Avatars

[jimmyg]

And as for Mr. Wilson's question of whether or not the avatar should be removed, I can only respond by saying this:

Here you have a blue-collar plumber risks life and limb, fights various monsters (including flying turtles and walking mushrooms), warps through time, and dies several times over only to be reborn so as to fight again, all in an effort to save a Princess who, based on social stature and class-systems alone, clearly outranks him... well, I think that little plumber is entitled to a little action! And if this really is a world where the hero is NOT allowed to get laid at the end of the day, well, I'm not sure if that's a world I want to live in anymore!!!

Pharoh68, Easy for you to say - your avatar offends all of those opposed to violence

Bet you think the Three Stooges are funny too!!

 

[Island Drive]

Counter Point

So today, I decided to look at my User CP, for whatever reason, and lo and behold, I have a message there that says "Latest Reputation Received". Now, I have never seen this before, so I can't really tell whether it is officially good or bad, but by the comment left, it was intended to be bad.

The comment was in relation to my avatar, the poster who left the rep saying that it is inappropriate. I'm not going to name names, because that's not my style. But in searching the FAQs, the forum rules post by Mr. Wilson, etc., I found NOTHING that implies or states that my avatar is inappropriate.

The unnamed poster, it should be noted, has a whopping total of 4 posts, that's right, 4. I've got an idea...why don't you try contributing before you go around playing Political Correctness police on the forums? I might not have a whole lot of posts either, but I got way more than frickin 4. Secondly, it's a cartoon, for crying out loud. Grow up. And lastly, there is another poster here with the same avatar, so I know he's with me here.

Anyhow, unnamed poster, you know who you are, although I highly doubt you'll ever even see this since you've been lurking for almost a year, yet have posted FOUR times. Get a life, or go play PC police somewhere else.

I'm trying to understand why only 4 posts is relative, anyway.
What this person may of been trying to say is if your in an enviornment with graffitti, broken windows and an enviornmet that shows lack of respect then its easy to get caught up in it even tho you are a respectable and good person.
Its a proven fact that when your character is being formed its much better to grow up in a good neighborhood with a troubled family than to be in a good family growing up in a troubled neighborhood.
Your piece of Avatar is small and it may be the first broken window, but if every poster had a similar type of Avatar, when you visit this site I wonder what impressions one would then have.
If everyone had a picture of their favorite player, or if everyone had a picture of their cat, dog, fish or whatever how would that effect ones perception, think about it, small things eventually become big things.
Why did someone think the Columbine video game would be a good thing for society??

 

[pharaoh68]

Pharoh68, Easy for you to say - your avatar offends all of those opposed to violence

Bet you think the Three Stooges are funny too!!

Actually sir, my avatar is an artistic expression which depicts not the physical pain of everyday life, but moreso the nuisance of repetition that becomes monotonous and draining. The depiction of violence is actually an artistic expression meant to give life to the word 'pain' and make it more accessible for those who view it. However, it is the facial expressions and body language of the stick figures which I would hope one would read into, thus recognizing the sheer monotony of their existence as being figuritively painful (ie, annoying) and thus, their life is pain.

...I'm actually joking. I just like the little guy poking the other little guy in the eye over and over.

 

[pharaoh68]

I'm trying to understand why only 4 posts is relative, anyway.
What this person may of been trying to say is if your in an enviornment with graffitti, broken windows and an enviornmet that shows lack of respect then its easy to get caught up in it even tho you are a respectable and good person.
Its a proven fact that when your character is being formed its much better to grow up in a good neighborhood with a troubled family than to be in a good family growing up in a troubled neighborhood.
Your piece of Avatar is small and it may be the first broken window, but if every poster had a similar type of Avatar, when you visit this site I wonder what impressions one would then have.
If everyone had a picture of their favorite player, or if everyone had a picture of their cat, dog, fish or whatever how would that effect ones perception, think about it, small things eventually become big things.
Why did someone think the Columbine video game would be a good thing for society??

