# 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:** 9
**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:** [September 11, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/161 "2012-09-11T21:31:55Z")
There may be some who run the script and see avatars but don’t choose to display an avatar of their own. And as noted there are some who uploaded a profile picture to their SDMB profile but don’t run the script so they don’t see it by their posts even though script users do. When the script was initially released it revealed hundreds of profile pictures that had been uploaded by members at some time in the past who have since let their memberships expire. What was probably a bug in the SDMB keeping those images in their profiles was apparently fixed by TPTB in the mean time as those no longer appear. This caused a drop in the number of visible avatars for script users as there were quite a few paying members back in the day who uploaded an image and later let their memberships expire. Personally I think even the approximately 500 ‘genuine’ avatar users really improve the appearance of message threads and those remaining members and charter members that continue their subscriptions still display their avatars (whether or not they use the script to see them by their own posts). I got a new computer recently and took some time to transfer over all my programs and files. I ran without the script for a few days and browsing the boards was remarkably different. Threads looked very plain without them. Without the script I really noticed how much value avatars have not only for visual improvement but poster recognition. As it happens those interested enough in the boards to either pay for a subscription and upload an image, or download a user script to see and display avatars are logically also some of the most active on the boards in general, and write the most posts. So while our numbers are small in terms of overall board membership we are a vocal minority and avatars appear in just about every active thread on the boards. I would expect this will only continue to increase, little by little, as more users become aware that they can have avatars. Brand new users are not very likely to find this thread initially, install a userscript for avatars, and edit their profiles to include their own avatars immediately after signing up, but if they stick around long enough many will probably find their way to this thread eventually and install the script too. On a board that allows built-in avatars I would wager that more than half, probably closer to 95% of all users upload an avatar on their very first day when they create their accounts. That isn’t an option here and many who would instantly do so if presented with the option on sign up may never find their way to this thread, but all in all some avatars is better than no avatars and the numbers can only go up from here. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/162 "2012-09-13T00:51:14Z")
Ok…which post in this thread has the most updated instructions on how to show these avatars? Do you guys see my avatar next to each of my posts now? Yes, I am a script newb. ---
**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:** [September 13, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/163 "2012-09-13T01:00:36Z")
> [@Yeticus\_Rex](#): > > Do you guys see my avatar next to each of my posts now? Yep! ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/164 "2012-09-14T19:21:03Z")
I’ve been deflowered! Yay, me! ---
**Author:** ![BDBoop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@BDBoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDBoop)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/165 "2012-09-14T20:58:00Z")
I can see everybody else’s, it must be working! But should I be able to see mine? And if I can’t, does that mean it’s too big, or what. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/166 "2012-09-14T21:00:10Z")
When did you add it? It takes about an hour for the script to refresh. ---
**Author:** ![BDBoop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@BDBoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDBoop)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/167 "2012-09-14T21:01:54Z")
Just a bit ago, but I figured the script refreshed because I can see everybody else’s. Can you see mine? ---
**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:** [September 14, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/168 "2012-09-14T21:05:55Z")
It takes anywhere from a few minutes up to about an hour for the script to find your avatar link. It looks like the link is fine so it should appear to you and other script users shortly. ---
**Author:** ![BDBoop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@BDBoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDBoop)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/169 "2012-09-14T21:06:17Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > There may be some who run the script and see avatars but don’t choose to display an avatar of their own. And as noted there are some who uploaded a profile picture to their SDMB profile but don’t run the script so they don’t see it by their posts even though script users do. > > When the script was initially released it revealed hundreds of profile pictures that had been uploaded by members at some time in the past who have since let their memberships expire. What was probably a bug in the SDMB keeping those images in their profiles was apparently fixed by TPTB in the mean time as those no longer appear. This caused a drop in the number of visible avatars for script users as there were quite a few paying members back in the day who uploaded an image and later let their memberships expire. > > Personally I think even the approximately 500 ‘genuine’ avatar users really improve the appearance of message threads and those remaining members and charter members that continue their subscriptions still display their avatars (whether or not they use the script to see them by their own posts). I got a new computer recently and took some time to transfer over all my programs and files. I ran without the script for a few days and browsing the boards was remarkably different. Threads looked very plain without them. Without the script I really noticed how much value avatars have not only for visual improvement but poster recognition. > > As it happens those interested enough in the boards to either pay for a subscription and upload an image, or download a user script to see and display avatars are logically also some of the most active on the boards in general, and write the most posts. So while our numbers are small in terms of overall board membership we are a vocal minority and avatars appear in just about every active thread on the boards. I would expect this will only continue to increase, little by little, as more users become aware that they can have avatars. > > Brand new users are not very likely to find this thread initially, install a userscript for avatars, and edit their profiles to include their own avatars immediately after signing up, but if they stick around long enough many will probably find their