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Offensive avatars
clairetoo - 31/8/08 at 06:48 AM

There are a few avatars on this site that some of us find a bit offensive - there has been some discussion , but nothing has been done about it .
This morning , I found the `cure` - I have Adblock plus loaded on Firefox , and it works on avatars
So now I can actually get back to reading posts instead of just scrolling straight past

mr henderson - 31/8/08 at 06:55 AM

I don't have Firefox but I think I might look into getting it,

As far as the offensive avatars are concerned, I thnk the problem is that people hate being corrected. For instance, there is one chap with a particularly offensive avatar and a number of people have made this clear in a recent thread. However, he is thinking that if he changes it, it means he was wrong to choose it in the first place, and people don't lke admitting that they are wrong.

I think maybe the mangement should do something about it, publish an actual policy and enforce it.

John

StevieB - 31/8/08 at 07:04 AM

I would agree that, whilst I'm not easily offended myself (and, frankly, find some of the avatars very amusing), this forum is for everyone to use and therefore the avatars should reflect this.

As well as the forum users, a growing number of us have kiddies looking over our shoulders too.

speedyxjs - 31/8/08 at 07:08 AM

quote:
Originally posted by mr henderson
there is one chap with a particularly offensive avatar and a number of people have made this clear in a recent thread.


Its not mine is it?

Benzine - 31/8/08 at 07:09 AM

quote:
Originally posted by speedyxjs
quote:
Originally posted by mr henderson
there is one chap with a particularly offensive avatar and a number of people have made this clear in a recent thread.


Its not mine is it?


or mine?

Macbeast - 31/8/08 at 07:43 AM

This one innit ?


StevieB - 31/8/08 at 07:49 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Macbeast
This one innit ?




David Jenkins - 31/8/08 at 07:50 AM

quote:
Originally posted by StevieB
As well as the forum users, a growing number of us have kiddies looking over our shoulders too.


And bosses...

Paul TigerB6 - 31/8/08 at 07:52 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Macbeast
This one innit ?




Scandalous!!! Now who's will that be??? Off with his head I say!!!!

speedyxjs - 31/8/08 at 07:57 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Benzine
quote:
Originally posted by speedyxjs
quote:
Originally posted by mr henderson
there is one chap with a particularly offensive avatar and a number of people have made this clear in a recent thread.


Its not mine is it?


or mine?


It cant be yours. Yours is just telling it as it is

graememk - 31/8/08 at 08:01 AM

cant say i've seen any bad ones resently.

rusty nuts - 31/8/08 at 08:26 AM

The only offensive avatar I've seen was a load of half naked men which has now been changed .

BenB - 31/8/08 at 10:34 AM

I've been on holiday Looks like I've missed another round of avatar brinksmanship!!

splitrivet - 31/8/08 at 11:07 AM

Offensive avatars, floggings too good for them.

Disgusted,
Brighton (Colonel retired)

blakep82 - 31/8/08 at 11:09 AM

i'm not easily offended, i think i know the one everyone's on about, and its not offensive...

people are only offended if they want to take offense.
ChrisW (site owner as he is...) 'could' be offensive, but after all its only a girl showing us how long her finger is. its a fine specimen i must say!
someone falling down a trap door is nothing, lets be honest eh?

NeilP - 31/8/08 at 11:39 AM

Does this mean I'm going to have to shave?....

BenTyreman - 31/8/08 at 11:43 AM

More Stylish rules.

No avatars: 

code:
@namespace url(http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml); 

@-moz-document domain("locostbuilders.co.uk") { 

td.tablerow > div.smalltxt > center > a > img { display: none !important; } 

}


No thread pics: 
code:
@namespace url(http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml); 

@-moz-document domain("locostbuilders.co.uk") { 

.threadtxt img { display: none !important; } 

}

johnston - 31/8/08 at 12:15 PM

This subject came up on another forum i'm on . Not so much offensive but annoying ones flashy things stuff like that. It was just dealt with a bit of banter as people came up with more annoying avatars.

Then admin stepped in docking post counts blocking accounts but kept it all as light weight banter, with the user opening a new account with the signiture "formaly known as". A new moderator "god" kept things inline without anyone throwing the toys out of the pram.

But the number of times the eldest daughter looks over my shoulder and shouts "mummy he's lookin at booby pictures again" is increasing :p

johnston - 31/8/08 at 12:17 PM

This subject came up on another forum i'm on . Not so much offensive but annoying ones flashy things stuff like that. It was just dealt with a bit of banter as people came up with more annoying avatars.

Then admin stepped in docking post counts blocking accounts but kept it all as light weight banter, with the user opening a new account with the signiture "formaly known as". A new moderator "god" kept things inline without anyone throwing the toys out of the pram.