And if everyone posted crap like this in an effort to make a philosophic and political statement based on a little piece of "questionable" humor, then this entire site would suck and everyone would leave.

Seriously people. Its a small graphic depicting something so absurd that one can't help but laugh at it. If you aren't one of those people, that is fine as well. But just chalk it up to different strokes (easy on the jokes guys!) for different folks. Don't try to shape every society based on your ideals. If you don't like the look of something, don't look at it.

 

[!Smorgass Bored]

......or if everyone had a picture of their cat, dog, fish or whatever how would that effect ones perception

Having a cat avatar is not all it's cracked up to be..... imo

Doug

 

[Island Drive]

And if everyone posted crap like this in an effort to make a philosophic and political statement based on a little piece of "questionable" humor, then this entire site would suck and everyone would leave.

Seriously people. Its a small graphic depicting something so absurd that one can't help but laugh at it. If you aren't one of those people, that is fine as well. But just chalk it up to different strokes (easy on the jokes guys!) for different folks. Don't try to shape every society based on your ideals. If you don't like the look of something, don't look at it.

If it was so small then why are you reacting to it in such a big way? Everything that is big was small at one time. Just imagine tho, if you went on this site for the first time and every avatar was something pumping something else, would you feel right off that "hey this is cool" or would you wonder who the heck are these these posters.

 

[showtime]

Dont Get It,suckershot

I also dont like your avatar.this is totally misleading.Why is her dress down.we should set a better example for the younger generation.kids sex is NOT with clothes on.

 

[pharaoh68]

If it was so small then why are you reacting to it in such a big way? Everything that is big was small at one time. Just imagine tho, if you went on this site for the first time and every avatar was something pumping something else, would you feel right off that "hey this is cool" or would you wonder who the heck are these these posters.

Ahh Island Drive-
Its idiocy like this that always lifts my spirits! Whenever I have a bad day at work or a fight with my girlfriend, etc., I come to AZ and see ridiculous posts like this and it puts a smile on my face as I begin to think to myself, "Well! It could always be worse! I could be stupid too!"

Now, keep in mind sir/madam (you have not identified yourself as male or female yet so I will generalize), that I am in NO way insinuating that YOU are an idiot. Not by any means! I am merely stating that your above referenced post is not only utterly ridiculous but also laughably inaccurate.

I am not making a big deal out of the avatar in question whatsoever. I am making a big deal out of the lunacy of your attempt to make a big deal out of avatars. Did you follow me there? If not, let me explain.

Someone uses and avatar that you don't like. You then cite that as an example of seemingly minor offenses that eventually contribute to the overall decline of societies. Now, I'm no Rhodes scholar but in my eyes, THAT is making a big deal out of something small. I am merely making the point (or a big deal if you will) that your attempt to draw this parallel really is a stretch.

If I logged onto a site that had a bunch of avatars like the one in question, I would think 'Wow! A bunch of comedians... who also happen to love pool!!!' and remember, that's what this site is for: people who love pool!! Avatars are simply a way of expressing parts of our personality to a community who only sees us for the words that we type. Please don't attempt to make an avatar to be more than that. Your attempts to do so are silly.

 

[chefjeff]

So today, I decided to look at my User CP, for whatever reason, and lo and behold, I have a message there that says "Latest Reputation Received". Now, I have never seen this before, so I can't really tell whether it is officially good or bad, but by the comment left, it was intended to be bad.

The comment was in relation to my avatar, the poster who left the rep saying that it is inappropriate. I'm not going to name names, because that's not my style. But in searching the FAQs, the forum rules post by Mr. Wilson, etc., I found NOTHING that implies or states that my avatar is inappropriate.

The unnamed poster, it should be noted, has a whopping total of 4 posts, that's right, 4. I've got an idea...why don't you try contributing before you go around playing Political Correctness police on the forums? I might not have a whole lot of posts either, but I got way more than frickin 4. Secondly, it's a cartoon, for crying out loud. Grow up. And lastly, there is another poster here with the same avatar, so I know he's with me here.

