# Use of Avatar **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 27, 2006, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818 "2006-01-27T05:57:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/21 "2006-01-27T16:24:42Z")
Usually avatars are hosted on some other site and the board simply holds the URL. I suppose the BBS does have to do that one extra lookup, but each page would also load slower because the users would be downloading images from the hosting sites–so effectively the rate at which users were making new requests to the Dope would be lowered. Are we certain that avatars actually slow things down? I do think the site looks more professional for not having them, but just the truth-getter in me wanted to know… ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/22 "2006-01-27T17:03:45Z")
> [@Sage Rat](#): > > Usually avatars are hosted on some other site and the board simply holds the URL. I suppose the BBS does have to do that one extra lookup, but each page would also load slower because the users would be downloading images from the hosting sites–so effectively the rate at which users were making new requests to the Dope would be lowered. > > Are we certain that avatars actually slow things down? > > I do think the site looks more professional for not having them, but just the truth-getter in me wanted to know… Unless vBulletin 3.0 is substantially different than the one I run, you have two options: link to a URL for the avatar (local or remote) or else upload the avatar into the database as a binary object. Storing it in the database and/or hosting it on the server is, as you say, bandwidth intensive, while storing it off-site is not really. However, two of the main reasons are human factors ones. First off, every single avatar would have to be checked and confirmed as being “appropriate” by the Mods, and given how much stepping over the line happens with sigs, I can see a hundred times the problems with people with porn avatars, offensive avatars, and of course avatars that may or may not be copyright violations. Then of course this is the SDMB, where some people bitch and moan all the time about everything, and some people look for reasons to start fights with each other. You can post simply “Evil is Bad” in the BBQ Pit and get at least half a dozen windbags calling you out for your “narrow-mindedness” and “conservative hate crimes”. Imagine how people will complain and bitch and moan over avatars. Let me post the top ten threads that will be posted on a weekly basis here: 1. “I saw an offensive avatar! Can’t someone protect me? Some of us browse from work!” 2. “Hey mods, is _this_ avatar acceptable now? Yeesh! Stop picking on me!” 3. “Pitting (name) for their (religious/racist/political/sexual/stupid) avatar” 4. “Please ban animated avatars. Thanks!” 5. “Why is the SDMB so sloooooow? It takes 1 day, 13 hours, 22 minutes, and 8 seconds to load a page!” 6. “Should MPSIMS avatars be used in GQ? Should Cafe Society avatars be used in the Pit? How come we’re limited to only one avatar at a time? This is the greatest injustice in the history of humankind. Oh, sniffle, the _irony_!” 7. “Mods shouldn’t be allowed to use funny avatars when giving warnings because then I don’t know if they’re serious or not and we need to have every moderator decision be as serious as a Trial of the Pyx, so please ban all mods from using avatars when giving warnings, thanks!” 8. “Hey Tuba, why did you ban my avatar? Under the IP Laws of the Assgoblin Convention of Trinidad and Tobago, Section 201, Part V, Subparagraph 5(b)(iii), it’s NOT a copyright violation. Didn’t you know that? Yeeeeesh!” 9. “Someone stole my avatar! WaaaaaaAAAAaaaaAAAAaaaa! Make them stop!” and finally, 1. “how do i add an avatar i don’t understand computers and my mom doesnt no and i asked my brother what a faq is and he said shut up. tia!” ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/23 "2006-01-27T17:51:14Z")
We love you Una. > [@Una Persson](#): > > Assgoblin Convention of Trinidad and Tobago 😃 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/24 "2006-01-27T19:14:03Z")
**socal57chevy** : Welcome to the Boards. Hope you enjoy the stay. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/25 "2006-01-27T19:21:48Z")
> [@Una Persson](#): > > the IP Laws of the Assgoblin Convention of Trinidad and Tobago IANAAGL (I am not an Ass Goblin Lawyer). ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/26 "2006-01-27T19:31:24Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > **socal57chevy** : Welcome to the Boards. Hope you enjoy the stay. What he said. BTW: thanks for being a '57 and not a '55[sup]\*[/sup]! \*Old-time Dopers will catch that reference. ---
**Author:** ![socal57chevy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@socal57chevy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/socal57chevy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/27 "2006-01-27T19:44:07Z")
Thanks for the warm welcome. Goats and hamsters are a nice change. My other board is salwater fish. Cheese mites I could do without, but I’m sure the cheese couldn’t. My avatar is my 57 Chevy. An avatar by definition is religius/spiritual. I think the avatars help give personality to the chicken scratch we call type. If I pay up do I get access to more smilies?? I gotta have lots of smilies to function properly. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/28 "2006-01-27T19:48:43Z")
