# Want to see avatars on the SDMB? Here's a script. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 8, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636 "2012-07-08T21:44:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/121 "2012-07-29T04:16:19Z")
Maybe it’s my location… perhaps there has been too much imageshack hotlinking from Thailand and they’ve somehow blocked this area. Even when I paste the URL into a web browser I still get the frozen frog. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/122 "2012-07-29T06:11:31Z")
Thanks for the links and the instructions. I’m glad to join the ranks of the avatarred (and feathered). ---
**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:** [July 29, 2012, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/123 "2012-07-29T06:44:50Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Thanks for the links and the instructions. I’m glad to join the ranks of the avatarred (and feathered). Welcome to the cool kid’s table. (It’s not too bad when they use the goose feathers, it kinda tickles. You’ll get used to it.) ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/124 "2012-07-29T14:16:00Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Thanks for the links and the instructions. I’m glad to join the ranks of the avatarred (and feathered). We prefer avatarded. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/125 "2012-07-29T17:04:20Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > Actually I found the instructions embedded along with the script itself. When I drag the script into notepad, the instructions are there. Here’s the relevant bit: > > ```auto > > // CUSTOM-ASSIGNED AVATARS > // Optionally add SDMB usernames and URLs in the list below to assign custom avatars to any posters. > // This can be used to block a given avatar by overriding their avatar choice, or to assign > // avatars to individual posters for any reason. > > // Use the format <'username' : 'URL'> as shown in the examples below to add to the list. > > var CustomAvatars = { > > 'SDMB Username' : 'http://link.to.image/image.jpg', > > 'SdMb username 2' : 'http://another.image.link/image2.gif', > > 'sdmb username 3' : 'http://another.link/image3.png' //<-- no comma after the final entry > > }; > > ``` You can also set a poster’s avatar to blank (it looks as if they have no avatar). Instead of using an image url in the instructions, use two double quotes. ---
**Author:** ![Patience\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@Patience\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patience_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/126 "2012-07-29T20:54:04Z")
Ok, giving this a try! Out of curiosity, if you use Chrome on the iPad, will it sync with the settings you have on your desktop so that the avatars will show up there (on the iPad) as well? Did that make any sense? (Sorry if that’s been asked before. I skimmed and didn’t see any reference to it.) ---
**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:** [July 29, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/127 "2012-07-29T21:41:58Z")
> [@Patience\_Jones](#): > > Ok, giving this a try! > > Out of curiosity, if you use Chrome on the iPad, will it sync with the settings you have on your desktop so that the avatars will show up there (on the iPad) as well? > > Did that make any sense? > > (Sorry if that’s been asked before. I skimmed and didn’t see any reference to it.) The avatar is looking good. Not sure about the iPad and hopefully someone with more experience with Chrome will respond, but if Chrome for the iPad supports user scripts, it will probably involve installing the script directly onto the iPad too. ---
**Author:** ![Patience\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@Patience\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patience_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/128 "2012-07-29T21:50:05Z")
Thanks, Crazyhorse! ---
**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:** [July 29, 2012, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/129 "2012-07-29T22:45:07Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > The only frog I see is Goatse Kermit. All avatars are displaying fine for me. You like? I saw it and I found it hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/130 "2012-07-30T01:49:39Z")
> [@Patience\_Jones](#): > > Thanks, Crazyhorse! I like yours, **Patience**. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/131 "2012-07-30T04:01:30Z")
This is awesome, but I’m not sure if mine’s working. I can see everyone else’s, but not my own. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/132 "2012-07-30T04:01:53Z")
> [@Hockey\_Monkey](#): > > This is awesome, but I’m not sure if mine’s working. I can see everyone else’s, but not my own. It takes an hour or so to refresh. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/133 "2012-07-30T04:04:06Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > It takes an hour or so to refresh. Longer than that sometimes. When I changed mine, it took like two full days for the change to show up. ---
