# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/141 "2010-10-06T04:15:01Z")
I’m on a few boards that use avatars. I have them turned off. What happens is that the avatars become part of the board culture, part of what people talk about in threads. So I turn them on. They’re a bit on the large side, some of the images annoy me, and I’m often on a limited-bandwidth connection (as I am right now, in fact… one of those EVDO cellphone-network based broadband cards for laptops, better than dialup of course but still a far cry from DSL & cable speeds) and downloading unnecessary pix seems wasteful. Yeah, mark me down as a spoilsport. I’d really rather that the board simply didn’t have them. If we are going to have them, I’d want a much smaller max pixel-by-pixel size than the board software natively supports. Something the size of a smilie, perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/142 "2010-10-06T04:52:07Z")
```auto OOOOOOOO O O O [O] [O] O O O O o O O O O [_____] O O O OOOOOOOO ``` > [@BlankSlate](#): > > So liberal, and yet so conservative. > > I’m in favor of avatars, but they’ll never happen here unless they charge for them. Grab the bull by the horns and make it happen! ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/143 "2010-10-06T05:19:07Z")
So, let me see if I have this right: Anti-Avatar argument: _“I don’t wanna!”_ Pro-Avatar argument: _“You don’t have to!”_ ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/144 "2010-10-06T05:25:13Z")
```auto OOOOOOOO O O O [O] [O] O O O O o O O O O [_____] O Hello - I am RaftPeople's Avatar! O O OOOOOOOO ``` > [@Amblydoper](#): > > So, let me see if I have this right: > > Anti-Avatar argument: _“I don’t wanna!”_ > Pro-Avatar argument: _“You don’t have to!”_ Yep, you got it. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/145 "2010-10-06T05:29:19Z")
> [@Amblydoper](#): > > So, let me see if I have this right: > > Anti-Avatar argument: _“I don’t wanna!”_ > Pro-Avatar argument: _“You don’t have to!”_ Close, but it’s more like: Anti-Avatar argument: _“I don’t wanna, and I don’t want you to have them either!”_ Pro-Avatar argument: _“You don’t have to!”_ ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/146 "2010-10-06T05:35:09Z")
```auto OOOOOOOO _______________________________________ O O [] O [O] [O] O [This Space Reserved for Advertisers] O O [contact me at Avatar-Ad.com] O o O [_______________________________________] O O O [_____] O Hello - I am RaftPeople's Avatar! O O OOOOOOOO ``` > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > > [@Amblydoper](#): > > > > So, let me see if I have this right: > > > > Anti-Avatar argument: _“I don’t wanna!”_ > > Pro-Avatar argument: _“You don’t have to!”_ > > Close, but it’s more like: > Anti-Avatar argument: _“I don’t wanna, and I don’t want you to have them either!”_ > Pro-Avatar argument: _“You don’t have to!”_ Yes, actually this does seem closer to the actual arguments on both sides. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/147 "2010-10-06T09:19:46Z")
Assuming they are default off, optional on, no animations, not too large, don’t tire out the hamsters and perhaps are discouraged from changing very often. I don’t see any negatives. Major positive being it’s easier for us folks who need some kind of visual to form memories of identities. People who want them can have them and people who don’t want them will never have to see them. Seems like a win-win to me. Interesting how the results so far of the various polls seem to differ widely based on whether they are default off. I’ll also mention, some are the arguments are based on WORST POSSIBLE CASE SCENARIO. Having avatars can be done in such a way as most of the things people are afraid of are easily avoided. I think “No avatars, because they would do X” people should stop and think about their response and change it to “No avatars unless X is averted”. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/148 "2010-10-06T09:24:54Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > If we are going to have them, I’d want a much smaller max pixel-by-pixel size than the board software natively supports. Something the size of a smilie, perhaps. Agreed. I think the perfect natural size would be a square the height of which is the exact space the username + guest/chartermember lines take up. ---
**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 6, 2010, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/149 "2010-10-06T13:29:41Z")
It could be a great money-spinner if only paid-up members have avatars, and everyone else has a blank, or generic silhouette. Perhaps this has been their long-term plan all along… ---
**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 6, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/150 "2010-10-06T13:32:19Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > ```auto > > OOOOOOOO > O O > O [O] [O] O > O O > O o O > O O > O [_____] O Hello - I am RaftPeople's Avatar! > O O > OOOOOOOO > > ``` You are cracking me up with this. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/151 "2010-10-06T14:50:45Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > > [@RaftPeople](#): > > > > ```auto > > > > OOOOOOOO > > O O > > O [O] [O] O > > O O > > O o O > > O O > > O [_____] O Hello - I am RaftPeople's Avatar! > > O O > > OOOOOOOO > > > > ``` > > You are cracking me up with this. **Tibbytoes** just upped the ante 🙂 [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12994261&postcount=80](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12994261&postcount=80) ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/152 "2010-10-06T15:13:31Z")
Hell it bothers me that people even want avatars, it’s like finding out the girl you really like likes Twilight and the Jersey Shore. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/153 "2010-10-06T15:43:22Z")
Yes, but would you watch Jersey Shore if all of the cast members had normal human skin tones by default? ---
**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 6, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/154 "2010-10-06T15:52:56Z")
Hell it bothers me that people even don’t want avatars, it’s like finding out the girl you really like has no sense of humor and a B.O. problem. ---
**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 6, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/155 "2010-10-06T16:00:57Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Hell it bothers me that people even don’t want avatars, it’s like finding out the girl you really like has no sense of humor and a B.O. problem. I’m sorry that you have that opinion of those who prefer verbal discourse over visual stimulus when it comes to message board communication. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/156 "2010-10-06T16:26:39Z")
Heheheh. I love a good whoosh in these types of threads. ---
**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 6, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/157 "2010-10-06T16:28:05Z")
I’m typing aren’t I? I’m not making little rebus puzzles in wingdings for people. Are you laboring under the misapprehension that those of us who want avatars would prefer to go without typing permanently? If so, I don’t know where you got that idea as it is eminently silly. I really don’t understand your objection on this issue. ---
**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 6, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/158 "2010-10-06T17:14:32Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I’m typing aren’t I? I’m not making little rebus puzzles in wingdings for people. Are you laboring under the misapprehension that those of us who want avatars would prefer to go without typing permanently? If so, I don’t know where you got that idea as it is eminently silly. I really don’t understand your objection on this issue. Slippery slope: it starts with avatars, but next thing you know everything’s in pictograms. Fish fish bird eye pyramid fish ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/159 "2010-10-06T17:22:09Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > …Fish fish bird eye pyramid fish I’m not trying to junior mod, but I thought you can’t say that here anymore. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045/160 "2010-10-06T17:22:09Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Fish fish bird eye pyramid fish :mad: Penguin penguin teapot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-bother-you-if-avatars-were-allowed-but-off-by-default/556045.md?page=9)