Members Avatars

I think there is a disturbing trend here on ATS that certain members who sport how can I put this Military type Avatars, you know the goons armed to the teeth image. But also their comments go hand in hand with their Avatars especially the American members, the gung ho lets nuke everyone attitude and were better than every one else.

I dont know if this is just random or a concerted effort by those who have an agenda to push, especially that the whole ethos of ATS is to deny ignorance and to spread knowledge and understanding amongst people. How can sporting such Avatars and such words be for the benefit for others, and it also seems to be a mechansim to derail a thread and to bring it down to a slanging match, and I will admit right now that I for one have fallen for it.

But have other members noticed this, I dont want to hide such people away but does it need to be made clear to such members that any supporters of geniocide against others should not be tolerated and that people with such biggoted, racist, arrogant or ignorant views will be dealt with from the ouset.

Mine is the Cosmic Indian. I made him. He's very pleased to meet you. The image came to me in a meditation vision out of the ether. I have no idea what it means. Hopefully someone out there at some point saw the same Indian somewhere, and that person will have some kind of answer for me. Until then, it's an enigma, wrapped in a burrito, wrapped inside a vest.

Mine is King Leonidas from '300', one of my favorite 'six pack' movies.

reply to post by magicmushroom


For some reason there have been several members openly complaining about the avatars of other members. All I can say, and I don't mean to sound harsh, is 'Get over it.' Their avatars are a type of personal expression and something that appealed to them. Christians have caught some heat for their religious avatars and a few who had avatars representing their political view were criticized here and there as well. Back when my avatar was a cross at least three people stuck their noses into my business. It's really none of their business, or mine, or yours. As long as it isn't against the T&C's I don't know why it should be a problem.

Indeed AshleyD, Like your new one by the way, very spicy. I liked your old one two, with the penguins.

Hmmm, I think you'll find that most people will choose their avatars based on their own personal interests rather than any agenda. There are a lot of avatars floating around of fighter jets or aircraft carriers or various other military things but I think it's because the people who chose them are just genuinely interested or in awe of them.

ATS would most definately attract people very interested in war and all the technology used in war because there is just so much information on ATS about it. There's entire sections dedicated to weaponry and the war on terror. I dare say you'll find a lot of these avatars in these forums. But just because they have these avatars doesn't mean they're trying to push war on to you or anything. It was those forums that got myself interested in ATS in the first place and I most definately don't wish for anymore wars on our planet.

I've seen a lot of religious avatars (mainly in the religious forum, go figure) that go hand in hand with the owners personal beliefs, but they are very rarely ever trying to push their own agenda on to other ATS members, or "convert" them I suppose. People just like to display the things they love, and good on 'em.

My avatar is of a tattoo on my stomach, but I'm not trying to tell you all to go out there and get tattoo's. (Though I do reccommend it as they are one of the most exciting things in the world to experience )

Also, just out of curiosity. Why don't you have an avatar? And if you did, what would it be?

Edit for typo. It turns out "interested" ends with a D and not an R.

[edit on 19-2-2008 by Toy_soldier]

reply to post by Toy_soldier


Dude,

Put your shirt back on!

*closing eyes*

Where is the damn back button

avatars are visual/artistic words, so unless they are vulgar or go against the policies of ATS, they should not be censored. there is always a line. i, personally, do not condone war and i am of the united states. for every view point, there is an opposite perspective, and arguments will ensue. but above all...

stay human.

reply to post by Toy_soldier


Well put Toy Soldier!!!! I think he may have opened a Can o' Worms...

BBWwwwaaaaaaaahahahahahahahah!!!

I kid, I kid!! no seriously tho'...

reply to post by IMAdamnALIEN


haha, don't act like you don't love it!

If that one bothers you then just be glad I'm not displaying my other tattoo

reply to post by magicmushroom


Eh. Really who cares.

I see that as NO different then people sporting avatars that dipict our President in a horrible way....then go on to make posts that trash him left and right.

Whether or not someone has an agenda...who cares. Simply just ignore it and move on.


If they have an agenda...then I wonder what my agenda would be? LMAO

As long as an avatar does not violate the T&C they are allowed.

Terms And Conditions Of Use

1a) Offensive Content: You will not post links to images or use avatars and signatures that are offensive, abusive, distruptive and/or hateful. You will not use images, avatars or link to domains that contain gore, mutilation, pornography or illegal(2e) content.