But the number of times the eldest daughter looks over my shoulder and shouts "mummy he's lookin at booby pictures again" is increasing :p

David Jenkins - 31/8/08 at 12:51 PM

quote:
Originally posted by BenTyreman
More Stylish rules.


Ben,

You're getting the hang of those Stylish rules, aren't you!

cheers,
David

(for general info: the 'no avatars' rule works well.)


[Edited on 31/8/08 by David Jenkins]

iscmatt - 31/8/08 at 12:52 PM

funny how nobody with the said avatars are posting

Fozzie - 31/8/08 at 01:00 PM

I have tried endlessly to address this very problem.....

The great thing about this site, is that it is largely 'self-policing'......

If you have a problem with a persons avatar, please u2u the person concerned, more often than not, they will remove or change the offending avatar.

I have stepped in on many occasions only to be insulted in return, and again on more than one occasion have my avatar 'reported' as well.

Sadly, it is only a few of this very large data base, but nonetheless aggravating.

Even when the fact that this is a global site, and used by colleges as a knowledge base, that when such avatars are used, it may result in our site being banned at educational establishments is pointed out, it is ignored.

These people come back with a reply such as 'my girlfriend says its ok, so its staying'....to .......'get over it...its the 21st century......' and the really mature attitude of 'I like what I do...so I will do what I like'...

Then there is the 'lemming' syndrome types...someone posts a risque avatar, then their mate tries to top that, and so on and so forth, until it has become a situation akin to the mentality of primary school. Becoming totally blinded to the fact that its not just their mates that can see the avatar, but indeed every person who logs in.

I am sure that it gets forgotten in the quest for one upmanship, that the avatar appears on single one of their posts past and present.

Its all well and good writing a code, but why do that when its only the minority who are at fault.

For new sign ups...well since mr piggy pr0n, terms are stated in which this is covered, so by going ahead with the sign on, people are deemed to have accepted the conditions.

However, banning a person does not solve the problem, as has been mentioned.

Please u2u the person that has an avatar that is offensive to you, and if you get any grief let me know!

Fozzie

mr henderson - 31/8/08 at 02:52 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Fozzie

Please u2u the person that has an avatar that is offensive to you, and if you get any grief let me know!

Fozzie


If the person concerned is already well aware that his avatar is causing offence, why do you think that a U2U is going to change his mind? Seems rather unlikely to me

John

scootz - 31/8/08 at 03:31 PM

I don't know - I'd like to think that most on here would remove an avatar if asked and if it was indeed ofensive in the first place.

That's the problem... what's offensive and what's not?

I think so many citizens have become pee'd off with being told what's PC and what's not. So much so, that many are now adopting the "I'll do what I like" attitude as alluded to by Fozzie.

I've been a member of many car-related forums over the years and I have to say that this site is far more civilised than any other that I've encountered. But it all comes down to the individual... personally speaking, I've never found semi-nudity to be offensive and I consider most of the 'questionable' avatars on here to be of the 'Carry On... ' type of humour.

Ooooh, Matron!

speedyxjs - 31/8/08 at 03:52 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mr henderson
quote:
Originally posted by Fozzie

Please u2u the person that has an avatar that is offensive to you, and if you get any grief let me know!

Fozzie


If the person concerned is already well aware that his avatar is causing offence, why do you think that a U2U is going to change his mind? Seems rather unlikely to me

John


I agree but i think if the said person(s) ended up with LOADS of u2u's they might get the message, so list the user(s) here and everyone who reads this post from then on MUST sent the user(s) in question a u2u

Macbeast - 31/8/08 at 04:15 PM

I have to say that I don't look at the Forum when women are around cos their reaction is generally "Oh for God's sake "
meaning "Oh grow up !"

But surely there are more important issues to get hot under the collar about - do you nip up crush tubes tight or let them rotate ? is an aluminium chassis practicable ? can you use bathroom scales to set weights ? - and my personal favourite - can you run a car on electrolysed water?

mistergrumpy - 31/8/08 at 04:27 PM

I don't think there's any offensive avatars on here at the moment and certainly not the one of a woman falling down a hole. This was shown on television and the woman herself appeared alongside it.
Seriously, and without trying to cause offense. If you find it too hard to look at the forum at work, then don't do it. I've never had a job where I could sit and browse the internet and I haven't missed owt. You can't be that desperate to look on here.
If you find it difficult to browse at home because of children then simple, like my mam taught me as a child "it's rude to read over peoples shoulders!" Get teaching.

mistergrumpy - 31/8/08 at 04:29 PM

I don't think there's any offensive avatars on here at the moment and certainly not the one of a woman falling down a hole. This was shown on television and the woman herself appeared alongside it.
Seriously, and without trying to cause offense. If you find it too hard to look at the forum at work, then don't do it. I've never had a job where I could sit and browse the internet and I haven't missed owt. You can't be that desperate to look on here.
If you find it difficult to browse at home because of children then simple, like my mam taught me as a child "it's rude to read over peoples shoulders!" Get teaching.

