Didn't know how to word the title but here goes...it would be nice to allow someone who has been here a long time to be the only ones to use their avatar. For instance, some people are recognized by their avatar and have been using them forever. People like Craig Moates, Trickster (who changed his because someone took it), Metallicamaro, Traxion, myself, the list goes on. Maybe I am barking up the wrong tree but I was disappointed when trickster changed his avatar. Maybe this can apply to mods and admin only but I think its a good idea. There seems to be plenty of avatars to go around. Most seem to be self-made ones. It seems to me that some peoples avatars are like icons. They should be protected. Thats my opinion anyway.

 

Because those avatars are just images on the internet, like any other images posted, there is little that can be done to prevent "theft" and usage.

Unless the Avatars are moderated (user uploads them, then the Admins have the ability to deny or accept them before they get used) there will be little else that can be done.

Just adding the obvious.

 

Understood, but was just for a moment somewhat hopeful...

 

i dont think the admins want to start having to watch avatars to see who's using what and who's stealing who's ...that would take them forever to try and sort out .....

i do like the idea you have about not letting new people have an avatar until they have been a member for a period of time like maybe not untill they become a senior member ??

 

I see what you're saying, but theres really nothing that can be done because as JT said, the Admin would have to approve all avatars, and with only one Admin, I don't the he wants to do that for something as pointless as a small picture.

I'm glad to see I'm recognized by the 'iron fist'

 

I agree with this absolutely. When scanning through a very long post with numerous supplies I always stop when I see the 'well-known' avatar of someone whose opinions I respect, and who gives information I know I can trust.

It's annoying for people to spend the time to make up a 'custom' avatar, particularly from their own digital pics that they resize/alter etc. for someone else to come along and start using their intellectual property.

Perhaps rather than individual avatars all having to be 'approved', why not simply make it that if someone has made a custom avatar (and can prove that) that if someone 'steals' it and they feel aggreived, then they can PM a moderator/admin with their opinion. Whether or not anything would happen as a result is a different matter.

 

That sounds like a great idea to me. I'm glad a few others see what I am talking about. I too scroll down and stop when I see "certain" avatars. Like I said, I was disappointed when Trickster changed his because I always look for it. Same goes for the others I mentioned and then some. There must be a way to do it so as to not put a burden on one guy to police it. I also agree that avatars are like icons. They hold meaning. They are not just pictures. People use them to determine whether or not they will either read or participate in a particular thread. This is because the people that have had them for so long have made a name for themselves either through trust, knowledge, or experience. The avatar they use has become a symbol of who they are. Well, if nothing else at least I asked the question anyway.

 

Yours was a good example to give because in my opinion your avatar represents someone people can trust, who is knowledgeable and is always fair in his dealings with people as a moderator. I have yet to see you act like a child or mishandle someone because you were having a bad day. You responses are always handled like a mature adult. That means something to people. Not trying to stroke your ego, but just stating why I started this post in the first place. It would peeve me off to see someone take your avatar.

 

Wow, thats pretty cool to hear, especially since I'm probably younger than most of the poeple who act like children and make me have to lock posts.

And it would peeve me off if someone took my avatar as well, good thing I have the power to ban them

 

hey now thats not nice...LMAO

i think ill stick to my own avatar...LOL

 

Maybe you are young. I had no idea. Learning how to handle or deal with people correctly is a sign of maturity and a good leader. Leaders aren't born, they are made. If you are that young you handle yourself well. And as I said whenever I have seen your responses or some of the threads you have locked I always thought they were handled well. Maybe I should get out more I don't know. I emailed Trickster and told him I was disappointed that he felt he had to change his avatar. Wish he would change it back. It's "special."

 

When I see someone using my avatar, I ask them to stop. Most people are pretty reasonable about it.

 

YAHOO!!!! Trickster put back his original avatar....I feel better now.

 

Put a picture of yourself as your avatar. I don't think anyone would want to steal your face.

 

I tried that but the monitor keeps cracking.

 

Funny, but I seem to recall someone having that avatar before he was even on the board IIRC. :shrug:

 

 

If someone stole my Avatar that I have right now that would be very shallow of em cause who else has my car! Seriously I think the avatar should be as individual as the person itself not somethin that they saw and looked cool so they had to steal it. Take the extra time to find/make ur own and have it as a pic that people remember as you! Others went through the effort to find their personal pic dont disrespect them by stealing their pic. If you like it that much find one that is similar so u stay satisfied!



