Weapons as Avatars?

[flexy]

I know, I may come across as some lefty, liberal retard who is offended by whatever. I don't care.

I see the worst avatars on other websites, I don't care. I even have seen people havin animated beheading avatars ON OTHER SITES. I don't care.

HERE HOWEVER, I am strangely offended by some people having hand-guns as their avatars. It doesn't fit the profile of this site/forum. I don't want this being one of those "body builder" sites where people post gore threads or sites like LL etc. where 80% of people are outspokenly right,the typical "gun owner" persona.

I have never complained about users here (as far as I remember), but I ask mods here to consider whether hand guns as avatars are really appropriate. For me, it has a strong negative association which I don't consider "optimal", say in engaging with others in debates, like in the P/N forum.

Clarification: I am totally fine if people are gun owners/gun enthusiasts. I just don't want a weapon "shoved in my face", which is sort-of happening when someone has a hand-gun as their avatar.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I don't really see an issue, some people are just into different kind of hardware.

 

[Crono]

I think people experiencing exophthalmos would find the OP's avatar strangely offensive.

I don't really see an issue, some people are just into different kind of hardware.

I'm offended by your unrealistic depiction of a squirrel wielding a gun. Clearly he's nuts if he thinks that's a practical weapon. Now, if he was wielding an RPG, that would make more sense. Everyone knows squirrels are into explosives.

 

[Sheep221]

Your opinion clearly has a good thoughts, but I doubt they will ban weapons in avatars. Most people here are gamers, and most games are very violent so one way or another, dozens here just look at some guns at least several hours per day and in that case I assume they should be allowed this kind of forum avatars.

I however disagree with avatars needing fixation to site specialization. I mean I am train spotter and when I was on forums for train spotters, everyone had a train as their avatar. It looked horribly bad. Same can be said for aircraft spotters forums. Unlike technical HardForum which I was a member for a long time had no avatars at all. I really like AT being unrestrictive on avatars for the most part.

 

[pcgeek11]

OP everybody is entitled to their opinion. Even if it is wrong.

 

[SparkyJJO]

............... seriously?

I guess I'm going to be blunt. I know, "I'm offended" is popular these days, but come on. It is a picture - small one at that - of a hunk of metal. It cannot hurt you. Nobody is threatening you. It isn't "shoving a gun in your face." Get over yourself. Come on.

/facepalm

 

[balloonshark]

It's easy to be offended when you're constantly looking to be offended.

Live and let live.

 

[x26]

I know, I may come across as some lefty, liberal retard who is offended by whatever. I don't care.

I see the worst avatars on other websites, I don't care. I even have seen people havin animated beheading avatars ON OTHER SITES. I don't care.

HERE HOWEVER, I am strangely offended by some people having hand-guns as their avatars. It doesn't fit the profile of this site/forum. I don't want this being one of those "body builder" sites where people post gore threads or sites like LL etc. where 80% of people are outspokenly right,the typical "gun owner" persona.

I have never complained about users here (as far as I remember), but I ask mods here to consider whether hand guns as avatars are really appropriate. For me, it has a strong negative association which I don't consider "optimal", say in engaging with others in debates, like in the P/N forum.

Clarification: I am totally fine if people are gun owners/gun enthusiasts. I just don't want a weapon "shoved in my face", which is sort-of happening when someone has a hand-gun as their avatar.

" may come across as some lefty, liberal retard" --You don't say??

 

[olds]

Triggered! Isn't there a setting to not show avatars?

 

[pyonir]

Triggered! Isn't there a setting to not show avatars?

Looked for it...but can't find anything since the forum change. Used to be able to hide them.

Should be able to do it with CSS/Stylish if anything.

 

[herm0016]

does a cartoon robot mongoos riding a pig offend vegetarians or PETA supporters? i hope so. I may just change it to an AR for the OP.

 

[adairusmc]

I am going to have to change my avatar to a gun for OP as well. Poor thing

 

[adairusmc]

I went ahead and updated mine to my beautiful Sig P226 Legion.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I think people experiencing exophthalmos would find the OP's avatar strangely offensive.



I'm offended by your unrealistic depiction of a squirrel wielding a gun. Clearly he's nuts if he thinks that's a practical weapon. Now, if he was wielding an RPG, that would make more sense. Everyone knows squirrels are into explosives.

Actually an RPG or rocket launcher would be more fitting, might have to change that.

 

[MongGrel]

I need to find a FSM with a rifle

Nah.