mistergrumpy - 31/8/08 at 04:29 PM

I don't think there's any offensive avatars on here at the moment and certainly not the one of a woman falling down a hole. This was shown on television and the woman herself appeared alongside it.
Seriously, and without trying to cause offense. If you find it too hard to look at the forum at work, then don't do it. I've never had a job where I could sit and browse the internet and I haven't missed owt. You can't be that desperate to look on here.
If you find it difficult to browse at home because of children then simple, like my mam taught me as a child "it's rude to read over peoples shoulders!" Get teaching.

David Jenkins - 31/8/08 at 04:57 PM

I heard you the first 3 times!

mistergrumpy - 31/8/08 at 05:03 PM

Eh? It didn't look like that when I first posted it. Sorry.

MK chippy - 31/8/08 at 05:03 PM

Echo! Echo! Echo!

MK chippy - 31/8/08 at 05:05 PM

Echo! Echo! Echo!

mistergrumpy - 31/8/08 at 05:12 PM

Ha ha ^Echo back at you^

mr henderson - 31/8/08 at 05:36 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mistergrumpy
I don't think there's any offensive avatars on here at the moment and certainly not the one of a woman falling down a hole. This was shown on television and the woman herself appeared alongside it.


It's in the nature of things that what one person finds offensive another will not.

I find the various pictures and gifs of stupid women with inflated breasts somewhat irritating and childish, although not actually offensive.

I find the gif of the woman falling through the trapdoor offensive because it is making fun of somebody who has had the misfortune to have what was obviously an extremely unpleasant experience, even if she did recover from it.

I expect the fact that she is overweight made it even funnier for the people who find it funny. When people get older and wiser they tend not to find that sort of thing so funny because they will have had enough nasty experiences of their own to have some sympathy for the victim

John

blakep82 - 31/8/08 at 06:10 PM

put sky on at any weekend, an you'll find that same video on one of these 'worlds most amazing videos' or similar, every weekend, the woman who fell down the trap door on laughing about the video.

look, here she is on another program laughing about it herself!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VjIg1p9yDo&NR=1

Fozzie - 31/8/08 at 06:27 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mr henderson
quote:
Originally posted by Fozzie

Please u2u the person that has an avatar that is offensive to you, and if you get any grief let me know!

Fozzie


If the person concerned is already well aware that his avatar is causing offence, why do you think that a U2U is going to change his mind? Seems rather unlikely to me

John



Because......and it has happened many a time ...some people post a 'risque' avatar sometimes, without thinking it through, and when pointed out to them are genuinely sorry, and will remove it to something more suitable....

What is acceptable and what is not, is indeed a moot point.
I look at it in a way, that if I would consider an avatar would be acceptable by the populous to be viewed by ones wife/girlfriend/daughter/young child, or even grand-kiddie, then it is fine.......

FWIW I cannot think of any avatars at present, that are too 'risque' .... as to whether any are in bad taste, I have not had any complaints either by u2u or email.

Fozzie

mr henderson - 31/8/08 at 06:49 PM

quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
put sky on at any weekend, an you'll find that same video on one of these 'worlds most amazing videos' or similar, every weekend, the woman who fell down the trap door on laughing about the video.

look, here she is on another program laughing about it herself!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VjIg1p9yDo&NR=1


Oh well, I guess it's alright to laugh at her then. Thanks for clearing that up for me

John

scootz - 31/8/08 at 08:57 PM

I certainly don't laugh when I see that clip... never like seeing (decent) beings suffer.

clairetoo - 31/8/08 at 09:42 PM

quote:
Originally posted by scootz
I certainly don't laugh when I see that clip... never like seeing (decent) beings suffer.

Me neither - and not all of us watch stuff like those `worlds funniest vidio's` program's .
My point when I started this thread was that I just found a way of blocking avatars that I found offensive , meaning that I would not have to see them more than once

Macbeast - 31/8/08 at 11:25 PM

The fact that something's been on SKY kind of confirms that it is tasteless, possibly offensive and designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator

C10CoryM - 6/9/08 at 02:15 AM

Define offensive avatars .
I have never heard a complaint about mine, and if I recieved more than a few I would ask the boss types if it was ok.
Far as I am concerned if its legal to be seen in public it's A-OK.
If your kids/boss are too sensitive to see what western society deems as OK in public, best not use the internet around them at all.
Ooooooooh, cleavage. The horror the horror

mad-butcher - 17/9/08 at 04:57 PM

I find fozzie's offensive I don't like steve mcqueen the fact he's telling me to cough doesn't bother me