Anyhow, unnamed poster, you know who you are, although I highly doubt you'll ever even see this since you've been lurking for almost a year, yet have posted FOUR times. Get a life, or go play PC police somewhere else.

What's wrong with the Heimlich manuever?

Jeff Livingston

 

[Eydie Romano]

What's wrong with the Heimlich manuever?

Jeff Livingston

Ah, typical male reply!

 

[Island Drive]

Ahh Island Drive-
Its idiocy like this that always lifts my spirits! Whenever I have a bad day at work or a fight with my girlfriend, etc., I come to AZ and see ridiculous posts like this and it puts a smile on my face as I begin to think to myself, "Well! It could always be worse! I could be stupid too!"

Now, keep in mind sir/madam (you have not identified yourself as male or female yet so I will generalize), that I am in NO way insinuating that YOU are an idiot. Not by any means! I am merely stating that your above referenced post is not only utterly ridiculous but also laughably inaccurate.

I am not making a big deal out of the avatar in question whatsoever. I am making a big deal out of the lunacy of your attempt to make a big deal out of avatars. Did you follow me there? If not, let me explain.

Someone uses and avatar that you don't like. You then cite that as an example of seemingly minor offenses that eventually contribute to the overall decline of societies. Now, I'm no Rhodes scholar but in my eyes, THAT is making a big deal out of something small. I am merely making the point (or a big deal if you will) that your attempt to draw this parallel really is a stretch.

If I logged onto a site that had a bunch of avatars like the one in question, I would think 'Wow! A bunch of comedians... who also happen to love pool!!!' and remember, that's what this site is for: people who love pool!! Avatars are simply a way of expressing parts of our personality to a community who only sees us for the words that we type. Please don't attempt to make an avatar to be more than that. Your attempts to do so are silly.

So if you went into a subway with graffitti and gang stuff all over the walls, and then went to another city with everything painted nicely and no damage done to the facility would you feel the same, would you feel safer in the gang atmosphere or the other, the atmosphere changes how one thinks or percieves life at that moment? My point is not about specifically about this Avatar but whats good. Its kinda like the bloodshed on TV, we eventually become numb to it, but I don't want to feel like that, I don't want to be numb, to me all degredation no matter how small eventually erodes away who we really are and our society. Every time a see a camera shot of clevage, or bootie, it degrades women, and everytime on TV I see a man getting kicked in the crotch and everyone laughing that's sad. I think I'm gonna go play on the back table for now.

 

[pharaoh68]

So if you went into a subway with graffitti and gang stuff all over the walls, and then went to another city with everything painted nicely and no damage done to the facility would you feel the same, would you feel safer in the gang atmosphere or the other, the atmosphere changes how one thinks or percieves life at that moment?

But you are making a connection between two completely unrelated things. You are trying to make your point by drawing parallels between violence in society and humor in an online forum and that is utterly ridiculous. Furthermore, your argument becomes even more nullified by the fact that you are trying to equate a tangible to an intangible. Violence in a gang-riddle city or neighborhood is real and can physically affect a human being. Watching a cartoon hump another cartoon can do little more than make you either happy or unhappy. Plain and simple. The atmosphere in NO way changes how one perceives life at the moment. It may have a minor influence on how an individual feels at a given time but remember, something that you perceive as offensive can be and is viewed as comical by others. So, according to your theory, if I entered the forum at a time when I was bummed, the little cartoon Mario getting jiggy with the Princess may lift my spirits!!! Please, I urge you. Stop arguing this point. You are really only making yourself look foolish.

My point is not about specifically about this Avatar but whats good. Its kinda like the bloodshed on TV, we eventually become numb to it, but I don't want to feel like that, I don't want to be numb, to me all degredation no matter how small eventually erodes away who we really are and our society.