 

[Svnla]

Safe space from the evil avatars, anyone? While you are at it, get a bigger pinky girly pantie too.

 

[pcslookout]

You do realize OP when you complain about something like this it just makes more people do it.

 

[nakedfrog]

I know how you feel, I'm like, SUPER offended when people have attractive women as their avatars. It makes me SO mad.

 

[gorcorps]

The idea that someone can be distraught by seeing a picture of a gun is so strange to me I have to assume the OP is trollin

Nice job though, nobody expects it in PFI

 

[gorcorps]

You do realize OP when you complain about something like this it just makes more people do it.

Yup, I'm already on it

 

[flexy]

The idea that someone can be distraught by seeing a picture of a gun is so strange to me I have to assume the OP is trollin

Nice job though, nobody expects it in PFI

It's more "complicated" than that, I am afraid.

What do you think is the impression I HAVE of a person who's first and only information they share (here in this case in the form of an avatar) is the fact that they own/have/like hand-guns? In a forum that is MAINLY tech/software etc. focused? What is the relevancy?

I am "distraught" in a sense that I am obviously well aware that people are/can be gun enthusiasts/hunters etc. (which we obviously can assume in a forum like this since it's not a "I am a gang member, YO!" forum - but it doesn't change the fact that a hand-gun, FOR ME, has more negative associations than positive associations. Even if someone, say, is a "gun-enthusiast" who proudly owns a gun for potential self-defense (a totally legit use which I don't say anything against), it isn't a "positive" association by any means. (the idea that you get robbed, burglered at home or any other situation where you'd use the gun) IN NO WAY invokes a "positive" feeling...and it makes me wonder why that person sees his gun-ownership as so essential and important that they need to show it in their avatar HERE IN THIS FORUM, which is not a sports forum, hunter forum or whatever. I am not really "offended", depends on how you interpret "strangely offended" when I wrote this...but it simply "doesn't sit right" here in this forum and in this place and it makes you look like a "weird" person, TO ME. Otherwise I could care less.

 

[SparkyJJO]

To some people, it is a hobby to own them and go target shooting at the range, etc. Not really any different than cars, computers, etc being a hobby.

 

[UsandThem]

Maybe Anandtech needs create a new sub-forum called 'Safe Space', where everything is banned and it's just a blank white page (uh oh, those last three words were probably triggering).

OP I would hate to see your reaction to someone carrying a gun in the real world.

 

[gorcorps]

It's more "complicated" than that, I am afraid.

What do you think is the impression I HAVE of a person who's first and only information they share (here in this case in the form of an avatar) is the fact that they own/have/like hand-guns? In a forum that is MAINLY tech/software etc. focused? What is the relevancy?

I am "distraught" in a sense that I am obviously well aware that people are/can be gun enthusiasts/hunters etc. (which we obviously can assume in a forum like this since it's not a "I am a gang member, YO!" forum - but it doesn't change the fact that a hand-gun, FOR ME, has more negative associations than positive associations. Even if someone, say, is a "gun-enthusiast" who proudly owns a gun for potential self-defense (a totally legit use which I don't say anything against), it isn't a "positive" association by any means. (the idea that you get robbed, burglered at home or any other situation where you'd use the gun) IN NO WAY invokes a "positive" feeling...and it makes me wonder why that person sees his gun-ownership as so essential and important that they need to show it in their avatar HERE IN THIS FORUM, which is not a sports forum, hunter forum or whatever. I am not really "offended", depends on how you interpret "strangely offended" when I wrote this...but it simply "doesn't sit right" here in this forum and in this place and it makes you look like a "weird" person, TO ME. Otherwise I could care less.

Well you might not be offended, but now I am. You want to censor these forums to conform to the type of people you think should be visiting these forums... which the fact that there's many members here who have weapons as avatars means you do not have a good grasp on the variety of personalities that make up our users. I'll let you know this, I like building my own PCs, I like gadgets, and I like video games. But you know what? I also own firearms and like to go hunting. You know what else? I like sports and watch/play them too.

I'm sorry seeing these things make you feel uneasy, but your assumption that the users of this forum should fit the box that you've arbitrarily designated as acceptable for a tech forum makes me very uncomfortable. How dare you judge people by them not fitting a certain "profile". This type of bigotry is embarrassing to see these days.

 

[zinfamous]

You do realize OP when you complain about something like this it just makes more people do it.

Ah, the great fedora adoption of 2010.