for me on my mobile Firefox, but displays as a broken image in Chrome. I think there’s something wrong with the image, and Firefox is compensating, but Chrome isn’t. So I downloaded the image and tried to fix it, and PM’d Sherrerd a link to the fixed image. I tested that image, and it seems to work fine. See above ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/217 "2018-08-09T14:29:56Z")
Hummph. Newfangled gadgets and all. Well, I suppose I’ll have to try it out. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2018, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/218 "2018-08-09T14:36:23Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Thanks for the response! I’ve just started blocking them on the machines that I view the board on (three so far!), so I’m back to normal. I’m sure you’ll get to it, but it really does look terrible on the new skin, which is also the default – user names are tabbed about an inch away from the avatar. > > One other suggestion – some people will probably never get an avatar. Would it make sense to have one of those default generic heads, like the various social networks use, when there’s no avatar specified? Otherwise, the user names move back and forth depending on whether there’s an avatar. The page might flow better if there were always a place for the avatar. > > Thanks again for getting back to me. I doubt I could leave this site for long. Yes, we should come up with something. I’m taking suggestions! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/219 "2018-08-09T14:45:41Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > No kidding?! I see the words “Sherrerd’s Avatar” to the right of a small icon that looks like a picture with the top right corner turned down, and some sort of break or cut running diagonally near the right bottom. I assume it’s a pre-coded placeholder—I thought maybe VBulletin provided it for forums that wanted to have moderators approve avatars manually before they could appear. > > Odd! Anyone else seeing the placeholder? > > (Thanks, SmartAleq—I might never have known! 🙂 ) Are you sure you didn’t do that deliberately? I love it. _Sehr_ clever! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Delicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@Delicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delicious)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/220 "2018-08-09T15:56:54Z")
Booooooooooo Avatar sucked! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255.md?page=12)