I have a little problem with some avatars: a bad "feeling" when viewing them.
It's strange, I think that you could say that I am perhaps a little offended or something like that, do not know exactly how to describe.

I know that you should be free to use whatever avatar you want, and the usual reply would be that I can ignore the forums if the content "offend" me.

But perhaps other are in the same situation. I'd like to hear your opinion about that: should the avatars be moderated?

When you begin seeing hateful or racist avatars, like a swastika, then yes.

Otherwise no. Respect that people in the UK, USA, Denmark and Israel are offended by different things + personal taste. I personally have strong feelings against the Microsoft logo.

I think a similar discussion came up recently involving a member's signature.

Most laws involving obscenity use "community norms" as the comparitive factor for deciding such things.

I think the overall consensus was that if you are offended by an avatar that you discuss it by PM.

If no resolution is arrived at, I guess the moderators would have to decide.

Censorship is a really tough issue.

I perfectly understand that the person using this avatar probably did not intended to offend anyone.

I am this bringing this topic in order to know if I am the only one in this case.
I intentionnaly did not mentionned which specific avatar I am talking about in order to not influence opinions.

ps: of course I think that if we come to the conclusion that there is a problem, we should discuss about the solution and not censor the avatar.

I only mentionned moderating, and moderating can be self-moderating.

I don't think swastika is a good example considering it's *original* meaning. But I get your point and you're right. :-)

If it's mine say, i will change it quickly don't want to offend anywone. ( Don't see if my avatar offend somewone but..)

Well, I haven't seen any personally offending avatars here.

Only avatar which I have "issues" with, is Garf's "child molester" avatar. The "issues" being that I wouldn't gladly link any outside "important" person from work or university to a thread which has Garf's posting and at the same time advertize that I'm an admin on this board..

No, it is not your avatar

Quick & Dirty solution for Gabriel and others who might be offended by someone's avatar:
Click 'Your control panel' button on the main forum page.
Search for the option 'Do you wish to view members avatars when reading threads?' in the 'Board settings' , Select 'No'. Click 'Go'
Ready, saves some bandwidth as well on a dial-up connection
I understand that this is no solution for the underlying problem.

Not Garf either...

Is this going to be a guess competition?

If no one is able to guess, then it probably means that I am over-puritain or something like that.

I do not remember who's avatar it is, but I remember the avatar. It's somethink that look like chains and blood.

It better not be this one.

The only one that's making my eyes bleed is this here! :x

I haven't really seen any offensive avatars. Mine tends to leave people horny (want proof?) or wanting to play DOA3/X-box (y'all should see it on a widescreen 72" HDTV in hi-res mode). If anything could be considered offensive, it's the language. It can be quite colorful at times. My vote? Leave things as they are.

Xenno

Case said that's the only reason he visits this board.. so better not!

No, it was something that looked (at least to me) neither related to audio neither funny, but I am unable to find it back.
The picture of an half-naked body with chains around it, and blood, something looking like a masochist scene.

I'm a big proponent of freedom of expression, but I was under the impression that anything I put on this board was subject to moderation. I guess one take on this is that people could use whatever image, no matter how offensive, and be subject to criticism and ridicule for their choice. But that gets far afield from what this board is about and we'd waste time, bandwidth and our hot air debating way off-topic posts.

I really enjoy seeing others avatars and wouldn't want to give that up (i.e., turn them off) simply because I found someone's avatar really objectionable. However, objectionable to me goes way beyond just being in bad taste and gets into racism, sexism, exploitation.

Ultimately, I think it's the moderator/admin call whether we have them at all and what goes too far....

I talked with several people at irc. Nobody remembers that, and if you can't even find it, it can't be a very big problem?

I think the Avatar you are referring to is a picture of a KISS band member. The person has allready changed his avatar to something else (dunno why), but I'm sure he'll speak up.