First, let me say that italicized sentence is among one of the finest I have ever read. Now, let me make the point (again) that degredation is like beauty, it rests in the eyes of the beholder. What you deem offensive, I find hilarious, wonderful, erotic (although not necessarily the avatar in question ), beautiful, etc. It is my firm belief that it is only the simple minded who can and do become numb to excessive exposure to anything, be it violence or sex, etc. I have seen a million violent movies and I love them all. I plan on going to see Jackass 2 this weekend and having a great time. And when all is said and done, I like to think that maybe, just maybe, I am smart enough to know that what is seen on screen should have no real bearing on how I view the world... unless I make the conscious choice to let it. Should you become numb to an overexposure of violence, you have no one to blame but yourself.

Every time a see a camera shot of clevage, or bootie, it degrades women, and everytime on TV I see a man getting kicked in the crotch and everyone laughing that's sad. I think I'm gonna go play on the back table for now.

Again, great opener here too. And I love that you chose to use the word 'bootie'. But alas, my point (for the 8th or 9th time now): your feelings hold a degree of validity to them. No one can or should ever tell you that you are wrong to feel how you do in most situations. However, you MUST remember that this same principle has to be applied to the opposition. If you have a right to your opinion, then I have a right to mine! And in this given situation, my opinion is in stark contrast to yours. Does that make either of us right? Not necessarily. So why should a forum such as this which has functioned for so long with so few complaints over things far MORE offensive than Mario and the Princess change their structure just to placate you when you have within your power the ability to hide that very avatar?!?!?!?!

 

[Island Drive]

But you are making a connection between two completely unrelated things. You are trying to make your point by drawing parallels between violence in society and humor in an online forum and that is utterly ridiculous. Furthermore, your argument becomes even more nullified by the fact that you are trying to equate a tangible to an intangible. Violence in a gang-riddle city or neighborhood is real and can physically affect a human being. Watching a cartoon hump another cartoon can do little more than make you either happy or unhappy. Plain and simple. The atmosphere in NO way changes how one perceives life at the moment. It may have a minor influence on how an individual feels at a given time but remember, something that you perceive as offensive can be and is viewed as comical by others. So, according to your theory, if I entered the forum at a time when I was bummed, the little cartoon Mario getting jiggy with the Princess may lift my spirits!!! Please, I urge you. Stop arguing this point. You are really only making yourself look foolish.



First, let me say that italicized sentence is among one of the finest I have ever read. Now, let me make the point (again) that degredation is like beauty, it rests in the eyes of the beholder. What you deem offensive, I find hilarious, wonderful, erotic (although not necessarily the avatar in question ), beautiful, etc. It is my firm belief that it is only the simple minded who can and do become numb to excessive exposure to anything, be it violence or sex, etc. I have seen a million violent movies and I love them all. I plan on going to see Jackass 2 this weekend and having a great time. And when all is said and done, I like to think that maybe, just maybe, I am smart enough to know that what is seen on screen should have no real bearing on how I view the world... unless I make the conscious choice to let it. Should you become numb to an overexposure of violence, you have no one to blame but yourself.



Again, great opener here too. And I love that you chose to use the word 'bootie'. But alas, my point (for the 8th or 9th time now): your feelings hold a degree of validity to them. No one can or should ever tell you that you are wrong to feel how you do in most situations. However, you MUST remember that this same principle has to be applied to the opposition. If you have a right to your opinion, then I have a right to mine! And in this given situation, my opinion is in stark contrast to yours. Does that make either of us right? Not necessarily. So why should a forum such as this which has functioned for so long with so few complaints over things far MORE offensive than Mario and the Princess change their structure just to placate you when you have within your power the ability to hide that very avatar?!?!?!?!

I am not trying to change anything, just make us aware of whatever we see it eventually has some effect on us. A dark room feels much different than a room with light, even if its the same room. I remember when really dark tinted windows in a car were neat, but now one wonders what the other is hiding, even if they are not. Joe Salazar stopped tinting his windows in his car because too many cops thought he was hiding something, perception is a very powerful tool. When you drive through a city and take a wrong turn into a bad neighborhood, how did you come to that conclusion, was it the address number on the house or something else? Anyway, I'm gonna pay my time and see you later. I just think our discussion will make others more aware of what seems to be unimportant when in fact it surely can be.

