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Can We Cut It Out With The Racy Avatars?
- Thread starter grommit
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You have?! Really?! Funny, as I can't recall one of your previous complaints. I guess your argument fell on deaf ears.
C,mon, do you really think that avatars such as mine demean the forum as a whole? I think not. Get of your moral high horse and stop telling others what they ought to be doing because I for one am tired of this PC bullcrap that people try to jam down our throats.
Oh, and another thing...you see the title under name, Hot Avatar Procurer? That noble title was given to me by our fearless leader Spark! And I intend to fully live up to the honor.
And there is the fact that some of us ARE women. Scantily clad...no...but still a woman and I figure the avatars are just a way of expression.
I could do with a few scantily clad men avatars....but would rather look at pretty knives. hmmmm...there is some freudian there that I don't want to discuss.
I would have to rule with the grouping that says turn off the switch so that you don't have to look at them but you can still read the forum. I am not going to do that, and I will be reading at work and I don't smoke so this is my 'break' darn it. If not abused then there shouldnt be a problem.
Sorry that the nakkid lady pics are bothersome. As a female in a mans hobby you learn to 'not see' some of the things that may be offensive and roll with the group.
I could do with a few scantily clad men avatars....but would rather look at pretty knives. hmmmm...there is some freudian there that I don't want to discuss.
I would have to rule with the grouping that says turn off the switch so that you don't have to look at them but you can still read the forum. I am not going to do that, and I will be reading at work and I don't smoke so this is my 'break' darn it. If not abused then there shouldnt be a problem.
Sorry that the nakkid lady pics are bothersome. As a female in a mans hobby you learn to 'not see' some of the things that may be offensive and roll with the group.
If I didn't like it, I wouldn't be here 
Gollnick
Musical Director
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Perhaps you haven't read all 7960+ of my posts.
It is well-established that I respectfully disagree with my good friend Spark on this matter.
And that does mean that I am, in my objection, jousting with windmills. But, I will joust nonetheless.
And I am also tired of the egocentric "if it feels good, do it... regardless of what impact it has on others," PC bullcrap that the liberals try to jam down our throats.
I have made three assertions:
1) These pictures are superfluous to the topic at hand.
2) They create a poor public image and only reinforce negative stereotypes.
And, 3) they discourage people who might otherwise make good contributions to the topic at hand.
Anybody want to address these claims?
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- Jun 14, 2000
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- 15,400
Your opinion.
Your opinion.
Hey! guess what? Your opinion.
We could battle back and forth on this for an eternity and nothing would get resolved. I say we agree to disagree. And if you still care to not to view my avatar disable them. How much more simple can it get. The function is there for that reason.
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- Apr 29, 2002
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I thought long and hard about this one. Uh... no, not like that, you perverts. 
On the one hand, I feel annoyed by racy avatars. Sure, I enjoy pictures of scantily clad women, but I just intuitively felt that there's times for that and times for reading about knives.
On the other hand, I think that avatars are just another form of personal expression on a private forum.
In the end though, when I see this blatant flashing of skin, it affects my perception of the poster. It's just the same as when posters are expressing themselves by being excessively pushy or combative. I know that it's not directed at me specifically, but I think that these avatars are a crass message to the entire community that I personally prefer not to see when I'm reading BladeForums.
That's my opinion. I don't think that these avatars should be disabled or censored just because I don't like to see them, just like how I don't think pigheaded forumites should be banned because they annoy me.
On the one hand, I feel annoyed by racy avatars. Sure, I enjoy pictures of scantily clad women, but I just intuitively felt that there's times for that and times for reading about knives.
On the other hand, I think that avatars are just another form of personal expression on a private forum.
In the end though, when I see this blatant flashing of skin, it affects my perception of the poster. It's just the same as when posters are expressing themselves by being excessively pushy or combative. I know that it's not directed at me specifically, but I think that these avatars are a crass message to the entire community that I personally prefer not to see when I'm reading BladeForums.
That's my opinion. I don't think that these avatars should be disabled or censored just because I don't like to see them, just like how I don't think pigheaded forumites should be banned because they annoy me.
