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One Still Sheep

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 16, 2012
84
0
I'm just curious why members with fewer than 500 posts (I believe that is correct) are not allowed to have avatars: what is the reasoning behind this, bandwidth?
 

r.j.s

Moderator emeritus
Mar 7, 2007
15,026
52
Texas
An avatar is kind of like a reward for being a committed community member - rather than just handing them out to anybody.
 

One Still Sheep

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 16, 2012
84
0
An avatar is kind of like a reward for being a committed community member - rather than just handing them out to anybody.

I suspected that this was also a possibility.

Of course, the problem is that, on crowded threads in particular, viewers often read by avatar: eyes skimming down the thread selecting to read only the post which are accompanied by some visual cue (the rest merging into faceless indistinguishable opinions). There is nothing wrong with this approach per se, but it is an essentially unavoidable consequence.
 

FrankieTDouglas

macrumors 68000
Mar 10, 2005
1,554
2,882
I suspected that this was also a possibility.

Of course, the problem is that, on crowded threads in particular, viewers often read by avatar: eyes skimming down the thread selecting to read only the post which are accompanied by some visual cue (the rest merging into faceless indistinguishable opinions). There is nothing wrong with this approach per se, but it is an essentially unavoidable consequence.

Hence, the "reward" for those who stick around with posting.
 

FrankieTDouglas

macrumors 68000
Mar 10, 2005
1,554
2,882
Sorry, I may have misrepresented my point: I mean that reading the forum is, I think, more difficult (or at least it becomes less insightful).

I dunno, there are plenty of people in the political forum who post without an avatar, and yet their views are well-known. I posted for about two years before I put up an avatar, never hurt me.
 

mrsir2009

macrumors 604
Sep 17, 2009
7,505
156
Melbourne, Australia
I suspected that this was also a possibility.

Of course, the problem is that, on crowded threads in particular, viewers often read by avatar: eyes skimming down the thread selecting to read only the post which are accompanied by some visual cue (the rest merging into faceless indistinguishable opinions). There is nothing wrong with this approach per se, but it is an essentially unavoidable consequence.

I have noticed that many people who have a post count of over 500 don't bother uploading an avatar anyway - So it probably wouldn't make a whole heap of difference.
 

ChristianVirtual

macrumors 601
May 10, 2010
4,122
282
日本
I like the idea of having the little burden of 500 posts before getting an avatar. That visually confirms that those members are active for some time.
But I'm also sure that those posts without Avatar get attention. It's more content driven. I even more look on the ranking (like newbie or G3) to adjust the way of responding.

Keep yourself active and soon you have reached 500 (I got hyperactive after 450 ... was really chasing :p )
 

justinmancini

macrumors newbie
Aug 10, 2012
20
0
I suspected that this was also a possibility.

Of course, the problem is that, on crowded threads in particular, viewers often read by avatar: eyes skimming down the thread selecting to read only the post which are accompanied by some visual cue (the rest merging into faceless indistinguishable opinions). There is nothing wrong with this approach per se, but it is an essentially unavoidable consequence.

If the line breaks, and borders around posts aren't enough of a visual cue for you, then something's wrong. ;)
 

deannnnn

macrumors 68020
Jun 4, 2007
2,090
625
New York City & South Florida
I like being rewarded for being a committed member! And of course we always welcome new people to our community here, but they have to do a little work before coming a "full" member if you will.
 

theSeb

macrumors 604
Aug 10, 2010
7,466
1,893
none
I am not a big fan of avatars. I am thankful that at least MR does not allow pictures in signatures. Some forums look ridiculous because all of the animated avatars and big signature pictures. Awful awful stuff. My views are probably skewed because I am over 33 and having a pretty picture on the side of my posts is not a priority in my life.
 

OllyW

Moderator
Staff member
Oct 11, 2005
17,196
6,799
The Black Country, England
I am not a big fan of avatars. I am thankful that at least MR does not allow pictures in signatures. Some forums look ridiculous because all of the animated avatars and big signature pictures. Awful awful stuff. My views are probably skewed because I am over 33 and having a pretty picture on the side of my posts is not a priority in my life.

You can turn avatars and signatures off if you don't like them.

It's in User CP/Settings & Options/Edit Options.
 

twietee

macrumors 603
Jan 24, 2012
5,300
1,675
I dont get it?? how do you set your avatar?

Click on Private Message on top right, then you have the option 'Edit Avatar' in Your Control Panel. Option 1 or 2 will upload it. Then some patience and voilà!
That said, it happens that mine changes sometimes from coloured to b/w or, nowadays, randomly to the pic I used before, too :confused: . Wonder if that has to do with the device I'm using. I have no clue, but don't care since they're all really cool. :D
 

mrsir2009

macrumors 604
Sep 17, 2009
7,505
156
Melbourne, Australia
I am not a big fan of avatars. I am thankful that at least MR does not allow pictures in signatures. Some forums look ridiculous because all of the animated avatars and big signature pictures. Awful awful stuff. My views are probably skewed because I am over 33 and having a pretty picture on the side of my posts is not a priority in my life.

Indeed - A lot of forums with a less mature user-base are like that. It looks insane: Five words in the post... Then literally half a page of animated avatar and massive sig images.
 

theSeb

macrumors 604
Aug 10, 2010
7,466
1,893
none
Indeed - A lot of forums with a less mature user-base are like that. It looks insane: Five words in the post... Then literally half a page of animated avatar and massive sig images.

It also makes browsing the forum difficult when one is at a client's site. :D
 
Last edited:

ucfgrad93

macrumors Core
Aug 17, 2007
19,535
10,821
Colorado
I am not a big fan of avatars. I am thankful that at least MR does not allow pictures in signatures. Some forums look ridiculous because all of the animated avatars and big signature pictures. Awful awful stuff.

Agreed. I like how MacRumors does it.
 

Garsun

macrumors regular
Oct 20, 2009
181
183
I would like to have an Avatar, but with 18 posts in three years, it's going to take awhile :)
 
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