Why is this tolerated?

Mr. President · March 24, 2003, 19:44

What are known as "avatrolls" at CFC (avatars portraying politically or culturally offensive images) are, I think, rightly banned over there. So why are things like this user's avatar allowed here? Is it just that no-one has reported them?

If I should use the "report post" button for things like this, I would be glad to do so in the future. This time, I merely wanted to bring this to public attention. I apologize if this is not the appropriate way to bring this matter up, but I do find this sort of thing extremely offensive and I am puzzled as to why no disciplinary action has been incurred by people who do it. I'm giving the administration the benefit of the doubt, for now.

alva · March 24, 2003, 20:10

You can turn avatars off, if don't want to see this sort of thing.

Rasbelin · March 24, 2003, 20:22

Just a flag burning. If you feel offended, do as Alva suggests.

Ming · March 24, 2003, 20:33

There are always going to be differences of opinions... and in most cases, people are welcome to their opinions.

On rare occasion we have asked somebody to change their avatar...

If it bothers you... do alva and Rasbelin suggest...

Nubclear · March 24, 2003, 20:45

Quote:

Originally posted by Ming
On rare occasion we have asked somebody to change their avatar...

When?

red_jon · March 24, 2003, 20:46

To what extent to avatars have to be distressing to be banned?

Hypothetically, would someone be able to have a swastika or something?

ColdWizard · March 24, 2003, 20:59

Quote:

Originally posted by Tassadar5000
When?

pics that were inappropriate for a family-friendly site

Skanky Burns · March 24, 2003, 20:59

Quote:

Hypothetically, would someone be able to have a swastika or something?

No, which reminds me of a case where Ming asked someone to change their avatar...

Ming · March 24, 2003, 21:09

Quote:

Originally posted by red_jon
To what extent to avatars have to be distressing to be banned?
Hypothetically, would someone be able to have a swastika or something?

Swastika's are one... Porn... or something that violates the site rules...

And I don't want to hear how this or that should or shouldn't be allowed, because this isn't a Democracy...

It's all based on what the OWNERS of this PRIVATELY OWNED site want. They make the rules...

If a mod asks you to change your avatar, I would recommend you do so... And if you have a problem with it... take it up in private with the owners.
If they agree with you, they will let you have it back, and explain to the mod involved why it's allowable.

But as I've said before... it's a rare event.

If you don't like some of the avatars, do as suggested, and just turn that feature off.

ColdWizard · March 24, 2003, 21:11

or you could ignore the poster that has the avatar you find offensive

Dis · March 24, 2003, 22:05

I think we should give him a PCR for his interests

His interests are to become emporer. I say we prevent that from happening

Are confederate flags allowed?

Boris Godunov · March 24, 2003, 22:25

Frankly, big green cartoon lizards wearing sneakers offend me just as much as a picture of someone burning a flag.

It's a pic of someone exercising their right to make a personal/political statement. If you don't let people do this, I'd also ask you not allow people to have a cross as an avatar, since that would offend many people.

Alex · March 25, 2003, 07:41

I'll have a Big Mac as my next avatar, I'm sure it will offend a lot of people...

Dauphin · March 25, 2003, 07:57

Quote:

Originally posted by alva
You can turn avatars off, if don't want to see this sort of thing.

I don't have a problem with the avatar(s) in question, but if I did I would not want to effectively turn off everyone's avatar because a few people choose an objectional one.

TheStinger · March 25, 2003, 08:20

A line has to be drawn somewhere, people aren't gonna visit a site if they are getting offended all the time

Lemmy · March 25, 2003, 09:08

Quote:

Originally posted by TheStinger
A line has to be drawn somewhere, people aren't gonna visit a site if they are getting offended all the time

Then what are all those people doing in the OT?

Jamski · March 25, 2003, 09:20

There are a lot of offendomaschochists in the OT. That's why.

-Jam

-Jrabbit · March 25, 2003, 10:12

Avatars (along with Signature and Location lines, and even Usernames) are a great way to project one's online persona. This can include fandom (eg games, sports, righteous babes), politics (flags, social agendas, flag-burning), cultural references (anime, music), personal agendas (Web links), and all manner of other silliness.

This site welcomes posters with a healthy social conscience, but does not easily tolerate the intolerant.
You need to grow a thicker lizard skin, methinks.

WoA --

for "offendomasochists"

(Edited: to add "lizard")

TheStinger · March 25, 2003, 10:30

Quote:

Originally posted by Lemmy

Then what are all those people doing in the OT?

The rest of the site though should be relatively free of intentional offence.

Maniac · March 25, 2003, 14:47

I'm honoured.

A special thread about my avatar!

As -Jrabbit says, this avatar is a representation of some of my beliefs, as I don't like the current American political-economic-social-ethical-cultural system, but rather prefer a system like eg my country Belgium has. Of course I do not despise every American individual, in case someone would think that.

It's simply an ideological statement, like my previous avatar was. It's up to you to deal with it if you don't like that statement. If I would complain about every avatar or opinion not stroking with my personal beliefs...

And these calls for PCR's are ridiculous! If anyone should get PCR's, or even permabans, it should be those people calling all French cheese-eating retreat monkeys. That's the same language as calling all Jews Untermenschen. I bet someone saying that would get a ban until eternity. Double standards anyone??

spartak · March 25, 2003, 16:30

Free Speech = good.

atawa · March 25, 2003, 16:45

Free avatars = even better.

A picture shows more then a thousend words - Must be someone famous.

GhengisFarb™ · March 25, 2003, 17:59

Quote:

Originally posted by Ming
There are always going to be differences of opinions... and in most cases, people are welcome to their opinions.

On rare occasion we have asked somebody to change their avatar...

If it bothers you... do alva and Rasbelin suggest...

Yep, I had to change my avatar once. Too much cleavage........

FrustratedPoet · March 25, 2003, 18:23

Yeah Ghengis, nobody wanted to see your tits.

Personally I can't remember being offended by any avatar I've seen at Apolyton.

jdd2007 · March 25, 2003, 19:16

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr. President
What are known as "avatrolls" at CFC (avatars portraying politically or culturally offensive images) are, I think, rightly banned over there...

i once complained about a Third Reich avatar at CFC. never got a response and saw the same saluting nazis several months later

just letting ya know...

alva · March 25, 2003, 20:42

Quote:

Originally posted by FrustratedPoet
Yeah Ghengis, nobody wanted to see your tits.

Personally I can't remember being offended by any avatar I've seen at Apolyton.

Me neither, I very rarely, if ever get upset by other peoples opinions.
opinions are like *ssh*les, everybody 's got one

Gatekeeper · March 25, 2003, 21:03

I'm waiting for someone to post a photo of a dead Iraqi in their avatar. I'll never see it, of course, as I've got avatars off in my options — dang things are time hogs when it comes to loading pages, even on a cable connection.

Gatekeeper

alva · March 25, 2003, 21:06

Since posting pictures of dead people will get you banned ATM, I wouldn't be surprised if the same applies to avatars.

Guynemer · March 26, 2003, 00:34

Quote:

Originally posted by atawa
Free avatars = even better.

But they're not free... I'm still 350 or so on-topic posts short...

(+1)

DrSpike · March 26, 2003, 06:18

I think the balance struck at this site is a good one.......sure there are extreme examples where you have to ban the avatar, but they are left unless there is a compelling reason not to. IMO the disagreement of a subset of posters for a particular avatar is not compelling..........you are always free to think of the offending poster as a total jerk.