way to this thread eventually and install the script too. On a board that allows built-in avatars I would wager that more than half, probably closer to 95% of all users upload an avatar on their very first day when they create their accounts. That isn’t an option here and many who would instantly do so if presented with the option on sign up may never find their way to this thread, but all in all some avatars is better than no avatars and the numbers can only go up from here. Thank you so, SO much. As you can see from my join date, I’ve been a member for awhile but couldn’t get into posting here because yes. I am avatar-dependent. If I could give you positive rep and hit the thanks button, I would. Other than that, I will just say 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:** [September 14, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/170 "2012-09-14T21:07:07Z")
> [@BDBoop](#): > > Thank you so, SO much. As you can see from my join date, I’ve been a member for awhile but couldn’t get into posting here because yes. I am avatar-dependent. If I could give you positive rep and hit the thanks button, I would. Other than that, I will just say thank you. Your enjoyment of avatars is thanks enough 🙂 Happy avataring. ---
**Author:** ![BDBoop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@BDBoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDBoop)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/171 "2012-09-14T21:16:10Z")
YES!! I can see my avatar. WooT!! /thinks she knows how Helen Keller felt //is obviously oblivious ---
**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:** [September 15, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/172 "2012-09-15T00:28:45Z")
**BDBoop** , I’m actually a bit surprised that your avatar isn’t [this one](http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/8257/Betty+Boop.jpg). But welcome to the club in any event. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![BDBoop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@BDBoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDBoop)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/173 "2012-09-15T03:55:22Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > **BDBoop** , I’m actually a bit surprised that your avatar isn’t [this one](http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/8257/Betty+Boop.jpg). But welcome to the club in any event. 🆒 Thanks. This is my usual avvie, but I figured it might not fit this place. 😉 [![](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/Tinkslinks/bbboop.gif) ](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/Tinkslinks/bbboop.gif) ---
**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:** [November 14, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/174 "2012-11-14T03:18:06Z")
Greetings Avatarians, A minor update to the SDMB Avatar script is available here: [Dance Party](http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/136815) The update is optional and only adds a single line, “@grant none”, to the declaration at the top of the script. I recently updated Greasemonkey and it started alerting me that all userscripts should have a @grant declaration for future compatibility. This line tells Greasemonkey that the script requests no special privileges or access to GM specific API’s. You can read more about it here: [@grant - GreaseSpot Wiki](http://wiki.greasespot.net/@grant) So if you run SDMB Avatars in Greasemonkey for Firefox this may prevent similar alerts if you update your version of GM in the futre. As far as I know it won’t have any effect on Chrome or other users of the script. You can edit your own copy of the script to include this update by just adding that single line to the section at the top. ```auto // ==UserScript== // @name SDMB Avatars // @namespace SDMB_Avatars // @description SDMB Avatars // @include http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/* // @grant none // ==/UserScript== ``` Or an updated version can be installed automatically from the link above. If you install the update remember to save any custom avatars or other changes you may have made to your existing copy first because they will be overwritten by the new version. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/175 "2012-11-14T03:58:01Z")
The avatars look bigger now! I guess I must have been using a pretty old version. Again, love the script. I still haven’t ventured out into defining custom avatars for individual posters… but I really want to… ---
**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:** [November 14, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/176 "2012-11-14T04:01:16Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > The avatars look bigger now! I guess I must have been using a pretty old version. > > Again, love the script. I still haven’t ventured out into defining custom avatars for individual posters… but I really want to… Ah, you’re right. The size that avatar display can be changed to anything you like by editing the script and setting a number of pixels manually. The old script had the default set to 50 pixels and this updated version has that default set to 80 pixels. I forgot I had added that change in my own copy and it got transferred over in the update. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/177 "2012-11-14T04:09:02Z")
ETA: Nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/178 "2012-11-14T22:13:45Z")
Out of wonder, is there any way to make my avatar nothing? I have nothing against avatars, I’ve championed their addition, but I’ve never been one to have one myself. I see that the script has been upgraded to automatically crawl the SDMB picture gallery. If somebody, personally wants to set my avatar to that or something else, go ahead, but by default I kind of want mine to be blank just out of personal preference. I tried SDMB Avatar: about:blank But that didn’t seem to do anything, unfortunately. ---
**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:** [November 14, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/179 "2012-11-14T22:15:43Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > Out of wonder, is there any way to make my avatar nothing? I have nothing against avatars, I’ve championed their addition, but I’ve never been one to have one myself. I see that the script has been upgraded to automatically crawl the SDMB picture gallery. If somebody, personally wants to set my avatar to that or something else, go ahead, but by default I kind of want mine to be blank just out of personal preference. > > I tried > > SDMB Avatar: about:blank > > But that didn’t seem to do anything, unfortunately. You could always upload a blank white jpg to imgur or something and then use that link as your avatar. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636/180 "2012-11-14T22:38:30Z")
I uploaded a 1x1 black pixel image and linked to that, we’ll see if it works whenever the script gets around to changing stuff. I think there should be a special tag like SDMB Avatar: None (or about:blank or something) to denote no avatar, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-see-avatars-on-the-sdmb-heres-a-script/627636.md?page=10)