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Look to the left. This is my actual face, a promo still shot back when I appeared in such sci-fi classics as "Plan 9 from Outer Space" and "The Beast of Yucca Flats". I have some very tasteful nude photos that were taken at the same time, and I was just getting up the courage to make one of them my avatar. Thanks for stealing my dream, you bastards.
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- 1,913
Some mighty heated discussion about avatars today I see.
I'm of the camp that doesn't even notice them for the most part.
I certainly can understand how a father, who is educating his children in knife related topics in the furtherance of the education about bladecraft, may take offense to an avitar his kids may look at while reading the forum posts.
It's [ this forum ] is open to the public, all of the public, including women and children who post and read here in their quest for self education of knife related topics.
Would they [ the avatars ] be permitted in a work environment where there were both sexes working side by side and perhaps their children who visit the office from time to time to take dad out to lunch? Probably not.
Would you see these types of avatars/pictures in public? probably in a few places here and there, but for the most part probably not if it was deemed offensive by someone.
I understand the fathers concern for his childrens questioning the pictures and seeing things that he may deem not appropriate forthem at that age.
Would you alllow an 8 year old boy or girl to check out your playboy, penthouse, or hustler? Probably not. In that regard, we might take more considerations for the family members who have the desire to learn more about the knife culture and less about anatomy 101.
I don't take offense to them, but if others do, I think it somewhat rude to tell them to look elsewhere for their knife education and deny them the enjoyment of posting, reading and educating themselves about bladecraft so someone can continue to post an avatar that is offensove to others.
Thats what this forum is all about if I'm not mistaken.
Some very heated discussion here today on this subject. If we can not continue with the discussion without all the heat on both sides, is it worth it to continue the discussion at all?
Losing objectivity is a clear sign of losing the fight. This isn't the boys club exclusively, there are members of the fairer sex and children who reside here. Some thought ought to go into their feelings as well.
Brownie
I'm of the camp that doesn't even notice them for the most part.
I certainly can understand how a father, who is educating his children in knife related topics in the furtherance of the education about bladecraft, may take offense to an avitar his kids may look at while reading the forum posts.
It's [ this forum ] is open to the public, all of the public, including women and children who post and read here in their quest for self education of knife related topics.
Would they [ the avatars ] be permitted in a work environment where there were both sexes working side by side and perhaps their children who visit the office from time to time to take dad out to lunch? Probably not.
Would you see these types of avatars/pictures in public? probably in a few places here and there, but for the most part probably not if it was deemed offensive by someone.
I understand the fathers concern for his childrens questioning the pictures and seeing things that he may deem not appropriate forthem at that age.
Would you alllow an 8 year old boy or girl to check out your playboy, penthouse, or hustler? Probably not. In that regard, we might take more considerations for the family members who have the desire to learn more about the knife culture and less about anatomy 101.
I don't take offense to them, but if others do, I think it somewhat rude to tell them to look elsewhere for their knife education and deny them the enjoyment of posting, reading and educating themselves about bladecraft so someone can continue to post an avatar that is offensove to others.
Thats what this forum is all about if I'm not mistaken.
Some very heated discussion here today on this subject. If we can not continue with the discussion without all the heat on both sides, is it worth it to continue the discussion at all?
Losing objectivity is a clear sign of losing the fight. This isn't the boys club exclusively, there are members of the fairer sex and children who reside here. Some thought ought to go into their feelings as well.
Brownie
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2001
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- 80
For whatever it's worth: Gollnick, I totally agree with you on this one.
I don't get offended by undressed ladies. I read whine and cheese with great pleasure. But only when I'm alone.
I have, more than once, had sarcastic comments from my wife AND kids when watching the "Blade dicussion Forum". Two days ago: "Father - why are those two women kissing each other". Hmmmrf.
The people that are arguing for the racy avatars are having basically 3 arguments:
1) Spark allows it (poor argument)
Of course spark allows it. If not you were already out of here. However the real question is: Should spark continue to allow it?
