# 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:** 22
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/421 "2019-04-23T02:59:03Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I can’t imagine why you would think so. There is no “rule” that moderators aren’t allowed to moderate in other than their assigned forums. We generally defer to forum mods on judgement calls within their forums, but that’s a matter of professional courtesy, not a formal limitation. In any case, if you’ve read ATMB for any length of time you’ll have seen various mods express their opinions and give instructions. **Colibri** , it’s unusual for me to take up an argument with you, as I’m usually in agreement with you on most issues, but it appears that the assigned moderator of this very forum disagrees with you: > [@Why is this thread no moved to the Pit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-thread-no-moved-to-the-pit/832606/7): > > First, we moderators are assigned to specific forums. While we can kill spam and ban trolls in any forum, we otherwise do not moderate forums other than the ones that we are assigned to. Ruminating further on this general topic, I wish we had more moderators like **Bone** , which in a way is a strange thing for me to say, since we politically disagree on almost everything – to the point of being almost polar opposites. But **Bone** has worked hard since becoming a mod both to ensure fair and reasonable moderation and discussions and to clarify many of the rules and try to ensure consistency without being either heavy-handed or condescending. It’s appreciated. By “condescending” I mean recognizing that most posters here are mature adults and don’t need to be addressed like a class of fifth-graders (without resorting to repetitive invectives like “I hope that’s clear”). That latter point about **JC** has been brought up before, I’m not the first one to note it. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/422 "2019-04-23T03:45:27Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > [This](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21156343&postcount=212) is why. But it is cute that you think that you pulled a 'gotcha" on me. I didn’t mean it to be a “gotcha.” I was asking if you realized yours was still visible since you said you had turned the feature off quickly. Leaving it on as a courtesy for others is a perfectly valid reason. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/423 "2019-04-23T03:52:59Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > **Colibri** , it’s unusual for me to take up an argument with you, as I’m usually in agreement with you on most issues, but it appears that the assigned moderator of this very forum disagrees with you: Are you seriously saying that you know more about this matter than I do on the basis of that post? :dubious: What **engineer** posted does not contradict what I said. He was explaining why moderators who were posting as posters might not take action in another forum. He didn’t say that it’s against the rules for moderators to act in a different forum. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/424 "2019-04-23T04:11:08Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Question of protocol: do we now have moderators not assigned to specific forums deciding on their own initiative to moderate those forums? > > Also, do we now have moderators [apparently issuing instructions](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21593349&postcount=6) in such forums without those instructions being noted as actual moderator instructions? > > Are the rules here changing in some way? Thanks. We each bring our unique skill sets to try and make the board better for everyone. I would say unless it is specifically and unequivocally stated, there are not general rule changes. We are pretty circumspect in doing so and if we do it’s generally discussed privately and then communicated clearly. Not that this applies in this case, but it does happen from time to time that a rule interpretation leads people to infer a more broad rule change rather than an application of an existing rule or a one off scenario. So by way of clarification, that basically doesn’t happen ( I acknowledge that it sorta has in the past many years ago, when the west was wild). ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/425 "2019-04-23T12:00:23Z")
I just want to say “thanks” again for the avatars. I find it much easier to keep posters straight, now. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/426 "2019-04-23T13:33:21Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I just want to say “thanks” again for the avatars. I find it much easier to keep posters straight, now. Agreed, I find it makes it easier to distinguish posters with similar names when scanning a thread, and easier to find my own posts. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/427 "2019-08-31T17:38:08Z")
I think this a good thing that’s happened. It helps my comprehension greatly by having other posters having a “face.” That said, would it be too much to ask if .svg (vectorized/vectorised) image files could be implemented? You can still restrict images to a 50x50 grid and it’d greatly reduce memory size. ---
**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 31, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/428 "2019-08-31T17:55:58Z")
^ You’re gonna need a bigger boat. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/429 "2019-08-31T18:56:07Z")
Testing. Did this work? ETA: looks like it. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/430 "2019-08-31T20:07:09Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Testing. Did this work? > > ETA: looks like it. But is that a thorny locust? ;)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/431 "2019-08-31T21:08:48Z")