**Author:** ![Patience\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@Patience\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patience_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/134 "2012-07-30T05:21:29Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > I like yours, **Patience**. Thank you. 🙂 ---
**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:** [July 30, 2012, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/135 "2012-07-30T05:39:04Z")
> [@Hockey\_Monkey](#): > > This is awesome, but I’m not sure if mine’s working. I can see everyone else’s, but not my own. Ah I see the problem, the URL to your image is surrounded by \<\> marks in your profile. I think those may be preventing it from getting picked up by the script. Try it without them and it should be visible within about an hour. > [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Longer than that sometimes. When I changed mine, it took like two full days for the change to show up. It should almost always be within an hour or so, sometimes sooner depending on random timing. The script will only check for a URL in your profile if at least an hour has passed since the last time any other user of the system has viewed one of your posts. That keeps traffic to a bare minimum but still allows a reasonable timeframe for seeing a new avatar appear. A few weeks ago the system was going down occasionally for a few hours at a time so you might have been trying during several of those outages by coincidence, but it has been up without any problems ever since then as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/136 "2012-07-30T10:27:24Z")
I’ve just upgrade my OS to Mountain Lion and the Chrome SDMB avatar extension has stopped working. Anyone have any ideas? I’ve tried deleting and reinstalling the extension but I still can’t see my or anyone else’s avatar. ---
**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:** [July 30, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/137 "2012-07-30T17:51:25Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > I’ve just upgrade my OS to Mountain Lion and the Chrome SDMB avatar extension has stopped working. Anyone have any ideas? I’ve tried deleting and reinstalling the extension but I still can’t see my or anyone else’s avatar. [According to this](http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/266961/scitech/technology/chrome-blocks-non-approved-extensions)it looks like Google is starting to require user scripts be installed from the Google App store. It probably isn’t mountain lion itself but you may have gotten a new version of Chrome in the process. It might be worth trying to manually install the script rather than using the clickable installer. (right click the “install” button at the [userscripts.org](http://userscripts.org) link, choose - Save Link As…, and save a copy locally. Then just drop that file onto a Chrome window and see if you are prompted with a user script installation window. If that still doesn’t work please post here and I will look into what is required to get a copy available at the Google App store. (I’m not promising that I will if it turns into a huge PITA but if its fairly easy I don’t mind.) In the mean time Chrome users might be advised to avoid updating Chrome for the moment if the SDMB Avatar script is an important part of your Chrome installation. It looks like Google wants to do no evil by taking control of something, again. ---
**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:** [July 30, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/138 "2012-07-30T19:09:35Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > [According to this](http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/266961/scitech/technology/chrome-blocks-non-approved-extensions)it looks like Google is starting to require user scripts be installed from the Google App store. It probably isn’t mountain lion itself but you may have gotten a new version of Chrome in the process. > > It might be worth trying to manually install the script rather than using the clickable installer. (right click the “install” button at the [userscripts.org](http://userscripts.org) link, choose - Save Link As…, and save a copy locally. Then just drop that file onto a Chrome window and see if you are prompted with a user script installation window. [This thread](http://userscripts.org/topics/113176)at the [userscripts.org](http://userscripts.org) forum seems to confirm that both theories are correct. Google quietly decided to try to force all user script installations to be directed to the Google App store, and the workaround is to manually install the script by downloading it and dropping it onto the Chrome extensions window. > [@](#): > > This is some odd decision that tries to secure the noob but actually annoys the experienced. There _is_ a workaround, though: > > 1. download the userscript you want to install; > 2. open the url chrome://chrome/extensions/ ; > 3. drag the userscript .user.js file and drop it to the page above. ---
**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:** [July 30, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/139 "2012-07-30T19:17:06Z")
Another great thing about the script, is that there were some people who said they like avatars to identify people. Well, since you can assign avatars to people with said script, here’s your chance. You can even override the ones they’re using. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/140 "2012-07-30T21:11:23Z")
Thanks **Crazyhorse**! I hope that fixes it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636.md?page=8)