2) I like naked women (not an argument)
Irrelevant - this is a blade forum.
3) If you don't like my avatar - get lost (poor argument).
This should be a friendly forum. Such arguments scare people away.
When Gollnick tries to argument logically, they ridicule him:
However - that "your opinion" is just K.V. Collucci's opinion. Some other people actually agree with Gollnick.
Or what about:
Calling each other names is surely going to convince a lot of people.
I don't get offended by undressed ladies. I read whine and cheese with great pleasure. But only when I'm alone.
I have, more than once, had sarcastic comments from my wife AND kids when watching the "Blade dicussion Forum". Two days ago: "Father - why are those two women kissing each other". Hmmmrf.
The people that are arguing for the racy avatars are having basically 3 arguments:
1) Spark allows it (poor argument)
Of course spark allows it. If not you were already out of here. However the real question is: Should spark continue to allow it?
2) I like naked women (not an argument)
Irrelevant - this is a blade forum.
3) If you don't like my avatar - get lost (poor argument).
This should be a friendly forum. Such arguments scare people away.
When Gollnick tries to argument logically, they ridicule him:
However - that "your opinion" is just K.V. Collucci's opinion. Some other people actually agree with Gollnick.
Or what about:
Calling each other names is surely going to convince a lot of people.
Gollnick
Musical Director
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True. And I was hoping that someone might want to discuss them in a thoughtful way, perhaps show me their errors.
Thank you.
Thinking about other people's feelings... that's sometime called "common courtesy" and it's a hallmark of mature, adult thinking and behavior.
"I'm gonna put up whatever avatar I want to regardless of how it affects others just because I can and because it makes me feel like I'm the top guy on the block," that's selfish, immature thinking and behavior.
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- Mar 30, 2001
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- 423
Instead of talking around in circles, why not just run a poll ?
"I want my racey avators/they don't bother me" vrs "No racey avators please", let it run for 3 weeks and abide by the results.
Personally it's not the sort of thing I would use, but at the same time they don't bother me at all. I can't really see what the fuss is about.
I'm allowed to view the internet at work during my lunch break, but they would absolutely flip if I looked at ANY knife site, so guess what ? I don't view knife sites from work.
I do respect Grommit's right to make his polite request, and if such a request was made of me for any reason I would give it serious consideration. On the other hand I also believe that Grommit used completly the wrong tone of post when expressing what he admitted was a minority view. His post came out very much as "All of you should change or else (I wont come here any more or recommend it to coleagues), which I could well believe got a lot of peoples backs up.
"I want my racey avators/they don't bother me" vrs "No racey avators please", let it run for 3 weeks and abide by the results.
Personally it's not the sort of thing I would use, but at the same time they don't bother me at all. I can't really see what the fuss is about.
I'm allowed to view the internet at work during my lunch break, but they would absolutely flip if I looked at ANY knife site, so guess what ? I don't view knife sites from work.
I do respect Grommit's right to make his polite request, and if such a request was made of me for any reason I would give it serious consideration. On the other hand I also believe that Grommit used completly the wrong tone of post when expressing what he admitted was a minority view. His post came out very much as "All of you should change or else (I wont come here any more or recommend it to coleagues), which I could well believe got a lot of peoples backs up.
Gollnick
Musical Director
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Because part of the assertion is that these avatars discourage some people from participating. Obviously, such people would not participate in the poll. It'd be sort of like conducting a poll to see what the public thinks about gun control... and conducting that poll at a gun-control rally. I wonder what the results would be?
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I did start a poll over in the Community forum. When doing this I did not take in to account the fact that basic members can't vote in a poll. They can however still vote by plcing their vote in the a post in the main body of the thread.
It is obvious from the results so far that most people do not mind the avatars as they are. However, there are enough people that are concerned about these avatars that this is not something that should be just brushed aside.
It is obvious from the results so far that most people do not mind the avatars as they are. However, there are enough people that are concerned about these avatars that this is not something that should be just brushed aside.
