Poll: The Escapist's Felings on GIF Avatars

[Punch You]

I created this thread and poll because I want to gauge what the escapist's feelings on the GIF avatars (the moving pictures next to people's names) are, since it isn't something every message board or forum has.

Personally, I despise the GIF avatars. I find them very distracting when trying to read someone's comments, and the worst ones hurt my eyes to look at, and sometimes even give me a headache (there was once a poster who had a hypno toad avatar, with a background of rapidly changing colors).

Now, those of you who like the GIF avatars will no doubt tell me that I'm overreacting, and that I should just go out of my way to ensure I don't see the GIFs hurting my eyes by putting my hand over the screen or taping a piece of paper to my computer or some other thing I haven't thought of. Well, actually, I've come up with a better solution:

I won't bother reading the comments of someone with a GIF avatar.

Those with GIF avatars give a clear message to me, and that message is, "Expressing my opinion clearly isn't as important to me as making you pay attention to my individuality by distracting you with this loop of a japanese dating sim character cuddling with a cartoon pony. Forget about my comment. Be mesmerized by the visual fan-fiction instead."

I come to the escapist message boards to read comments. Not to simultaneously read and stare at an epileptic seizure inducing kaleidoscope. I created this thread because I don't think this has ever been discussed before, and I think the value of having the GIF avatars is worth discussing.

 

[realist1990]

thank you for validating my opinion on them..although I wouldn't go so far as to say they hurt my eyes

 

[BathorysGraveland]

I come to more or less the same conclusion as yourself. Trying to read some text while a moving GIF is just there on the left is pretty distracting.

 

[Psykoma]

I couldn't care less either way. I don't even look at the user/avatars when reading posts.

 

[staika]

I love gif avatars and ever since I started using them I just can't go back to still images. Besides my avatar is for my amusement and I don't care at all what other people think about it.

 

[Aris Khandr]

I am generally indifferent to them. Some always make me smile when I see them (like the "Nuke the Whales" .gif), others bother me (the exploding head guy), but most are just there, like any other avatar.

 

[Vault101]

Really?

having just made one myself...(it was friggen tedious and took some time so Its not going anywhere)

I honestly dont find them all distracting...really, or mabye Im just used to them

EDIT: I guess some are more distracting than others

I won't bother reading the comments of someone with a GIF avatar.

Those with GIF avatars give a clear message to me, and that message is, "Expressing my opinion clearly isn't as important to me as making you pay attention to my individuality by distracting you with this loop of a japanese dating sim character cuddling with a cartoon pony. Forget about my comment. Be mesmerized by the visual fan-fiction instead."
.

thats a little unfair....

so you dont read them because you find it annoying? or you dont read them to spite others with the "audacity" to annoy you with their avatars?

 

[Marter]

I think they can be fun, but are no better or worse than static images.

 

[TehCookie]

Well since you not reading my post does that mean I can post anything? ASSBUTTS! (completely uncreative right now so that's all you get.)

An avatar is an avatar, I don't see how the .gif are any more distracting (unless you have to watch it til it loops). If you want anonymous discussion with no personalization go to 4chan. Also you haven't been here long enough, this has been discussed before. It was a while ago so no fucks are given but you're not the first.

Edit: Two days later and I just now realized feelings is spelt wrong in the title. Wow I'm slow.

 

[staika]

- A temporary solution: If you're using Internet Explorer or Firefox, just press Esc. This will stop all gifs from animating until the page is refreshed, or another page is loaded.[br]

Are you serious? that would be pretty cool if it actually worked
*tries it*
Wow I never knew that you could do that. You learn something new everyday

 

[staika]

Are you serious? that would be pretty cool if it actually worked
*tries it*
Wow I never knew that you could do that. You learn something new everyday

Neat huh?

Unfortunately it doesn't work in Google Chrome.

[sub]Why must Chrome be so slow at implementing common and standard features like this?
It took them soooo long to include a print preview function . . .[/sub]

I don't know why but I find small pointless things like that interesting. Though I do tend to abuse those little commands a lot >.>

 

[DoPo]

- A temporary solution: If you're using Internet Explorer or Firefox, just press Esc. This will stop all gifs from animating until the page is refreshed, or another page is loaded.[br]

Dude, what did you do? I thought myself a Firefox power user (OK, at least covering the minimum for a power user) and you just went ahead made me realise how pathetic I was for not knowing something so simple.

OT: It depends on the .gif really - most of them are fine. From people from this thread - TopazFusion's, Vault101's, TehCookie's (especially hers) and sort of staika's are all good. Also I loved Caramel Frappe's avatar you mentioned - it was really cute (actually it is changed now to Tali dancing but it's still OK).

As long as the .gif isn't rapidly flashing and changing colours I don't really mind. For example, I always found Redlin5's avatar distracting when trying to read his posts.

Spoiler: Redlin5's avatar

 

[Kae]

(there was once a poster who had a hypno toad avatar, with a background of rapidly changing colors).
"Expressing my opinion clearly isn't as important to me as making you pay attention to my individuality by distracting you with this loop of a japanese dating sim character cuddling with a cartoon pony. Forget about my comment. Be mesmerized by the visual fan-fiction instead."

Were you talking about these?

Spoiler: In case you really don't want to look at them.

GeorgeW's Hypnotoad

CarammelFrappe's old avatar.

OT: Anyway I don't particularly mind them, they are just like any other image to me, and besides I think TopazFusion gave a better solution to you're problem, so anyone that really dislikes them can go and do any of those things he mentioned, besides it really sounds like it's more of a personal problem than anything else.

 

[Lionsfan]

I really don't mind them, they're only small little boxes so I just glaze over them. Plus I've seen them all so many times now

 

[Luftwaffles]

So....what OP is saying is that, because he is distracted easily by moving pictures, our opinions therefore wont matter to him.

Right?

But hey, he wont read my comment anyways.

 

[Fitzcaraldo]

Is it bad that after reading this thread I'm now considering getting an animated avatar?

But anyway, on topic. They don't bother me at all. In fact I prefer them, some of them are very entertaining.

 

[Vault101]

So....what OP is saying is that, because he is distracted easily by moving pictures, our opinions therefore wont matter to him.

Right?

But hey, he wont read my comment anyways.

I didnt even realise your's was aniamted untill I looked at it...

I also don't agree with the OP's attitude "because you have somthing I don't like Im just going to assume your an asshole and not bother to read what you have to say...because it offends me"

 

[Lucem712]

I really enjoy them, it helps me identify that user easier.

 

[TheSaw]

I love them. The simple looped ones are the best.

If you get distracted by them, why not just put your hand over them or something?

loop of a japanese dating sim character cuddling with a cartoon pony.

And that sounds like you're attacking one person, which is baaad.

Now. Gaze at Pinkie eating a cupcake, I'm sure it'll distract you.