# 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:** 2
**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 3, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/21 "2011-08-03T01:37:36Z")
> [@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. You forgot the 50 percent who will be offended by anything that’s done. Like me. Any change is bad. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/22 "2011-08-03T01:50:25Z")
I said NO, before I read post #2. I don’t like other Msg boards with the animated avatars (takes add’l memory?). But if we can un-enable them, I really don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/23 "2011-08-03T02:04:52Z")
I’ve changed my mind. I used to be HELL NO. The logic of allowing people to opt-in is unassailable. There is no good reason I’ve heard for why people who want to see avatars should not be able to flick some switches and see them, and the rest of us “normals” can go happily on about our lives without the stupid things. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/24 "2011-08-03T02:05:29Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > Yes, provided they are non animated. Avatars are an easy way to rapidly distinguish between posters. I’m not sure that’s a good thing. Sometimes it’s nice to pay attention to **what’s being said** before noticing **who’s saying it**. There are many Dopers whom I don’t have a strong mental image of, and that may be a good thing, because it doesn’t prejudice me against what they might say. ---
**Author:** ![plankter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ba0ec/32.png) [@plankter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plankter)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/25 "2011-08-03T02:08:08Z")
Frell no. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/26 "2011-08-03T02:52:31Z")
Compare the registration dates of those opposed to avatars with those who are in favor of them. Bearded Old Ones indeed. I must be the only person who registered before 2005 who is in favor of them. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/27 "2011-08-03T03:19:10Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Compare the registration dates of those opposed to avatars with those who are in favor of them. > > Bearded Old Ones indeed. I must be the only person who registered before 2005 who is in favor of them. No you aren’t. I agree with the “opt-in” and the “easy way to distinguish posters” arguments. On other boards where this has been implemented with taste, I like the effect more than I expected. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/28 "2011-08-03T03:26:40Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Compare the registration dates of those opposed to avatars with those who are in favor of them. > > Bearded Old Ones indeed. I must be the only person who registered before 2005 who is in favor of them. Nope. I don’t see what the fuss is about if it’s an optional thing. I voted yes~! ---
**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:** [August 3, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/29 "2011-08-03T03:27:45Z")
I’m wondering what the purpose of this poll is, when it has already been stated in the other thread on this subject by the pro-avatar contingent that (paraphrasing)“We don’t _care_ if we are in the minority-we want them anyway.”? Will this poll be used as proof that we should have them if the majority votes that way, but dismissed as inconsequential if they don’t? ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/30 "2011-08-03T03:33:19Z")
I voted yes just to be contrary. I doubt they’ll ever happen, but I have no problem, not even with _gasp_ animated ones, as long as they’re not obnoxious and that’s more related to colors than animation per se. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/31 "2011-08-03T03:39:35Z")
A big-ass NO from me. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/32 "2011-08-03T03:41:17Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I’ve changed my mind. I used to be HELL NO. The logic of allowing people to opt-in is unassailable. Pretty much. I like the uncluttered look, but as long as it is opt-in I see no reason to deny anybody else their fun. > [@elmwood](#): > > Bearded Old Ones indeed. I must be the only person who registered before 2005 who is in favor of them. Tsk. Why you be hatin’ on the Old Ones **elmwood**? I just counted through post #30 and including me and you there are seven declared yes votes that are pre-2005 :). ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/33 "2011-08-03T03:43:18Z")
I don’t care one way or another about avatars. Most avatars (IMHO) are dumb, or an attempt to convey whatever a poster wants to project about themselves. I roll my eyes at avatars of cute anime-type creatures, especially if the poster turns out to be very un-cute and un-anime, appearance wise. Mostly I think they’re lame and I’m interested in what people say, not some little cartoon character/cute pet/poignant image/blah blah everyone (myself included) chooses in an attempt to be one of the Cool Kids. It’s not my decision to make because it is not my message board. I rather enjoy the bare-bones look olf SDMB. Animated avatars? Feh. Maybe its a generational thing, but I fucking hate those and find them irritating. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2011, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/34 "2011-08-03T03:49:54Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Compare the registration dates of those opposed to avatars with those who are in favor of them. > > Bearded Old Ones indeed. I must be the only person who registered before 2005 who is in favor of them. Another oldie here who’s pro-avatar. I think the OP left out the fact that they’ll be turned off by default ON PURPOSE. 😉 **Czarcasm** , did you have a tragic incident with an avatar as a child? Go on, you can tell us, you’re among friends. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/35 "2011-08-03T04:04:00Z")
