It is! It’s like peering into each poster’s inner soul! I really wish that avatars were enabled by default so more folks would get on board. Haters could always turn them off.
But I note that in your case, your inner soul looks like the back of your head! 
Maybe not the best place for it but you did ask here …
“Friend of Cecil” is a category on the Paid Subscriptions page.
Click on UserCP in the blue band at the top of every SDMB page.
Click on “Paid Subscriptions” in the list on the left. It’s towards the bottom of the list.
You will then be presented with a page showing you the categories of paid subscriptions:
When you click on the drop down menu on “Friend of Cecil” you will be presented with an array of donation choices: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $30, $50. Make your selection and follow the prompts.
What do you get for being a Friend of Cecil? Our thanks. At some point some kind of gift, I don’t have any merchandise yet but that’s something else I’m working on.
We will also give you the title “Friend of Cecil” or another custom title if you prefer. That title is good for a while, I’m still figuring that part out.
Any questions? That’s what I’m here for.
Give early, give often, spread the joy around!
Jenny
your humble TubaDiva
Administrator
PS For those who really think big, yeah, we can have the “Generous Donor Memorial Forum.” For rent, like the Jumbotron at the ball park. “Brought to you by …” This could be you. Talk to me!
Now that (beetle doing its thing) would make a great GIF.
Actually it would make a great smiley, come to think of it. So appropriate to so many situations one might be posting about.
On the topic of “like” buttons and other post-rating systems: I hope that such a change would be debated very, very thoroughly before being instituted. That type of thing changes a forum quite radically.
If anyone considering it hasn’t spent time on a board that uses ratings, try it. You’ll see how it changes the way you post (and not necessarily in a good way).
Then it becomes a popularity contest.
I thought that may be a little much 
(actually I mangled the quote with a similar one from the movie Firefox…which reminds me…)
Liking the png avatars. Good work wolfpup.
I’m awarding you 8 Cecil Points for your post and upvoting it to first reply in the thread.
It does, and there are certainly people who are attracted to boards that are popularity contests. Since the financial health of this site is an issue, one question might be ‘would we gain more members than we lose?’
Another question might revolve around keeping moderators, as the job would change. Popularity-oriented boards motivate users to push boundaries in search of high ratings, and a ‘pushing boundaries’ culture can result in a lot more work for moderators.
Let’s hope so.
Much better. The clear background makes a difference.
I wish I didn’t forget everything I do in Photoshop five minutes after I do it.
voltaire: LOVE your avatar!
Test post
ETA Dayumm Tuba Diva, that’s some kinda responsive administratin!
Thanks, but I got all that. The part I was asking about is when you click on “order,” the drop-down menu shows the $$ amount with “1 week” next to each amount choice. What does 1 week mean?
The size works well for the avatar placement. It doesn’t overwhelm the name/title or push everything else down. Other forums with larger avatars tend to have them in a separate column on the left next to the body of the post. Since I doubt anyone wants to rework the board’s look to that extent, I say keep it at 50x50
I’m very happy with the result too, thanks. I used LunaPic | Free Online Photo Editor | Transparent Background (free) to give my avatar a transparent background.
Just testing…
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about avatars here, but I like them! They’re an easier, visual way to identify posters (as long as they don’t get changed too frequently).
Part of why I like them is because they’re small, so I also vote for keeping the 50x50 size. That’s big enough to be meaningful, yet small enough to be out of the way.
Thank you, TubaDiva! 
EDITED TO ADD: Ugh, I just realized that my “clever” avatar idea really should only be used by Inigo Montoya! 
I’ll think of something else…
Thank you! I’m pretty sure that those are the 2500 most decisive pixels in that painting. I have no doubt Dali himself would choose those same pixels if he needed a Voltaire-themed avatar!
I made two versions of my file at 50 x 50 in a resize a pic site, both under 2 kb. They do not work, either one.
When I choose the file it shows in the window. When I choose to save changes it loses the text in the window and goes back to nothing.
Anyone have a hint?
The time limit is just a placeholder. This is so you can donate again within a short time if you like.
What I’m doing is giving people who donate a custom title. IF they want “Friend of Cecil” that’s cool but it they want something else, that’s okay too (within our usual standard of what’s appropriate, of course.)
At some point when I have some merchandise to lay upon Friends of Cecil (and everyone else) we will also send FOC a little thank you gift. So the FOC category helps me keep track when I have stuff to mail out to people; then I’ll be asking for your snail mail addresses.
That’s how it works!
Jenny
your humble TubaDiva
Administrator
