What do you think about misleading avatars?

Treece · 08-24-2008, 08:05 PM

I'm certainly no prude, but run a business with my two teen daughters. They see what's on my screen, and frankly I prefer not to see scantily clad, provocative women on a business forum. In this environment, I find it disrespectful. On a social site, I don't give a darn.

Jose Delgado · 08-24-2008, 08:06 PM

Wait,

is it allowed to have a tiger as an avatar?!

Alexandre Valois · 08-24-2008, 08:08 PM

I think you should at least dress him up a bit ...

Thomas · 08-24-2008, 09:27 PM

I never go anywhere without me hat...

tommygadget · 08-24-2008, 09:41 PM

I am actually surprised that so many people got themselves worked up over avatars. I guess Allen has to install a "block this avatar" button under each avatar. How's that for a solution?

TomG.

PS - If you block my avatar, I'm going to sick Vegas Vince on you!

Tim Franklin · 08-24-2008, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommygadget

I am actually surprised that so many people got themselves worked up over avatars. I guess Allen has to install a "block this avatar" button under each avatar. How's that for a solution?

TomG.

PS - If you block my avatar, I'm going to sick Vegas Vince on you!

Actually, there are two different parts of this thread, one about someone using picture's that degrade women in order to stimulate interest in posts they make.

And yet another one with the theme of we dont care,

Personally I like seeing what people look like, (real people) not models in swimsuits, (if I wanted to see that I could get it about anywhere I want)

The point here is that we have a growing community of Ladies here and I for one think it is a good thing, sort of balances out the forum nicely.

I think we should respect that and we should understand what will happen if this is not discussed, eventually you will have guys in thongs,

Trust me, this is not something you want to happen.

I say we should keep it clean as far as avatars go, a respectful place where people come to both learn and conduct business.

The OP was trying to be polite, and it was not fully understood by all, but we all know what this is about,

I dont want to see thongs, on anyone here ok, not my idea of a good time, and if that is what people want they know where to get that just not here.

tommygadget · 08-24-2008, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Franklin

I think we should respect that and we should understand what will happen if this is not discussed, eventually you will have guys in thongs,

Trust me, this is not something you want to happen.

Wow, that IS an understatement! NOBODY wants to see a hairy thong

TomG.

Tristan Bull · 08-24-2008, 11:49 PM

I get your point but at the same time its only an avatar. There isn't that much you can do to mislead people in that short little space. At least not in the marketing sense.

Maybe on a dating site you could have fake pictures of yourself to increase your "hotness"

but I can't think of much negative things an avatar can do for your marketing.

Kevin Riley · 08-24-2008, 11:53 PM

I'M SO SORRY!

Actually, I'm a beautiful young girl but I'm way too sexy to put my pic up here, so I put on the beard for my photos.

John Rowe · 08-24-2008, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Riley

So I put on the beard for my photos.

Sorry Kevin... but remove the beard you added... and you're still one ugly chick.

.

Adrianne_ · 08-25-2008, 02:37 AM

I think members have a tendancy to identify or relate with the people they're chatting it up with. In most cases, we try to "guess" what type of person they are based on the avatar they chose and see if it matches the way they post. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. But it does give a little bit of insight to who we are. Does it matter what they chose? Not really but it does make it easier to locate them online.

Ephrils · 08-25-2008, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Riley

I'M SO SORRY!

Actually, I'm a beautiful young girl but I'm way too sexy to put my pic up here, so I put on the beard for my photos.

Yes, a beautiful young girl named Kevin

It's just a form of expression to me. This thread is making me wonder what I should put as my avatar, or if I'm even going to use one.

Thomas · 08-25-2008, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Riley

I'M SO SORRY!

Actually, I'm a beautiful young girl but I'm way too sexy to put my pic up here, so I put on the beard for my photos.

Are you a 16-year-old blonde girl?

Kim Standerline · 08-25-2008, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giveusallfreedom

Personally, I really don't care what you have as an avatar. Mine's a freaking atomic bomb blast for crying out loud. Who am I to judge?

That being said, I saw one avatar for one member that I believe misrepresented that individual and looked more like just a way to get attention. Here's a hypothetical situation. Say someone has an avatar of them in a brand new Ferrari and in reality they are no where near being able to afford a Ferrari.

We're in a marketing forum and we sell products to each other. So...

Is it false advertising?
Is it unethical?
Should they change their avatar?

For the record the situation is purely hypothetical. The avatar in question has nothing to do with car. My point is only this...if you're avatar has nothing to do with you or your product and purely exists to entice people that would otherwise ignore you, should you take it down?

