ParanetOnline
The Site => Site Suggestions & Support => Topic started by: AcornArmy on November 01, 2010, 09:45:12 AM
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We now join a discussion of FM's empty-headed doll head avatar, already in progress:
Oh dear God I'm going to have nightmares because of your avatar.
I had to Adblock it. Way too creepy.
Edited the topic subject line, so as not to single out an individual -- Blaze
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Way too creepy.
x18
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I had to Adblock it. Way too creepy.
Blame Priscellie. My first avatar was a lamp, but it was too risque.
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Blame Priscellie. My first avatar was a lamp, but it was too risque.
Uh-huh. A picture of said lamp deliberately composed to look like other things. Riiiiiiiiight. ;D
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I am prepared to model my response to scoffers on that of Diogenes. ;D
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I am prepared to model my response to scoffers on that of Diogenes. ;D
As long as Diogenes' lamp doesn't look like THAT one.
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I am prepared to model my response to scoffers on that of Diogenes. ;D
Man.. I totally dig your avatar.
There's even a song that goes with it... http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=6998799
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Blame Priscellie. My first avatar was a lamp, but it was too risque.
1. You post a deliberately provocative icon.
2. People complain.
3. I politely request that you remove it.
4. You post another deliberately provocative icon.
5. People complain.
6. You blame me.
Am I understanding this logic chain correctly?
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1. You post a deliberately provocative icon.
2. People complain.
3. I politely request that you remove it.
4. You post another deliberately provocative icon.
5. People complain.
6. You blame me.
Am I understanding this logic chain correctly?
The difference between your understanding and mine is:
2. No one complained to -me-, I have to take your word that they complained to you.
3.5 I /did/ remove the original avatar.
4. I don't see any "provocation" as such in the current one. If creepiness is grounds for objection, then what are we doing celebrating Halloween?
5. Again, no one complained to -me-. I did read that some do not like it, but so what? Are we seriously supposed to find stuff everyone likes?
6. Without expecting to have that "blame" taken seriously. Shecky apparently saw the bit of humor I was trying for, and his post was the end of that discussion. I didn't think there was anything much to add beyond that, do you?
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(FM) you are aware that this should be discussed in private, not in open, but if you want it in the open so others can comment...
2. No one complained to -me-, I have to take your word that they complained to you.
Most people just complain to the mods, as that is anonymous, and complaining to the person who is disturbing/creeping out/etc you can get a bad reaction depending on things like the persons maturity level, and wither the offense is deliberate or not.
Anonymous is safer, and works just as well, if not better.
4. I don't see any "provocation" as such in the current one. If creepiness is grounds for objection, then what are we doing celebrating Halloween?
There are different levels of creepiness, and Halloween is not about anything majorly creepy/disturbing, most Halloween avatars/images do not disturb people on any deep level, while other things can.
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The difference between your understanding and mine is:
2. No one complained to -me-, I have to take your word that they complained to you.
Dear FM,
I would very much appreciate it if you would change your avatar to something less creepy. To me it suggests child torture and murder, which I find VERY DISTURBING.
Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.
snowbank
P.S. I regret I did not bring this to your attention immediately, but since I get banned for that sort of thing I thought I'd try channels this once. thx
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I like the avatar and find it more funny then creepy imo.
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Snowbank, you did not get banned for that. You got banned for other behavior against posters (and what's posted above would not even remotely have gotten you banned) and have been told what that behavior was as it occurred, and given examples post-banning.
When you reported the avatar this morning (without explaining why it offended you), 3/4ths of the mods/bartenders here discussed the avatar, trying to figure out HOW it was offensive. We were unable to come up with anything. Toy Story, a children's film, has a much creepier discarded doll's head. The first time we have heard child torture and murder was when you posted this here, even though Blaze sent you a note about you not telling us why you found it offensive.
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I like the avatar and find it more funny then creepy imo.
We should have a poll. I don't know how to set those up, though.
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Eh?
My avatar is more disturbing than that.
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I have seen way creepier images than that, and hung them on my wall as art.
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Same I see it as more cheap halloween decoration creepy and something to laugh at, then something that seriously gives me the ick vibes.
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define 'creepy'
is it provocative? certianly? Unsuitable for younger persons, as the forum guidelines seem to be set too, largely due to the existence of youger persons on the board, and a natural inclination of the mods not to want to spend thanksgiving explaining things to fox news and the FBI?
Not as far as I can see.
My vote would be:
Carry on as you see fit;
with the caveat that if someone told me my avatar was creeping them out, Id say oh sorry and promptly change it too a nice cudly teddy bear; just cause you know that would be the nice thing to do for friends. ;D
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Wow....Child Torture/murder? isn't that a bit of a reach?
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Wow....Child Torture/murder? isn't that a bit of a reach?