Woot, test. I think this is wasting my 5000th post, but now just after my 20th SDiversary I finally get to live openly as the capybara that I feel inside. Back to lurking. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2019, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/432 "2019-09-01T00:18:45Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > But is that a thorny locust? Well, you’ve got me there. It’s my old snopes strawberry; which fits because most years I grow them (among other things). Maybe I’ll find a thorny locust pic in suitable form one of these days. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2019, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/433 "2019-09-01T00:21:44Z")
Here we are over a year later and clearly this has improved the board experience. I am really glad that the change was made. I don’t think any of the whiny little crybabies who were going to QUIT if avatars ever came to pass did so and many of them have avatars now. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2019, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/434 "2019-09-01T00:23:12Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Well, you’ve got me there. It’s my old snopes strawberry; which fits because most years I grow them (among other things). Maybe I’ll find a thorny locust pic in suitable form one of these days. I didn’t want to imply that your pic is not suitable. Just the opposite, a strawberry brings a smile to everyone who ever tasted one. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2019, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/435 "2019-09-01T13:55:21Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I didn’t want to imply that your pic is not suitable. Just the opposite, a strawberry brings a smile to everyone who ever tasted one. 🙂 Which is a good reason to grow them. – and don’t worry, I didn’t take your comment as serious criticism. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2019, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/436 "2019-09-01T14:26:58Z")
I accidentally discovered the avatars on when I visited the site on a borrowed computer. Then this thread came out. I have turned on avatars, and at 50 x 50, they are not a problem. I was mildly against them before, but since I don’t post from work anymore, it isn’t an issue for me any more. And yes, they do mildly help with quick poster identification. I guess I’ll have to come up with one somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/437 "2019-09-01T17:46:16Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I accidentally discovered the avatars on when I visited the site on a borrowed computer. Then this thread came out. I have turned on avatars, and at 50 x 50, they are not a problem. > > I was mildly against them before, but since I don’t post from work anymore, it isn’t an issue for me any more. > > And yes, they do mildly help with quick poster identification. > > I guess I’ll have to come up with one somewhere. Hmm, wonder what you could use. If only there was some sort of, say, plant, that symbolized Ireland and the Irish… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/438 "2019-09-01T17:46:35Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Here we are over a year later and clearly this has improved the board experience. I am really glad that the change was made. > > I don’t think any of the whiny little crybabies who were going to QUIT if avatars ever came to pass did so and many of them have avatars now. I don’t know what the whiny crybabies did but I certainly agree with you that adding avatars has improved the board experience by letting every poster express a little bit of character and adding a touch of color, and making posters easier to ID at a glance. I have never been able to understand the logic that forcing the board to be drab black-and-white text-only somehow makes it more refined or sophisticated. I’m not in favor of increasing the avatar size, though, because I think it would be needlessly distracting without adding more value. But I do think displaying avatars should be the default. There are probably new users who don’t even know the capability is there. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2019, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/439 "2019-09-01T17:53:30Z")
^^I agree. Bigger would be too much. I love the avatars. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/440 "2019-09-01T18:11:28Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I don’t know what the whiny crybabies did but I certainly agree with you that adding avatars has improved the board experience by letting every poster express a little bit of character and adding a touch of color, and making posters easier to ID at a glance. I have never been able to understand the logic that forcing the board to be drab black-and-white text-only somehow makes it more refined or sophisticated. > > I’m not in favor of increasing the avatar size, though, because I think it would be needlessly distracting without adding more value. But I do think displaying avatars should be the default. There are probably new users who don’t even know the capability is there. The thing is, no one wanted large or moving avatars and to placate the whiners, people were fine with having them off by default. One guy, and I am not exaggerating, said that he didn’t want to have to see the very occasional avatar discussion thread or comment about how someone’s avatar matches their post or something. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255.md?page=23)