# Should the SDMB enable images? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 22, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233 "2013-07-22T19:13:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/1 "2013-07-22T19:13:20Z")
On some messageboards you can post pix. This one’s text-only. I appreciate how that keeps it a more purely intellectual board, but sometimes you just wanna post a pic or a map or a graph or a chart. Just throwing this out there. Has the idea ever been discussed? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/2 "2013-07-22T19:17:20Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Just throwing this out there. Has the idea ever been discussed? About 700 times. Also, [a chart](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m78enxxgTP1qhxqvio1_400.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/3 "2013-07-22T19:18:21Z")
I think it’s been discussed a lot, and although I have a lot of disdain for the overall luddite approach of many of the long-time users here, especially in regards to avatars and the like, I actually like the No Images rule. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/4 "2013-07-22T19:19:33Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > About 700 times. > > Also, [a chart](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m78enxxgTP1qhxqvio1_400.jpg). If we’re sharing Jason Segal charts, [I prefer these.](http://uberhumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/MiPIl.jpg) ---
**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:** [July 22, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/5 "2013-07-22T19:20:47Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Has the idea ever been discussed? Ha. Ha ha ha. I used to think it would be a good idea and I still do, as I think there’s an option to disable image displays on a user account level. But since I started using HoverZoom lo these many months (years?) ago, I really don’t care anymore. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/6 "2013-07-22T19:25:49Z")
No. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/7 "2013-07-22T20:44:33Z")
No. If everyone were allowed to post images, it would slow loading times down even more than they already are. Especially for people posting from mobile phones. You’d also have people posting NSFW pics, in spite of the two click rule. I’m fine with people having to post links. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/8 "2013-07-22T20:46:24Z")
^^^^^ No. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/9 "2013-07-22T21:09:28Z")
:Sniff: :Don’s Monocle: It would change the _tone_ of the Board. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/10 "2013-07-22T21:17:37Z")
> [@](#): > > sometimes you just wanna post a pic or a map or a graph or a chart of course you do, we all do. but it’s a slippery slope, man, what’s next LOL cats? before you know it this is freaking facebook. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/11 "2013-07-22T22:13:21Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > No. If everyone were allowed to post images, it would slow loading times down even more than they already are. Especially for people posting from mobile phones. You’d also have people posting NSFW pics, in spite of the two click rule. I’m fine with people having to post links. I don’t want images here, but would it slow down the loading time even more (as compared to any other board that has images). The board doesn’t actually host them, it just hotlinks them. ISTM, and I could be wrong, that as far as the board knows, it’s just text. It’s my computer/browser that then goes out, gets the image and renders it. Also, FTR, you can spoiler images. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/12 "2013-07-22T22:46:30Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > of course you do, we all do. but it’s a slippery slope, man, what’s next LOL cats? before you know it this is freaking facebook. :mad: On a _good_ day. I remember when pictures were enabled here. It was… not pretty. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/13 "2013-07-22T22:50:49Z")
I am a member of two other boards, both of which have images enabled. The results run from moderately useful to ‘why am I looking at a cat playing a piano?’ I am perfectly happy that images are not allowed here, but I am a cantankerous middle-aged man living in the woods so take that as you will. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/14 "2013-07-22T22:53:27Z")
CHANGE?! ON THE SDMB?!?!?!? :eek: It is a continual source of amusement how a place that considers itself so progressive, so eager to challenge conventional wisdom, is so unapologetically conservative with this board. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2013, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/15 "2013-07-22T23:06:33Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I don’t want images here, but would it slow down the loading time even more (as compared to any other board that has images). The board doesn’t actually host them, it just hotlinks them. ISTM, and I could be wrong, that as far as the board knows, it’s just text. It’s my computer/browser that then goes out, gets the image and renders it. Also, FTR, you can spoiler images. Yes, it would. I belong to another board, also VB, running a higher version than the Dope, and threads with multiple images take significantly longer to load. Also, spoiler boxes seem to be beyond the capabilities of some Dopers. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/16 "2013-07-22T23:25:24Z")
Yeah, when so many Dopers can’t even use quote tags correctly, enabling images would scramble their brains. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/17 "2013-07-23T00:01:05Z")
I strongly dislike images on message boards. Very rarely are they used for edification or clarification of a message. Usually they are used to taunt, riducule, or insult. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/18 "2013-07-23T02:00:32Z")
You naysayers understand that images can be disabled, right? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/19 "2013-07-23T02:13:22Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > No. If everyone were allowed to post images, it would slow loading times down even more than they already are. That has not been my experience on [Literotica](http://forum.literotica.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=75&f=4). ---
**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:** [July 23, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233/20 "2013-07-23T02:31:57Z")
Yes, but this is the Dope, where the hamsters are on life-support. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-enable-images/664233.md?page=2)