 

[pharaoh68]

I am not trying to change anything, just make us aware of whatever we see it eventually has some effect on us. A dark room feels much different than a room with light, even if its the same room. I remember when really dark tinted windows in a car were neat, but now one wonders what the other is hiding, even if they are not. Joe Salazar stopped tinting his windows in his car because too many cops thought he was hiding something, perception is a very powerful tool. When you drive through a city and take a wrong turn into a bad neighborhood, how did you come to that conclusion, was it the address number on the house or something else? Anyway, I'm gonna pay my time and see you later. I just think our discussion will make others more aware of what seems to be unimportant when in fact it surely can be.

When I drive through a bad neighborhood, you are correct. I make that assessment based on the visual. But the point that I have made several times over (and yet despite my best efforts, it has still clearly escaped you), is the fact that there is little or no corellation between ones avatar in an online pool and billiards forum and the decline of certain neighborhoods and communities within a city. There is no connection between these two. Communities begin to look like ghettos or slums for a number of reasons. In many cases, the value of a community drops because of the crime that is rampant within it. But in other cases, the crime that is so rampant within a community can actually be a product of the society itself. Now, if you really weren't trying to change anything, I have to ask, why did you add your $.02 in the first place???

 

[catscradle]

4 pages of post on this subject, UNBELIEVABLE!!!

 

[suckershot]

I think OP just wanted some good Rep for it, and I gave it btw. I think the avatar is quite funny.

I do have to hit the ESC key every now and then to give the princess a break!

The good rep points were a fortunate byproduct I guess. I wasn't fishing for it or anything. I was merely upset that someone who really hasn't contributed anything of any real substance on the forums decided that they would play PC police, on an internet forum of all places. Bad rep me because I insulted someone, or said something hateful or degrading, not because of a simple cartoon animation.

 

[pharaoh68]

4 pages of post on this subject, UNBELIEVABLE!!!

What's even more unbelievable is that this is the third thread on this same subject matter within the last three or four months!!!

 

[suckershot]

I'm trying to understand why only 4 posts is relative, anyway.
What this person may of been trying to say is if your in an enviornment with graffitti, broken windows and an enviornmet that shows lack of respect then its easy to get caught up in it even tho you are a respectable and good person.
Its a proven fact that when your character is being formed its much better to grow up in a good neighborhood with a troubled family than to be in a good family growing up in a troubled neighborhood.
Your piece of Avatar is small and it may be the first broken window, but if every poster had a similar type of Avatar, when you visit this site I wonder what impressions one would then have.
If everyone had a picture of their favorite player, or if everyone had a picture of their cat, dog, fish or whatever how would that effect ones perception, think about it, small things eventually become big things.
Why did someone think the Columbine video game would be a good thing for society??

I said that 4 posts is relevant as far as I'm concerned because as a member who has contributed practically nothing, at least nothing of any real substance, I find it very unreasonable that the poster wants to play Moderator.

As for the rest of your post, let me guess...you also don't believe wrestling should be on television and that I shouldn't be playing Grand Theft Auto.

 

[pharaoh68]

I said that 4 posts is relevant as far as I'm concerned because as a member who has contributed practically nothing, at least nothing of any real substance, I find it very unreasonable that the poster wants to play Moderator.

As for the rest of your post, let me guess...you also don't believe wrestling should be on television and that I shouldn't be playing Grand Theft Auto.

Suckershot-
Don't waste your time arguing with the likes of this one (Island whatever). His/her logic defies reason and you will yourself with little more than a headache at the end of the day!

Your avatar is fine. If it weren't the proper administrative authorities would have intervened and kindly asked you to remove it. Don't worry about this Island character. Hell! The only reason I'm mixing it up with him/her is because I love a good debate!

 

[rackem]

Motion Avatar?

Well I now at least know that I can press the esc button to make motion Avatars stop. I admit I have not read the full thread, but my question is does it cost us any in bandwidth to have motion Avatars over just stills?