# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/161 "2012-06-19T22:44:22Z")
Can it truly be the case that so many of the ideas and features suggested for improving this board - not the community; just the medium - are all, simultaneously so profoundly wrong? It just seems a bit unlikely. If it were the case that the current configuration had been stolen from Mount Olympus, it would be understandable to regard it as the zenith of message board refinement, but it is the way it is largely just because it is. I don’t doubt the sincerity of any who have made the design choices here, and I appreciate “do nothing” is a technically valid approach to any proposal. I just think it’s quite likely some babies have been thrown out with the bathwater. ---
**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, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/162 "2012-06-19T23:05:33Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > Individual posters opinions don’t matter because they don’t need to see avatars, have avatars, or know avatars are even enabled if they don’t like them. I guess you missed the part about many posters not wanting avatars? ---
**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:** [June 19, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/163 "2012-06-19T23:07:51Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > I guess you missed the part about many posters not wanting avatars? I guess you missed the part about how they are defaulted to “off”. Which means anyone who did not want to see them never would. ---
**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, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/164 "2012-06-19T23:15:23Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Look-problem solved! > Everyone o.k. with closing this thread? No–why does open discussion of this and other board issues scare you so much? It appears that you are fucking scared _shitless_ of any attempted change of any sort to the board given how you go out of your way to derail and/or request the closing threads dealing with board issues. I accept that’s your view. But it’s pretty transparent and kinda sad. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/165 "2012-06-19T23:19:21Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > I guess you missed the part about many posters not wanting avatars? I didn’t miss anything. There is no rational or legitimate complaint that posters who don’t want avatars could make against posters who do, after many thousands of posts on the subject. It is purely a matter of personal preference and if someone doesn’t want them they don’t need to use or ever see them. Posters here have no more right to try to block others from having avatars than they would telling them what size monitor they need to use to view the dope or what font and color scheme they should set up in their own web browsers. However, the preference of the board’s operator trumps all, whether rational or legitimate, and it has been made clear. ---
**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, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/166 "2012-06-19T23:21:16Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > I guess you missed the part about how they are defaulted to “off”. Which means anyone who did not want to see them never would. No, since I made that point earlier. But it’s hyperbole to pretend that “the powers that be” don’t care about posters’ opinions when many posters (rightly or wrongly) have indicated that they don’t want avatars. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2012, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/167 "2012-06-19T23:23:31Z")
They certainly don’t care about posters opinions when many posters have indicated that they want avatars. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/168 "2012-06-19T23:29:40Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > It appears that you are fucking scared _shitless_ of any attempted change of any sort to the board … Perhaps it is your murderous rage towards anyone who stands in the way of implementing avatars. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/169 "2012-06-19T23:30:03Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > No, since I made that point earlier. But it’s hyperbole to pretend that “the powers that be” don’t care about posters’ opinions when many posters (rightly or wrongly) have indicated that they don’t want avatars. And many said they do, and many said they don’t care. The point is, whatever people say they want **makes no difference**. “The powers that be” don’t want them, and the excuses they come up with are just that—excuses. If they just came out and said it, 90% of these discussions would never occur. ---
**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, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/170 "2012-06-19T23:31:37Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > No–why does open discussion of this and other board issues scare you so much? It appears that you are fucking scared _shitless_ of any attempted change of any sort to the board given how you go out of your way to derail and/or request the closing threads dealing with board issues. I accept that’s your view. But it’s pretty transparent and kinda sad. Dude-get a grip. ---
**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, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/171 "2012-06-19T23:32:37Z")
I noticed no one address my suggestion of a trial period? If we have avatars, and they’re a problem, then well, get rid of them. If not, then keep them. Honestly, for a board devoted to fighting ignorance, this place is soaking in it. (And as far as copyright, in the case of avatars, they’re considered **fair use** , unless an artist asks otherwise.) ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/172 "2012-06-19T23:36:07Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I noticed no one address my suggestion of a trial period? And no one will. Any sort of compromise is seen as a radical change. Plus it’s hard to come up with an excuse for that one, so ignoring it and hoping it goes away is a better solution. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/173 "2012-06-19T23:39:08Z")