Jason

 

Yet another baseless gripe IMNSHO. Don't take that the wrong way, I'll explain.

The main problem with the alleged ‘problem’ is that a lot of the stuff is not original.

Mine isn't. Most none of mine are, they are either emailedor pm'd to me or I find them while browsing. I've used a slew on and off and go back to 'em on occasion. If some newb (in my eyes) tells me to stop, I'm going to laugh. I've had people use mine concurrently, I don't really care. Someone was using 'my' smoking skull recently, didn't care. CaysE's was used by me years ago (not even sure it was this site or not). :shrug: Doesn't bother me unless it's actually mine, and then I own the copyright and can legitimately bitch to the admins. :shrug:

I don’t see what there is to get worked up over. A good example is Cap. Picard’s. I’m sure he’s not the only startrek fan, and if that gif is floating through the internet (and not his) he won’t be the only one using it. Additionally, if he and the other person do not frequent the same boards then they won’t know for a while.

This has happened. thegeneral has the same gears as someone else has on the board (and someone else who doesn’t frequent much at all has them animated). That person does not frequent the board much anymore. Who gets dibs on something neither own?!? IIRC Rx7 or BOR or someone :shrug: used to have aperion’s old avatar, but had switched well before aperion used it as his.

One of the reasons I switch on occasion. That and no one really pays much attention to me anyway.

 

that was the weird part about my avatar i thought i had an original...LOL...

i got the pic off of a engine building site and resized it to use as an avatar and thought i was the only one with it until one day i was reading a post and wondering
when did i post this????....LMAO

goes to show that not everyone is stealing someone elses avatar sometimes it just happens that way

 

This post was never meant to be a gripe. It was just a suggestion... My avatar was taken off a site that has animated gifs. It doesn't belong to me. If someone else decided to use it then I would consider making a "custom" one. I realize there is too much involved in what I was asking. It does seem like a good idea if it were possible.

 

In my case, I actually do own my avatar, and it's previous versions. It's a miniature raytracing of a 3D model of a V8 engine that I've spent countless hours working on for my own enjoyment. Anyone using it is technically in violation of my copyright. I'm not especially worried about it for the most part, I've seen it turn up here and there on the net, mostly on sites I don't generally post on. What I don't care for though is when people use it on a site I do post on, since I rely on it to identify myself, to an extent. Like I said, when I see someone using it, I ask them to stop. Thus far I haven't had any problems.

 

I thought one of your firsts was that single or v-twin cylinder animation? I might have confused members, after a few years quite a few things like that slip the memory.

 

Nope, not me. I've been using my engine animation ever since avatars were first turned on.

 

Damn. I thought it was you that had that way back when. My bad!

 

I've had my avatar since I signed on at TGO. How long have you guys had yours?

 

I don't know, how long have we had avatars now?

 

:shrug: That's something I don't really remember. Though I do remember the old post format from 6-7 years ago. I must be getting old.

 

Funny you should mention Avatars because i just changed mine. When I first joined TGO I did not really think I was going to use this site as much as i do but I have grown to love it and frequent as often as possible. I just grabbed an Avatar of Hagar from the provided list and chose this real hurting username without really thinking about the permanancy I just figured I could change it later on but... Now I am stuck with this hurting username but at least i finally got my own Avatar.

What do you guys think? Its from 91 the last year my players car was run and that shot was taken at the Molson Indy here in Toronto.

 

I think it's cool. Also, I think if you ask admin they might let you change your username i.d. as long as someone else dosen't have it. I know of two people that have had it done.

 

Yup. Just PM iroc and he will change it to whatever you want. Why is it hurtfull?

 

Can't you see it crinking my neck at this very moment?

I just find it annoying to look at and should have put some more thought into it. Thanks for the tip guys i will contact Iroc as soon as I think of something I like.


BTW I see you have a new Avatar too Shifty. Cool. I see ede has recently got a new one and I have noticed others but cannot remember who at this moment

 

I like to switch them up every so often. This one is sorta blury after I cropped and shrunk it, so chances are I will have a new one very soon.

 

Yeah I hear that. I messed with mine quite a bit before I was pleased with it. Kind of hard with the little file size and all. Still thinking about a new username... hmmm

 

I would have chosen a different avatar myself except I couldn't find another one small enough for TGO's limits and ones I tried to make up on my own were just too small after cropping. I'm not very good at sizing pics etc...

 

I borrowed Hg's until someone/myself find me a better one

 

I spent a good couple hours getting mine to fit. :P