No. It looks like a creepy DEAD doll/infant's head to me. I am of simple, unsophisticated tastes.
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I normally stay out of discussions like this because they're very rarely worth it imo. However, I have a problem with this whole line of inquiry, are we to say that policy should be decided on how vocal someone is? If one person finds it unbearably wrong or frightening or distasteful. Are we going to ask Icecream to take down her avatar if someone with Cynophobia complains about it? Are we going to lock/delete/immolate all the lolcat threads if someone who claims to have Elurophobia complains loud enough? At what point do we stop bowing down and catering to the whims of a minority who complains? All this does is instill that the moral that around here if you complain loud enough for long enough you'll get your way. I didn't see everyone who was scared of/disgusted by or hated spiders take up arms and attempt to rid the forum of the lolspider thread and try to force a reprimand of those who posted images.
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That could also lead to the majority stomping all over the minority. Not a very welcoming environment for a board, imo.
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Are we going to ask Icecream to take down her avatar if someone with Cynophobia complains about it?
NO. In fact, I think Icecream's avatar has taken the 'Cutest Puppy Avatar Award' away from Acorn. It's a sad day, but less good things happen.
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Wait! There's a lolspider thread? :o :o :o WHERE!!!???
For the record, I dislike the avatar under discussion and avert my eyes from it whenever it's on the page. I'm old, not at all impressionable, but I don't disagree with whoever said it brings to mind babykilling/mutilation sort of feelings,(Huge paraphrase there) which in my opinion was obviously (FM)'s intent. (No, I'm not a mind reader, I DID say IMO) ...I slide the screen so it's partially off the screen for now if it's on the screen long enough while I'm reading, and I may disable avatars if it or any other one bugs me enough.
I've seen death, injury, and I've seen awful things in RL and I'm not a fluffy sort of person, I can hold a wound or artery with my bare hands if I need to so you don't bleed to death... I just don't care to see it here so I move my window off screen. I'm less offended by sexual innuendo or explicit stuff than that empty doll head, but I understand that there are many reasons for such restrictions. If I had a 13 year old who frequented this board, I would explain that in this case, I think (FM) is getting the reaction he/she wanted here and now, and it's behaviour I'd expect my kid to avoid, and that it's totally possible for a person to have a unique avatar without offending others and grasping for attention.
//eta// I know I'm just a n00B, but this thread offered me the chance to scratch the itch I got as soon as I saw that avatar.
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If you find posters avatars frightening or offensive, may I suggest that you go in to the personal preferences section of your account and disable viewing people's avatars.
This is a simple, inoffensive way to protect yourself if you are particularly image sensitive.
Click "Profile"
Then click "Look and Layout Preferences"
Next check the box in front of "Don't show users' avatars."
Save the changes to your preferences.
You will not longer have a problem with avatars which, while they meet the criterion for use on this forum, offend or disturb you.
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If you find posters avatars frightening or offensive, may I suggest that you go in to the personal preferences section of your account and disable viewing people's avatars.
Is this to ignore ALL avatars or just ONE?
I enjoy seeing most avatars, they are funny or cute or stupid or flashy. It is just this one I find offensive.
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All avatars. Because that is how the software works.
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I find it creepy; however, whatever thoughts I have about it, is on me.
I do not expect him to take it down but I do wonder if he is trying to bug anyone with it...
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For the record, my post was just meant to be a semi-humorous comment about how creepy the thing was. I wasn't trying to call for a ban on the creepiness or anything. I just did what I always do when I see an avatar that I'm pretty sure I don't want to have to keep looking at: I set my browser to block the image. Problem solved, from my perspective.
NO. In fact, I think Icecream's avatar has taken the 'Cutest Puppy Avatar Award' away from Acorn. It's a sad day, but less good things happen.
Maybe so, but is her avatar a picture of a Foo Dog puppy? I think not!
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Would you care to teach folks how to do that blocking image thing?
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Eh?
My avatar is more disturbing than that.
No offense, but I think it's kind of cartoonish. And it looks like stone, so it can't move very fast.
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I personally would be more creeped out by an intact doll. The discarded toy is cool and spooky for me. Regular dolls are bad creepy. :D I don't like dolls.
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Would you care to teach folks how to do that blocking image thing?
Sure. I use Mozilla Firefox, which allows you to download open source add-ons that add useful applications into your browser. One of the ones I have and use is Adblock Plus, which lets you block annoying spam images and such, preventing them from being displayed on your screen.
If you use Firefox, you can download the Add-on from the official Mozilla site here (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/83098/?src=api).
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I personally would be more creeped out by an intact doll. The discarded toy is cool and spooky for me. Regular dolls are bad creepy. :D I don't like dolls.
Hrm. In the interests of trying to figure out where we all fit on the creeped-out spectrum, who here thinks clowns are creepy?