We also have specific technical guidelines to follow: Avatar and Signature Guidelines

1) No photos of persons wearing less than shirt-and-shorts.
2) No artwork (non-photo) of persons wearing less than bathing attire.
3) No persons, or links to persons in a sexually suggestive pose.
5) No persons engaged in what would be considered an obscene gesture.
6) No persons pointing weapons at the viewer of the image.
7) No images or links to images containing blood or gore.
8) No images or links to content containing people involved in an illegal act.
9) No images or links to images containing illegal objects.
10) No images that are taunting in nature toward any person or group of persons.
11) Other content, which at the discretion of forum staff, is designed to be vulgar, obscene, or offensive to the majority of ATS and BTS visitors and members.

No profanity. No 3rd party advertising for any website(s).

No images that are similar to, or mimic any official ATS staff, FSME, reward, or other images used by ATS to designate special status without prior permission from me, SkepticOverlord, or Springer.

Other than that, almost any way a person wants to express themselves, make a point or express their interests are welcome.
.

My avatar is pretty 'laid back' looking. Conservative in approach, but ready and willing in nature to take on the best of them. Like a cat, with un-sheaved claws. Ready to spring out at a moments notice!

The one thing I've learned in all my years, is never judge a book by its cover.

Come what may, people include the avatars under their profile, for many reasons. Sometimes, people change their avatars like 'next days underwear'. Depending on their moods/feelings/etc, people don't always stick with the same avvy, year in year out.

What means ALOT to one person, may mean 'squat diddly' to the rest of us. And vice versa.

My suggestion to you would be:

1. Get to know people.
2. Read their posts.
3. U2U them for any clarifications.
4. Don't assume ANYTHING.

This is the Beauty of ATS. The versitile natures of others who post.

There are things in this world that fluff my feathers in the wrong way, and I refrain myself from time to time, when I see 'things' that irk me. You'll know when it hits a nerve, then I "Come out a posting." Even then, I must refrain myself even further.

Magic...

Don't let things get to you. Take my wee advice:

Water off a ducks back.

You can't change others, but you can change yourself hon. If for one insurmountable moment in your life, you can influence others, do it in a 'positive way'. Leave the world in a better place, and know within yourself, that you did 'good'.

When I've done it good?......

A Duck's 'quack'... ALWAYS echoes!

~Ducky~

reply to post by AshleyD


Awww, why did you change from the 2 birds......I liked that avatar

And to the thread poster, if you dont like it, then you know where you can go

Take note that many members also CHANGE their avatars quite frequently. This really means nothing though.Pay attention to the post..not the avatar.
Sometimes people pic ones that are contrary to their personality as well.
It's the quality of their posting that counts..not the image on the avatar.
And lately I have heard far too much of this from people. If you don't like a persons avatar..just don't look at it. It is not your place to judge them. (Iam speaking in general here, not directed totally at the OP).
Everyone has the freedom to choose their own avatar..which abides the T&C's..and everyone else should just mind their own business.

My 2 pennies..
AD

Sun Wukong, about to ascend to heaven to meet with the Jade Emperor - and later to steal the peaches of immortality from empress Xi Wangmu, and cause a general sort of havoc.

Defy authority

I definately have an agenda, but I'm not quite sure what it is just yet!

Originally posted by OzWeatherman
Awww, why did you change from the 2 birds......I liked that avatar

Aw, thanks. It will be changed back eventually but it is Phantom of the Opera season down here so I put it up for now and chose a female phantom so no one would mistake me for a guy again.

People have avatars for many different reasons. However, many say something about the person and what they like or are interested in without having an agenda. Others have nothing to say at all in regards to interests or agenda.

Mine for instance is of a pirate, does that mean that I go out or want to go out and commandeer a vessel at gunpoint...no. It really is more of the being free and will fight to be so thing.

As others have stated, maybe it is just that the ones with the warships and fighters like them because they look cool.

Well thank you for the replies but this thread was not started for members to discuss their own Avatars as that was not what I said. I made a comment about certain members Avatars that are of a Military nature, who then go on to post quite ignorant and arraogant material, that is the topic to be discussed and not eveyone's individual Avatars

pstrron, I love your avatar.


If I am not mistaken, that's a painting by N.C. Wyeth from the Scribners Publishing edition of R.L. Stevenson's Treasure Island. Of course, it could just as well be a painting from Kidnapped . N.C. Wyeth was really quite a prolific artist and his depiction of pirates seem to have been a "specialty".

Anyway, I love your avatar because I am a big fan of N.C. Wyeth. He is an amazing illustrator/painter whose work was quite influential -- especially among subsequent generations of comic book and fantasy artists such as Frank Frazetta, Bernie Wrightson and Jeff Jones (aka Jeffrey Jones).

[edit on 2/20/2008 by benevolent tyrant]