> [@socal57chevy](#): > > …snip… > If I pay up do I get access to more smilies?? I gotta have lots of smilies to function properly. 🆒 No extras just the 15 you should see already. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/29 "2006-01-27T19:56:05Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > > [@socal57chevy](#): > > > > …snip… > > If I pay up do I get access to more smilies?? I gotta have lots of smilies to function properly. 🆒 > > No extras just the 15 you should see already. Buncha smilie-haters around here. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/30 "2006-01-27T20:09:34Z")
I hope you stick around, **socal57chevy** , even if you are a damnable avatarist. Two out of two threads going humorously awry is my kind of odds. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/31 "2006-01-27T20:14:50Z")
First of all welcome **socal57chevy**! Second, one of the many reasons I love the Dope is the fact that avatars are nonexistent. No offense to those of you that like them but I personally can’t stand using message boards that have them. They’re distracting. Any Una is so right about all the B.S. that having them would cause. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/32 "2006-01-27T21:24:23Z")
> [@Una Persson](#): > > Then of course this is the SDMB … You can post simply “Evil is Bad” in the BBQ Pit and get at least half a dozen windbags calling you out for your “narrow-mindedness” and “conservative hate crimes”. LOL! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/33 "2006-01-27T21:48:42Z")
I would not mind an avatar. Mine is a small picture of a Loach, usually Miss Clawd. It’s unanimated and unoffensive. However I do understand that it would be opening up a door we don’t want to go through. There are a number of boards I wouldn’t mind visiting more except each post starts with a giant animated avatar. Then there is the giant cute message under the avatar. Then there is the 10 line pre-signature. Then there is the two paragraph signature. Somewhere in there is the actual post, “ROFL”. I’ll put up with the board snobbiness around here to keep away from that. Chevy if you can get past the lack of bells and whistles you will see this place is worth it for the content and (most) of the people. They do allow you a signature if you like. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/34 "2006-01-27T21:54:43Z")
> [@Una Persson](#): > > Then of course this is the SDMB, where some people bitch and moan all the time about everything, and some people look for reasons to start fights with each other. You can post simply “Evil is Bad” in the BBQ Pit and get at least half a dozen windbags calling you out for your “narrow-mindedness” and “conservative hate crimes”. Imagine how people will complain and bitch and moan over avatars. Let me post the top ten threads that will be posted on a weekly basis here: Can we just replace ATMB with this post? ---
**Author:** ![socal57chevy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@socal57chevy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/socal57chevy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/35 "2006-01-28T00:17:44Z")
> [@The Weird One](#): > > I hope you stick around, **socal57chevy** , even if you are a damnable avatarist. Two out of two threads going humorously awry is my kind of odds. I keep 2 windows open at all times. One for each of the 2 boards I’m posting on at the same time. As for the multiple thread thing…he he he I have a half dozen going now on the other board and the newbie thread I refered to earlier was, in fact THIS ONE. oops… ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/36 "2006-01-28T00:20:13Z")
> [@The Chao Goes Mu](#): > > Second, one of the many reasons I love the Dope is the fact that avatars are nonexistent. I understand that there are bunches of aavitarists like you on the board but you have to realize that there are many people here who do believe in avitars. You should limit such offensive comments to the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![socal57chevy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@socal57chevy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/socal57chevy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/37 "2006-01-28T00:24:30Z")
I’m going to have to visit this infamous “pit” so highly spoken of herein. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/38 "2006-01-28T00:29:33Z")
Oh drat. The post up there under **Green Bean** ’s name was actually by me. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/39 "2006-01-28T01:05:19Z")
ROFL. I r SOOOOO offended by the pots about how avittars is badz0r LOLOLOL i r goig to go liscen to emocionel rock muzic n cry LOLROFLMAO. ---
**Author:** ![socal57chevy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@socal57chevy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/socal57chevy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818/40 "2006-01-28T01:49:47Z")
> [@fetus](#): > > ROFL. I r SOOOOO offended by the pots about how avittars is badz0r LOLOLOL i r goig to go liscen to emocionel rock muzic n cry LOLROFLMAO. dude…I want what he had. Is it a pill or do ya have to smoke it? I don’t want anything I have to inject or that’s laced with embalming fluids. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-avatar/341818.md?page=3)