# Would it bother you if avatars were allowed, but off by default? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 4, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045 "2010-10-04T20:20:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 15
**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:** [October 14, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/281 "2010-10-14T01:35:31Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > > [@pedescribe](#): > > > > How? > > It’s a metaphor. To some of us, avatars, especially the cartoonish and/or silly avatars that are oft chosen, given the board a more déclassé feel. You don’t want to see [this](http://i315.photobucket.com/albums/ll451/scottt39/bouncing-boobs.gif) (nsfw) every time I post? ---
**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:** [October 14, 2010, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/282 "2010-10-14T01:36:50Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > > [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > > > It’s a metaphor. To some of us, avatars, especially the cartoonish and/or silly avatars that are oft chosen, given the board a more déclassé feel. > > You don’t want to see [this](http://i315.photobucket.com/albums/ll451/scottt39/bouncing-boobs.gif) (nsfw) every time I post? That’s 85 minutes I’ll never get back. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2010, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/283 "2010-10-14T02:04:17Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Good point, and I have similar concerns. I would also be willing to bet that there would be at least one wtf rule. Yup. I just have the feeling that if Ed changed his mind, board administration and staff would approach avatars as if it was uncharted territory for a message board, or they’d always be considering worst case scenarios when they’re used. Thus, WTF? rules like “You can’t depict people on avatars” or “No depictions of copyrighted fictional characters.” The SDMB administration, and many of its members, seem to exist in a vacuum, as if they are blissfully unaware of other message boards, how they work, how they’re managed, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/284 "2010-10-14T12:01:51Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > But if SDMB isn’t “DIFFERENT” [in seriousness] to you, why are you here, instead of GiraffeBoards, with a lot of the same people, and avatars? Yes because a person may only join one messageboard, and the only criteria for that choice are perceived seriousness and avatar support. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/285 "2010-10-14T21:41:09Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > > [@pedescribe](#): > > > > How? > > It’s a metaphor. To some of us, avatars, especially the cartoonish and/or silly avatars that are oft chosen, given the board a more déclassé feel. > > (Note: this is not a point-of-fact. It is a point-of-opinion.) Right. Which is why they would be _off by default_. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/286 "2010-10-15T02:07:00Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > Right. Which is why they would be _off by default_. This point is well-understood and accounted for. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/287 "2010-10-15T02:12:01Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > > [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > > > But if SDMB isn’t “DIFFERENT” [in seriousness] to you, why are you here, instead of GiraffeBoards, with a lot of the same people, and avatars? > > Yes because a person may only join one messageboard, and the only criteria for that choice are perceived seriousness and avatar support. You’re right, and that’s true, but I think you removed some relevant context. I was responding to Guinastasia, who seemed to be ridiculing the belief that SDMB is special; if she believes it is not, why stay here and argue for it to change, instead of going to a place to has already made the changes she advocates? And if she _does_ believe that SDMB is special, then maybe she shouldn’t ridicule others who believe it is special. ---
**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:** [October 15, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/288 "2010-10-15T04:08:16Z")
I don’t think you get it. Why must one agree with everything about this place? I like a lot of the people here, and so I post here. At the same time, can’t I advocate for some changes? Is there always a case of, “If you don’t like it, get the fuck out?” (BTW, the ONLY change I’m advocating is a picture under one’s user name. That’s it) When I say it’s not “special”, I mean, it’s not some unique, “we’re better than everyone else”. That’s LONG been an attitude here – that the SDMB is somehow “above it all.” I like it here, but it’s not the only board I post at, either. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/289 "2010-10-15T05:03:46Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I don’t think you get it. Why must one agree with everything about this place? I like a lot of the people here, and so I post here. At the same time, can’t I advocate for some changes? Is there always a case of, “If you don’t like it, get the fuck out?” > (BTW, the ONLY change I’m advocating is a picture under one’s user name. That’s it) > > When I say it’s not “special”, I mean, it’s not some unique, “we’re better than everyone else”. That’s LONG been an attitude here – that the SDMB is somehow “above it all.” > > I like it here, but it’s not the only board I post at, either. Of course you can advocate for change. I’m just confused by the whole, “this place isn’t at all special, but I don’t want to leave” attitude. From this post it appears that isn’t what you meant - what you mean is more of, “This place _is_ special, but not necessarily better or worse than other places.” And that’s fine, but I disagree. I still think it’s better here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045.md?page=14)