Klesk
Gold Member
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Originally posted by TorzJohnson
Look to the left. This is my actual face, a promo still shot back when I appeared in such sci-fi classics as "Plan 9 from Outer Space" and "The Beast of Yucca Flats". I have some very tasteful nude photos that were taken at the same time, and I was just getting up the courage to make one of them my avatar. Thanks for stealing my dream, you bastards.
Dammit again, Torz! You have to make the disclaimer your signature line!
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- Sep 2, 2003
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All perfectly valid points. However, maybe I'm missing something important here, please let me know, you can turn them off. Why is this a problem? Don't like the avatars? Think they're offensive, irrelevant or give the place a bad image? OK, turn them off.
You can still read and post stuff, your kiddies/wife/mother/whoever can still look over your shoulder without being scandalised. What's the problem with this solution?
BTW, this rant is not directed at the original poster of the quote. It's a general rant.
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Geezus Overgaar....are you Gollnick's nanny?
I called him a Liberal in pure jest. He knew it as I'm sure did most others. Don't they have sarcasm in Denmark. Why don't you let Lefty(LOL) handle his own debating. That's all it is...a friendly debate!
Gollnick,
I like reading your posts usually and I was just debating with you more on the merits of board censorship than anything else. No offense intended. Liberals which you may not be, have a similar style of arguing like you do on alot of different subjects.
Being that if ONE among us is offended than the WHOLE must aqueisce to that.
I disagree.
The politically correct thought police are anti-American and go against all forms of free expression.
I called him a Liberal in pure jest. He knew it as I'm sure did most others. Don't they have sarcasm in Denmark. Why don't you let Lefty(LOL) handle his own debating. That's all it is...a friendly debate!
Gollnick,
I like reading your posts usually and I was just debating with you more on the merits of board censorship than anything else. No offense intended. Liberals which you may not be, have a similar style of arguing like you do on alot of different subjects.
Being that if ONE among us is offended than the WHOLE must aqueisce to that.
I disagree.
The politically correct thought police are anti-American and go against all forms of free expression.
fishface5
Gold Member
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- Feb 3, 2001
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this topic bugs me. If you don't like the avatars, just disable them. Could it be any simpler? And I'm with Dijos - the avatars where freaks point guns at the observer create a far poorer public image, esp. in a website devoted to weapons, than cleavage.
As for the avatars being superfluous to the topic at hand, well, so are our tag lines. But this isn't just a bulletin board, it's a community of individuals, and Spark has arranged it so there are many ways for us to express our individuality. which, to my mind, makes it a lot more fun.
I'm a dyed-in-the-wool liberal (although some of my lefty friends might disagree) BUT the idea that others should be forced to change their behavior, rather than me exerting a little personal responsibility for my own circumstances by disabling the avatars - I find that to be fundamentally philosophically objectionable.
As for the avatars being superfluous to the topic at hand, well, so are our tag lines. But this isn't just a bulletin board, it's a community of individuals, and Spark has arranged it so there are many ways for us to express our individuality. which, to my mind, makes it a lot more fun.
I'm a dyed-in-the-wool liberal (although some of my lefty friends might disagree) BUT the idea that others should be forced to change their behavior, rather than me exerting a little personal responsibility for my own circumstances by disabling the avatars - I find that to be fundamentally philosophically objectionable.
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Playing the devil's advocate, isn't that saying that because SOME (I think I can safely say not ALL) people that might consider viewing these forums at some future date, MAY (or may not) be offended by certain avators, the people who ARE members and DO contribute should alter their behavour and desist from doing something they enjoy (?), just on the off chance ?
I also think that this would wrongly be considered a "gun control rally" because at a gun control rally everyone has a unified opinion, but here the main interest is in knives (hopefully) and the topic of avators is just a side issue that should be settled either by the big boss or committee decission.
And if by your assertion you are infering there would be a landslide decission to keep the status quo, it brings up another issue, how large does a minority have to be in order to regulate the actions of the majority ?
I know the best solution would be for us to respect the wishes of our peers and each side give a little to reach a compromise, but I think we all realise that this group is too big and diverse for this to actually happen.
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