# Should we allow Avatars **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 2, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237 "2011-08-02T23:24:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/1 "2011-08-02T23:24:19Z")
Not interested in any equivocating, just’sayin, Hmmming or even any haaaaing. Should we have Avatars here, yes or no? Hopefully a wild poll will appear here soon. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/2 "2011-08-02T23:30:48Z")
Before you vote, note that this feature would be opt-in Which means that the default would be that you wouldn’t see them unless you chose to do so. Also, we are talking about small, non-animated avatars. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/3 "2011-08-02T23:33:52Z")
If anybody wants to debate the technicalities, please see the ATMB thread. You dont need to Note bugger all, just vote yes or no. > **[Avatars](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=618021)** > > I checked off to see them, but I don’t. I don’t see anywhere to enter mine. Safe to say this board doesn’t use avatars? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/4 "2011-08-02T23:39:40Z")
I just want to note that a similar poll about a year ago resulted in over 60% of the board being in favor of the change–or at the least, not directly opposed to it. Only 32% actively opposed the option. [Would it bother you if avatars were allowed, but off by default?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=580676&highlight=avatar) ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/5 "2011-08-02T23:40:59Z")
No. A thousand times no. No avatars. No pictures. No more threads about avatars or pictures. There are thousands of boards with all that crap cluttering up the screen. This ain’t one of them, and that is one of the many things I like about this place. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/6 "2011-08-02T23:41:09Z")
FUCK AVATARS! oH WAIT A MINIT. OOPS!! ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/7 "2011-08-02T23:42:49Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > No. A thousand times no. No avatars. No pictures. No more threads about avatars or pictures. There are thousands of boards with all that crap cluttering up the screen. This ain’t one of them, and that is one of the many things I like about this place. option. Optional. **OPTIONAL**. They would be optional. As in, you would not have to see them. In fact, you **would not** see them unless you chose to opt-in. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/8 "2011-08-02T23:47:39Z")
Oh come on, we dont need the same people coming in here and rehashing the same arguments. I just want a straight poll, with people voting as they see fit, and without people in here trying to influence them one way or another. Lets just see how the coin falls, and keep the debate to the ATMB thread. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/9 "2011-08-02T23:56:01Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > Oh come on, we dont need the same people coming in here and rehashing the same arguments. I just want a straight poll, with people voting as they see fit, and without people in here trying to influence them one way or another. Lets just see how the coin falls, and keep the debate to the ATMB thread. Arguably, we also don’t need another poll less than a year later. I just wanted to make sure the fact that it’s optional is clear, which would deliver the clearest results (though the previous poll was already pretty clear, with its multiple and specific options). ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/10 "2011-08-03T00:03:41Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Before you vote, note that this feature would be opt-in Which means that the default would be that you wouldn’t see them unless you chose to do so. > > Also, we are talking about small, non-animated avatars. In that case, I would change my vote from ‘No’ to ‘Yes’. I’m a member of a few boards and some of them allow ridiculously time wasting avatars, which are also horribly distracting. Such that I seldom visit those boards anymore. A small, simply, non-singing, non-dancing avatar would be fine with me. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/11 "2011-08-03T00:03:48Z")
Put me in for a “no.” They don’t add anything, and they’d force the admins to do additional work for a dubious cosmetic benefit that would only affect those who chose to use it. I certainly wouldn’t opt in. This place is about content, not cuteness; let’s focus on that, shall we? ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/12 "2011-08-03T00:04:55Z")
No. There’s no need for them here, we’re not missing out on anything. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/13 "2011-08-03T00:24:24Z")
I vote yes. Even if I chose not to have an avatar or view them, I wouldn’t try to limit others ability to do so when it would have no impact on me either way. ---
**Author:** ![Mewl\_Dear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mewl\_Dear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mewl_Dear)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/14 "2011-08-03T00:26:24Z")
No-brainer. We can make half the people happy by not allowing them or we can make 100% happy by making it optional. ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/15 "2011-08-03T00:34:34Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > I just want to note that a similar poll about a year ago resulted in over 60% of the board being in favor of the change–or at the least, not directly opposed to it. Only 32% actively opposed the option. > > [Would it bother you if avatars were allowed, but off by default?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=580676&highlight=avatar) I read that thread and the attempts to marginalize and bully those who don’t want avatars was distasteful. I don’t usually vote in polls, but after seeing that behaviour I voted No. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/16 "2011-08-03T00:42:27Z")
In the past, I’ve always voted “no avatars”. I don’t like them. I won’t view them. I won’t discuss them. I might put one up (like I did a sig line, which I think I have but never view mine nor others) but I won’t give it any thought beyond that. However, I really don’t see why there shouldn’t be any, and in good conscience, can no longer vote “no”. ETA: > [@Mewl Dear](#): > > No-brainer. We can make half the people happy by not allowing them or we can make 100% happy by making it optional. There are a lot of people who will be unhappy even if they are made optional. I used to be one, but I guess I’m mellowing in my old age. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/17 "2011-08-03T00:43:59Z")
I wish there was a HELL NO option, but I had to content myself with a simple “no.” ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/18 "2011-08-03T01:15:25Z")
Yes, provided they are non animated. Avatars are an easy way to rapidly distinguish between posters. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/19 "2011-08-03T01:16:47Z")
I voted yes, but with respect, I think that without a big sign or something in title noting they would be “opt-in”, the results are going to be skewed. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/20 "2011-08-03T01:25:06Z")
Hell no. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237.md?page=2)