That would be me... Gene Simmons from KISS.
See it here: http://www.phazer.dk/avatar.jpg

Nothing whatsoever obscene about KISS. Diana Rigg is just so much cuter.

For more information about KISS see the movie Destroit Rock City or join the movement: Mothers Aghainst KISS" - did it's best it could to destroy rock and roll in the 70s.

That is probably why I am unable to find it back.
I do not think that it is really "obscene" neither offending.
But I had a "negative feeling" that I am unable to explain in english.
Perhap I am really "over-puritain"?

No big deal, Gab?.

100% much better

Eeh, I think Gene tries his best to be obscene..right? But I would say nowadays that's too "transparent" for most people in order to be obscene...

Gaby..

No, he does not try to be obscene. It is part of a larger stage show with fire, explosions, smoke coming out of the guitars, make up, leather clothes, 7" heels, etc. Their lyrics are quite clean.

It you are looking for an obscene scene show, look for RockBitch. I am NOT going to say what they do on stage in this forum. That would be REALLY inappropriate.

Does anyone remember this black/white avatar showing a man wrapped like a mummy, looking like he was badly hurt? That one looked repulsive to me, but only after i examined it more closely.

If he does not TRY to be obscene, I don't know what he's trying. Is he just spitting blood for fun?
It's a show, and imo he does try to be obscene, otherwise there wouldn't be any "show" at all, would there? Another thing is, whether it is obscene for example KISS fans, most probably not, but even they must know that it's obscene for some people, otherwise there wouldn't be any idea to spit blood?

MHH, I'd like to see that one.

I told Annuka in another thread that "this avatar is much better" heh.. That was a pretty disturbing avatar but not so bad really, a quality picture actually..
And,
"I personally have strong feelings against the Microsoft logo"
...

Probably this avatar...: http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/html/avatars/4.gif


Btw.: Moderators can't edit avatars nor signatures.

There are some avatars I would prefer to hide from my view, but then I couldn't see Pio's anymore

Maybe there could be a selective (=avatar/sig dependent) option?

I think all avatar's so far have been fine, I have not found any of them to be disturbing or offensive. Until then IMHO its best to leave the status quo we currently have on this board since peoples opinions differ, we just got to tolerate them or send a PM stating why it offends you and leave it up to the originator to change the avatar. If not there is always the avatar off switch in the options.

patchworks

You're right DSPguru, it was his avatar... dunno why, but it's giving me the creeps.

what is this image

hehe.. in that case, what would you feel about this :
http://www.patchworks.it/artisti/Cancrena/live2002.avi

EDIT:
i don't mind his avatar, but i will support avatars moderation in order to prevent hurting members' feelings.

I am amazed that he can remember the lyrics.

What video codec does this avi use?.. Couldn't play it.

And oh my god the sound quality is so horrible .

VP3
http://www.vp3.com/getvp3/

I think it uses VP3 (the thing now called theora )
But I can't play it neither... just the sound
WTF ist this? Sounds like grind core or some very extreme death metal

Thanks, i installed it, played fine.
Weird thing though, when i close Zoom Player after playing the movie it gives an application error message
"The instruction at "0x1000cef3" referenced memory at "0x017f3e48". The memory could not be "read"."
Hmm.. Well anyway, i don't have any other video that uses this codec so no prob .

All this avatar talk is making me hungry...

Jenny
>>what is this image?

Mangled & gross....looks like something from rotten.com

Xenno

hehe.. excuses..
reminds me of one of my fav. cartoons :

Hehe, nice one..
I like this one:



Hey, she deserved it! She BROKE into their house. And ATE their food! And SLEPT on one of thier beds!!! Come on, you know she deserved it ...


And also.... edited: link to a more "dark humor" pic.. (debatable i suppose, but goldilocks deserved it )

Dark. Very dark.

Actually the second pic is pretty bright ...
Well i hate Goldilocks and clows FREAK me out.. So it's not that dark is it?.. Don't clowns freak anyone here completely out as well?....