I don’t understand anti avatar people. I have been online since 1994. I was online when it was DOS only. I had AOL DOS, Compuserve DOS, and Prodigy when it was the first web based software. And at baud 2400, incredibly slow. It was still better looking than the DOS pages which you guys seem to prefer the style of. I don’t. Then came websites. Oooh. White pages with text links and blue underlines. I thought it was boring too but I still read the hell out of it ([diotima.com](http://diotima.com) is one of the first I read thoroughly). IT’S JUST AN AVATAR. DISABLE THEM IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. What is even the argument at this point? And I’m getting this vibe but am I considered less intelligent for wanting avatars? ---
**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 3, 2011, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/36 "2011-08-03T04:24:34Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > IT’S JUST AN AVATAR. DISABLE THEM IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. What is even the argument at this point? It’s not even that bad. Once again, enable them if you want to see them. Don’t do anything of you don’t. ---
**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, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/37 "2011-08-03T04:27:06Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’m wondering what the purpose of this poll is, when it has already been stated in the other thread on this subject by the pro-avatar contingent that (paraphrasing)“We don’t _care_ if we are in the minority-we want them anyway.”? Will this poll be used as proof that we should have them if the majority votes that way, but dismissed as inconsequential if they don’t? Speaking for myself, since I am one of the posters who expressed that in the other thread, I would not count it as proof we should have them if the majority votes in favor or proof we shouldn’t if the majority votes against. Since it’s a request from a subset of the forum users to the admins and mods, and the outcome won’'t have any impact on anyone else (in any way that has been articulated by the opposition thus far), it would seem it doesn’t require a board-wide vote. It really should just be a discussion between those who would vote “Yes” here, and TPTB, who are the only other ones who would be impacted by it. The opinions of those who are not mods or admins who would vote “no” are, it would seem, irrelevant. They wouldn’t be impacted by the feature being enabled and used by those who are requesting it. But I voted here anyway because that seems to be the direction the request went despite my stated opinions. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/38 "2011-08-03T04:46:19Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > Speaking for myself, since I am one of the posters who expressed that in the other thread, I would not count it as proof we should have them if the majority votes in favor or proof we shouldn’t if the majority votes against. > > Since it’s a request from a subset of the forum users to the admins and mods, and the outcome won’'t have any impact on anyone else (in any way that has been articulated by the opposition thus far), it would seem it doesn’t require a board-wide vote. It really should just be a discussion between those who would vote “Yes” here, and TPTB, who are the only other ones who would be impacted by it. The opinions of those who are not mods or admins who would vote “no” are, it would seem, irrelevant. They wouldn’t be impacted by the feature being enabled and used by those who are requesting it. > > But I voted here anyway because that seems to be the direction the request went despite my stated opinions. I still don’t get why people who join a message board owned by someone else thinks they are entitled to have an opinion, let alone a persuasive or enforceable opinion, about how the board operates? I am owner/moderator on a couple of other forums - very busy ones; I have co-moderators because I cannot keep up - and I am sincerely befuddled and gobsmacked by people who waltz in and demand - implicitely or covertly - that their preferences ought to be given consideration. Umm, no. My board, my rules, obviously a succesful format because I get hundreds of posts per day, don’t like it? Don’t participate. Participating in online discussions on a board run by someone else doesn’t give you any priviledges. Especially if you are a non-paying “guest.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/39 "2011-08-03T04:51:31Z")
The pro-avatar people sound a little _too_ desperate. I don’t trust them. ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237/40 "2011-08-03T05:02:53Z")
They should cost 1 million dollars. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-allow-avatars/591237.md?page=3)