> [@srzss05](#): > > I said I won’t repeat myself, but here goes anyway: > Based on experience from other boards, and what other people on this board have stated, there are those that won’t use avatars, so the recognizabilty reasoning is flawed. If it only works sometimes, then logically its use is limited and so not a very viable reason. If you can’t see that, then I’m just wasting my time even stating it in the first place, let alone repeating it. 1. You can’t accurately predict how many people would use avatars (it would be a fun contest to guess and fire them up for a while) 2. At what level of usage does it become a “viable reason”? 30% 50% 80% I think you are understating the value even if there is only partial adoption. Note: I don’t really care too much if we have them or not - I just think your statement misrepresents the usefulness some people would get. ---
**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, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/174 "2012-06-19T23:39:59Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Can it truly be the case that so many of the ideas and features suggested for improving this board - not the community; just the medium - are all, simultaneously so profoundly wrong? It just seems a bit unlikely. > > If it were the case that the current configuration had been stolen from Mount Olympus, it would be understandable to regard it as the zenith of message board refinement, but it is the way it is largely just because it is. > I don’t doubt the sincerity of any who have made the design choices here, and I appreciate “do nothing” is a technically valid approach to any proposal. I just think it’s quite likely some babies have been thrown out with the bathwater. But we aren’t talking about a ban on all changes here, and considering all the changes that _have_ happened over the years suggesting that TPTB can’t be approached is disingenuous at best. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/175 "2012-06-19T23:41:42Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > The nice thing about the script/cgi/profile solution is that it would never require anyone to update their own copy of a script with avatar URLs. Every other script I know of requires each individual to keep their own list of avatars in their own copy of the script, but this system would automatically grab an avatar from the user profile and required no script editing or greasemonkey knowledge on the user’s part. > > Which script are you using and is there such a mechanism in it? A slightly modified Reiconizer with no default images. Everybody is avatar-free until I assign something to them, which is a matter of just a couple clicks. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/176 "2012-06-19T23:44:40Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > I think you are understating the value even if there is only partial adoption. I’m willing to concede that there would be some use. But it isn’t a very good argument (better than the non-avatar arguments, but that’s not really saying much). ---
**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:** [June 19, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/177 "2012-06-19T23:49:50Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > …suggesting that TPTB can’t be approached is disingenuous at best. Good thing no one said that then. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/178 "2012-06-19T23:52:17Z")
Remember that Kony dude? Wasn’t he all against avatars? Or for them, I forget. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/179 "2012-06-20T00:17:40Z")
Charge $250 for every avatar, and every avatar change up. Problem solved. You’re welcome. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2012, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626/180 "2012-06-20T00:35:43Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I noticed no one address my suggestion of a trial period? If we have avatars, and they’re a problem, then well, get rid of them. If not, then keep them. It would be a great idea if there were even a hope in hell they would allow avatars when the trial period went well. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > Honestly, for a board devoted to fighting ignorance, this place is soaking in it. It is a little ironic that much of the ignorance fought begins with a mentality of “If I don’t like something nobody should be able to have it, even if it doesn’t affect me in any way.” but so seems to be the argument of anyone against avatars so far. But a question for you: You usually speak up for avatars when the subject comes up, but back in the great avatar debate of 2011 when \*\*Polerius \*\*and \*\*ntucker \*\*offered an easy solution, you didn’t update your profile with a link to an avatar. What prevented you from doing that? (serious question because I would have really liked to see the idea take off, but it died in infancy due to lack of interest). Frequent posters with strong opinions about wanting avatars who were willing to fight for them for days on end in hundreds of posts weren’t willing or inclined to take 30 seconds to install a small script and update 1 line of their SDMB profile to actually have them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-avatars-here-why/625626.md?page=10)