# No Avatars Here? Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 19, 2012, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626 "2012-06-19T09:55:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [June 19, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/81 "2012-06-19T18:13:28Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Are you proposing that only _you_ would be allowed to have one? Yes, that’s exactly what I’m thinking. Don’t be ridiculous. If you don’t ever put a fucking check mark in the fucking box outlined in fucking red on this fucking [page](http://i.imgur.com/0Bsat.png), you will never see avatars on the dope while you’re logged in. Ever. Regardless of whether that functionality gets turned on boardwide. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/82 "2012-06-19T18:16:50Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > How many sites have been sued or shut down because of copyrighted avatars? He’s not saying the site would be sued or shut down. He’s saying we have a strict copyright policy (since we want people to respect the copyright on Straight Dope columns) and as such, it might be a hassle for us to enforce our copyright rules with regard to avatars. And yes, then there’s the question of avatars that offend people. ---
**Author:** ![Gezmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Gezmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gezmo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/83 "2012-06-19T18:17:21Z")
How do Avatars clutter up the boards? Its not like the board will be a collage of images. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/84 "2012-06-19T18:17:35Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Aaaand once again the ludites win! (And yes, as explained, they could be turned off, other boards do NOT have problems with “inappropriate avatars” and copyright issues, or constant talk about avatars.) > Christ. You should have seen the uproar when they added a Facebook share button. Is it your opinion that if _all_ message board options aren’t switched on, the owners/operators of said message board should be considered “ludites”? ---
**Author:** ![Gezmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Gezmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gezmo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/85 "2012-06-19T18:21:55Z")
This is an off-topic question, but… Why does it say I’m a guest and not a member. I did register. Back to the avatar thing, the purpose of having avatars is simply just to make the board look more entertaining and interesting. That by itself sounds like a good reason. We do all kinds of things just for the fun of it. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/86 "2012-06-19T18:23:55Z")
Members pay 14.95 a year for the privilege of having member under their name. Guests don’t pay anything at all. You’re still registered, just branded a cheapskate. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/87 "2012-06-19T18:24:03Z")
> [@Gezmo](#): > > Why does it say I’m a guest and not a member. I did register. A member is someone who pays to subscribe. They get some additional perks. > [@](#): > > Back to the avatar thing, the purpose of having avatars is simply just to make the board look more entertaining and interesting. I think everybody gets that. But some people feel the images would make the board look cluttered and that from an aesthetic point of view, it’s not the Straight Dope “thing.” ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/88 "2012-06-19T18:26:12Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Aaaand once again the ludites win! Nitpick: Actually the citizens of Lud rather lost when Blaine the Mono released that cloud of poison gas thruout the city when he departed to make his last run to Topeka. And if avatars would make people happy, then they shouldn’t have them. Or so say my Calvinist ancestors. ---
**Author:** ![Gezmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Gezmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gezmo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/89 "2012-06-19T18:27:28Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Nitpick: Actually the citizens of Lud rather lost when Blaine the Mono released that cloud of poison gas thruout the city when he departed to make his last run to Topeka. > > And if avatars would make people happy, then they shouldn’t have them. Or so say my Calvinist ancestors. I see. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/90 "2012-06-19T18:29:46Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > Hey, why don’t we have a poll about whether people want to allow avatars or not? Under the new TubaDoctrine, it’s a “computer-explode” issue: It can’t go in IMHO because it’s about the board. Such a poll can only be done in ATMB. But the _ONLY_ polls allowed in ATMB are test polls. Any content in polls in ATMB would forever ruin the board. So they can’t go here. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/91 "2012-06-19T18:30:22Z")
Are folks that read unillustrated books “ludites”? ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/92 "2012-06-19T18:31:09Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Is it your opinion that if _all_ message board options aren’t switched on, the owners/operators of said message board should be considered “ludites”? Is it your opinion that asking really idiotic rhetorical “straw-man” questions in every discussion in ATMB is remotely helpful? ---
**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:** [June 19, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/93 "2012-06-19T18:31:36Z")
Do you pick and choose your books based on whether they have illustrations or not? ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/94 "2012-06-19T18:31:52Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > He’s not saying the site would be sued or shut down. He’s saying we have a strict copyright policy (since we want people to respect the copyright on Straight Dope columns) and as such, it might be a hassle for us to enforce our copyright rules with regard to avatars. And yes, then there’s the question of avatars that offend people. Yes, exactly. Someone will use a copyrighted/indecent picture, the mods will be notified, and then there will be a protracted number of threads complaining that “my picture of Sandusky in the shower with a paper tube is not indecent! Mods suck”. Avatars can be fun but they just aren’t that necessary. Since they can be turned off I don’t care but I certainly understand the reluctance. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/95 "2012-06-19T18:33:21Z")
[QUOTE=Inner Stickler] Do you pick and choose your books based on whether they have illustrations or not? [/QUOTE] Naked marsupials, actually. Always look for the naked marsupials… -XT ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/96 "2012-06-19T18:35:34Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Are folks that read unillustrated books “ludites”? Are juvenile rhetorical questions really annoying, especially when they’re spewed in every ATMB thread in which you participate? Do you honestly believe that they accomplish anything beyond making people :rolleyes: at your posts? ---
**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:** [June 19, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/97 "2012-06-19T18:37:11Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Do you pick and choose your books based on whether they have illustrations or not? I’ve never written to a publisher complaining that the book would have been so much better if illustrations had been provided, or that they should have provided illustrations because some other book on a different subject had done so. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/98 "2012-06-19T18:42:55Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Is it your opinion that if _all_ message board options aren’t switched on, the owners/operators of said message board should be considered “ludites”? Not necessarily. But in the case of something as simple as avatars, which are pretty much available on every message board out there, and haven’t caused nearly the havoc that everyone seems to be predicting, yes, definitely. Or at least, I find their arguments mere hysteria. Why not try them out for say, a month or two, and see how it goes? ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/99 "2012-06-19T18:45:11Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’ve never written to a publisher complaining that the book would have been so much better if illustrations had been provided, or that they should have provided illustrations because some other book on a different subject had done so. Me neither. I’m too busy writing letters to my cable company, asking them not to add shows I don’t like to channels I don’t get. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/100 "2012-06-19T18:45:20Z")
And you also don’t start threads asking for avatars on messageboards. Congratulations, you have achieved consistency. A book and a forum are not the same thing. A book is a finite thing that has a work stage and a finished stage. A board has no such limitation; it is a continuing product of refinement. And as a poster, you are not equivalent to a mere reader, you are a contributor to the work and in our hypothetical book and illustration scenario, may just have a suggestion or two when it comes to pictorial representations. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626.md?page=6)