What's your thoughts?

To be blunt, I think folks should and probably do have better things to think of or worry about than another person's avatar.

I seriously considered putting a picci of Pamela Anderson on mine, does that make me devious, or does it make me wish I looked a bit more like her. (I don't I hasten to add).

Point is, who cares what avatar you're using as long as its decent.

Kim

Carl Henry · 08-25-2008, 04:38 AM

Hi guys!

I really like to see what people look like particularly as this is a forum where (potentially) money will change hands.

You can tell a lot from someone's face and it is also very nice to be able to write back to Dear [your name] rather than "Xbolby" or some thing similar.

But ultimately as has been said it isn't the biggest problem on forums.

On the original point regarding miss-representation, if that is the clear aim (to suggest that the offering has produced major success) and it has not I believe that is wrong. If it is done in an aspirational way (visualisation of goal) then hopefully this would be made clear one-way-or-the-other.

Best wishes,
Carl Henry

08-24-2008, 08:05 PM	#101
Treece Business Mom War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: CT , USA. Posts: 337 Thanks: 12 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	Re: What do you think about misleading avatars? I'm certainly no prude, but run a business with my two teen daughters. They see what's on my screen, and frankly I prefer not to see scantily clad, provocative women on a business forum. In this environment, I find it disrespectful. On a social site, I don't give a darn.
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08-24-2008, 08:06 PM	#102
Jose Delgado ★★★★★ War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,319 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 25 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Re: What do you think about misleading avatars? Wait, is it allowed to have a tiger as an avatar?!

08-24-2008, 08:08 PM	#103
Alexandre Valois Rockstar Mystic War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 1,834 Thanks: 198 Thanked 222 Times in 107 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: What do you think about misleading avatars? I think you should at least dress him up a bit ...

08-24-2008, 09:27 PM	#104
Thomas Leprechaun Killer War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ireland Posts: 3,236 Blog Entries: 14 Thanks: 149 Thanked 349 Times in 219 Posts	Re: What do you think about misleading avatars? I never go anywhere without me hat...
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08-24-2008, 09:41 PM	#105
tommygadget Banned War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Up North, USA Posts: 2,517 Blog Entries: 11 Thanks: 88 Thanked 288 Times in 157 Posts Social Networking	Re: What do you think about misleading avatars? I am actually surprised that so many people got themselves worked up over avatars. I guess Allen has to install a "block this avatar" button under each avatar. How's that for a solution? TomG. PS - If you block my avatar, I'm going to sick Vegas Vince on you!

08-24-2008, 11:49 PM	#108
Tristan Bull Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: , , Australia. Posts: 1,946 Thanks: 166 Thanked 348 Times in 108 Posts Social Networking	Re: What do you think about misleading avatars? I get your point but at the same time its only an avatar. There isn't that much you can do to mislead people in that short little space. At least not in the marketing sense. Maybe on a dating site you could have fake pictures of yourself to increase your "hotness" but I can't think of much negative things an avatar can do for your marketing.
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08-24-2008, 11:53 PM	#109
Kevin Riley Clockwork Hamster King War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Beautiful Downtown Osaka, Japan just minutes away from all the Sushi, Okonomiyaki, and Izakayas Posts: 9,594 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 476 Thanked 1,667 Times in 577 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: What do you think about misleading avatars? I'M SO SORRY! Actually, I'm a beautiful young girl but I'm way too sexy to put my pic up here, so I put on the beard for my photos.
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08-25-2008, 02:37 AM	#111
Adrianne_ HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 172 Thanks: 9 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: What do you think about misleading avatars? I think members have a tendancy to identify or relate with the people they're chatting it up with. In most cases, we try to "guess" what type of person they are based on the avatar they chose and see if it matches the way they post. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. But it does give a little bit of insight to who we are. Does it matter what they chose? Not really but it does make it easier to locate them online.
	Making A Living Online

08-25-2008, 04:38 AM	#115
Carl Henry Active Warrior Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Monaco & Switzerland Posts: 35 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: What do you think about misleading avatars? Hi guys! I really like to see what people look like particularly as this is a forum where (potentially) money will change hands. You can tell a lot from someone's face and it is also very nice to be able to write back to Dear [your name] rather than "Xbolby" or some thing similar. But ultimately as has been said it isn't the biggest problem on forums. On the original point regarding miss-representation, if that is the clear aim (to suggest that the offering has produced major success) and it has not I believe that is wrong. If it is done in an aspirational way (visualisation of goal) then hopefully this would be made clear one-way-or-the-other. Best wishes, Carl Henry
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