# 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:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/101 "2010-10-05T20:56:00Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > > [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > > > Can you point me to the scorched remains of these once vibrant communities laid low by avatr fueled violence? Please use 8 by 10 glossies to underscore your points. > > [QUOTE=Czarcasm] > Something doesn’t have to bring about the downfall of the human race for me to be against it. I like the SDMB the way it is, full of words and uncluttered by pictures.The mods already have to be on the lookout for sigs that are inappropriate and/or advertise, and I think adding yet another layer for them to watch out for is unnecessary. Ruination and despair-not really. A slight lowering of standards and a little more work for the mods-probably. > That’s just my humble opinion. Read it again, this time for comprehension. [/QUOTE] Maybe you could do the same. He was responding to **Palooka** : > [@Palooka](#): > > It’s hard to attention whore without my 1 MB animated avatar and 800 x 480 Flash signature sparkling my username for the people who missed it at the top.\* > > But seriously, not once in the history of the Internet have avatars contributed to a healthy community. It turns into an arms race of ever more obnoxious images as people try to stand out. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/102 "2010-10-05T20:58:57Z")
Forget it, feena, it’s 'Casmtown. If he doesn’t like something, fuck all y’all who do. ---
**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 5, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/103 "2010-10-05T21:00:08Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > > [@Czarcasm](#): > > > > Read it again, this time for comprehension. > > Maybe you could do the same. He was responding to **Palooka** Easy mistake to make given the hyperbole and the placement of the posts. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/104 "2010-10-05T21:00:16Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Forget it, feena, it’s 'Casmtown. If he doesn’t like something, fuck all y’all who do. Seriously, I find the whole argument baffling. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/105 "2010-10-05T21:01:43Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > > [@Sarahfeena](#): > > > > Maybe you could do the same. He was responding to **Palooka** > > Easy mistake to make given the hyperbole and the placement of the posts. Not really. DAMN YOU 60 SECOND BUFFER ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/106 "2010-10-05T21:05:53Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > > [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > > > And there’s still the “problem” of identical sigs… > > Since when has that been a problem? That was sort of my point, hence the quotes… ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/107 "2010-10-05T21:07:16Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > > [@Sarahfeena](#): > > > > Maybe you could do the same. He was responding to **Palooka** > > Easy mistake to make given the hyperbole and the placement of the posts. Maybe you wouldn’t have made such a mistake if we had avatars 😛 ---
**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 5, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/108 "2010-10-05T21:08:56Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Forget it, feena, it’s 'Casmtown. If he doesn’t like something, fuck all y’all who do. Why don’t you go ahead and provide a link to that picture you are all fired-up for us to tie to your good name? What _is_ this image that will enhance how people view you eversomuchmoreso? ---
**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:** [October 5, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/109 "2010-10-05T21:10:54Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > > [@jsgoddess](#): > > > > You mean the people who are claiming it will cause confusion and mayhem and despair and possibly ruin but they don’t quite know how all of these things will come about, especially when they don’t plan to turn on avatars at all? Those people? > > “Mayhem”, “ruin” and “despair”?? I think you’ve gone from fighting that strawman to dating him. The only extreme hyperbole I’ve seen so far has come from the pro-avatar crowd. So, just out of curiosity, did you know Quasimodem and Quasimodal are different people? ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/110 "2010-10-05T21:12:29Z")
You can go to the Giraffe boards to see just how much random, silly little pictures improve the message board experience. ---
**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 5, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/111 "2010-10-05T21:13:25Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > > [@Czarcasm](#): > > > > “Mayhem”, “ruin” and “despair”?? I think you’ve gone from fighting that strawman to dating him. The only extreme hyperbole I’ve seen so far has come from the pro-avatar crowd. > > So, just out of curiosity, did you know Quasimodem and Quasimodal are different people? Most certainly. Because I can read. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/112 "2010-10-05T21:14:34Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > You can go to the Giraffe boards to see just how much random, silly little pictures improve the message board experience. Hey, now that’s not fair. Giraffe boards is terrible for a _lot_ of reasons, not just because we have avatars. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/113 "2010-10-05T21:14:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > > [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > > > Forget it, feena, it’s 'Casmtown. If he doesn’t like something, fuck all y’all who do. > > Why don’t you go ahead and provide a link to that picture you are all fired-up for us to tie to your good name? What _is_ this image that will enhance how people view you eversomuchmoreso? I think people should be able to use avatars even though I would probably not put one up. I would probably have them on, though I might not. I really don’t think the avatar people are the ones who are tying way too much of their personal worth in with the appearance of a messageboard. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/114 "2010-10-05T21:16:05Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Most certainly. > Because I can read. Except it has nothing to do with being able to read. Thanks for implying those who do confuse the two are illiterate though. (Were you this stuck-up and rude when you were a moderator too, or is that why you ceased to be?) ---
**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:** [October 5, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/115 "2010-10-05T21:16:25Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > > [@jsgoddess](#): > > > > So, just out of curiosity, did you know Quasimodem and Quasimodal are different people? > > Most certainly. > Because I can read. Beautiful. So how will two people having the same avatar keep you, with your ready-eyes all ready-capable, from telling them apart? ---
**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:** [October 5, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/116 "2010-10-05T21:16:27Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Why don’t you go ahead and provide a link to that picture you are all fired-up for us to tie to your good name? What _is_ this image that will enhance how people view you eversomuchmoreso? Did I say there’s a picture of me that will enhance people’s opinion of me? Perhaps for some it will. But enhancement is irrelevant. I want an avatar. You have no argument against me having an avatar other than you don’t like them. Why does your distaste trump my desire? Especially when my having one impacts no one but those who enjoy avatars. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/117 "2010-10-05T21:16:51Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > > [@jsgoddess](#): > > > > So, just out of curiosity, did you know Quasimodem and Quasimodal are different people? > > Most certainly. > Because I can read. That’s kind of rude, don’t you think? You seem to be confusing the forum you used to mod with the forum I used to mod. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/118 "2010-10-05T21:18:50Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > > [@jsgoddess](#): > > > > So, just out of curiosity, did you know Quasimodem and Quasimodal are different people? > > Most certainly. > Because I can read. This seems inordinately rude for a topic as trivial and insignificant as this one. (Yes, yes, I know, it’s the Internet. But still.) eta: Ninja’ed by **Giraffe**! ---
**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 5, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/119 "2010-10-05T21:24:14Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > > [@Czarcasm](#): > > > > Why don’t you go ahead and provide a link to that picture you are all fired-up for us to tie to your good name? What _is_ this image that will enhance how people view you eversomuchmoreso? > > Did I say there’s a picture of me that will enhance people’s opinion of me? Perhaps for some it will. But enhancement is irrelevant. I want an avatar. You have no argument against me having an avatar other than you don’t like them. Why does your distaste trump my desire? Especially when my having one impacts no one but those who enjoy avatars. My distaste does not trump your desire, but also your desire does not invalidate my distaste. You and others wish to have a say on the matter-be ready to hear opposing opinions without mocking them or creating absurd strawmen out of them. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/120 "2010-10-05T21:26:21Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > My distaste does not trump your desire, but also your desire does not invalidate my distaste. You, sir or ma’am, are correct, which is why it is a fantabulous idea that avatars be turned off **by default** so that those with a distaste for them don’t have to do anything. Even those of us who are completely indifferent don’t have to do anything. Only the “avatards” who prefer them would have to adjust their settings to allow for them, and everyone else can be happy without them. Yay! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045.md?page=7)