*raises hand*
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Clowns are definitely creepy. We have a museum in town with exhibits on local history. But for some reason in the back, up this dim, narrow staircase, they have a bunch of life-size clown mannequins. So you look around the corner and there are at least half a dozen clown dolls staring down at you. And not fun happy clowns. Creepy murder clowns.
(Creepy Murder Clowns would make a great band name).
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NoScript is another good Firefox add-on.
About the clown thing? Clowns are not worrisome for me. Could someone come up with a way to make one extra creepy? Definitely. Can I ignore it or find a way to avoid it? yes.
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Hrm. In the interests of trying to figure out where we all fit on the creeped-out spectrum, who here thinks clowns are creepy?
*raises hand*
*raises hand*
Also those old style china dolls and the like, where they have big life sized heads and dead empty eyes staring forward, those are wierd. They kinda creep me out too. All dolls should be, like, Barbie sized(not necessarily shaped mind you don't attack me!) in my opinion. I think the avatar in question isn't bad it's in keeping with the Halloween season and as was mentioned earlier even Toy Story had a creepier one.
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I think Evil clowns are creepy. But they wear all that facepaint, so it's hard to tell the evil ones at first.
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I think Evil clowns are creepy. But they wear all that facepaint, so it's hard to tell the evil ones at first.
Exactly. Any of them could be evil clowns, and the only way to tell the difference is to get to know them, thereby opening yourself up to some freaky evil clown attack. Probably something involving knives, or big, pointy metal teeth. Why risk it? It's safest to assume they're all evil, and therefore creepy.
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NoScript is another good Firefox add-on.
About the clown thing? Clowns are not worrisome for me. Could someone come up with a way to make one extra creepy? Definitely. Can I ignore it or find a way to avoid it? yes.
Pretty much the way I look at things. Whatever our avatars, someone somewhere will be creeped out by it. There are options to block avatars, those who have serious issues can do so should they so choose. It's like watching TV. Most reality tv "drama" fills me with rage and hate. (I frequently pray for cleansing nuclear fire to obliterate Bret Michaels and anyone, ever, who has appeared on Rock of Love. It's the only way to be sure that the evil dies.) Even the commercials make my teeth wiggle. Point being, there'll be commercials for things one finds icky, offensive or annoying. One can TIVO skip right past them, but if one wants to watch the commercials because they find the one with the scrubbing bubbles to be cute, then they pays their money and they takes their chances.
Because we have teenly and tweenly members and no age check, we have a PG-13 (Or is it 14?) policy, and we might step in on something borderline... but we're really not in the business of stomping out everything someone somewhere will find creepy, icky, ookey, or offensive.
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About 3 years ago, Herself & I were having problems with neighbor kids trespassing into the back yard. Not the "Oh crap, I accidentally kicked the ball over the fence" way - which never bothers me, but the "wander around the place while they're at work, dump out the potted plants, tip the rainwater barrel over, pee under the pergola, and worst - break into the locked yard-box & pour all the fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, etc., in a big pile, killing a good chunk of the garden and making a potentially lethal chemical cocktail.
Even after several iterations, the parents denied everything, and the police couldn't/didn't get there fast enough to catch them in the act.
If you can't beat them one way, we're firm believers in beating them in a different fashion.
So... we gathered up a few old (and maybe even antique) doll heads, & put them on stakes among the plants.
The effect was *immediate* - The vandalism stopped completely.
I know we completely creeped the little turds out - that's what we intended to do. Thankfully the family has since moved, so there aren't doll heads in the garden anymore.
I do understand snowbank's discomfort with (FM)'s avatar, although I don't share it at all.
In fact I have *much* more creepy/weird things in my house as art/knick-knacks.
So, is the avatar creepy? Kinda/sorta.
Is it over the line somehow? I don't think so at all.
At base, it is a picture of a child's toy with some missing bits.
Judging from some of the stuff that I've seen at the movies and in video games, it is not in any way improper for a PG-13 audience.
It would seem to me that those disturbed/offended should be the ones blocking the image as the most proper solution.
But if (FM) chose to change it because of being asked nicely, that would be very cool too...
And FWIW, I find clowns to be *much* creepier and waaay more disturbing...
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I feel validated and supported by tallgrrl's post. It's not just the image I feel is objectionable.
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About 3 years ago, Herself & I were having problems with neighbor kids trespassing into the back yard. Not the "Oh crap, I accidentally kicked the ball over the fence" way - which never bothers me, but the "wander around the place while they're at work, dump out the potted plants, tip the rainwater barrel over, pee under the pergola, and worst - break into the locked yard-box & pour all the fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, etc., in a big pile, killing a good chunk of the garden and making a potentially lethal chemical cocktail.
Even after several iterations, the parents denied everything, and the police couldn't/didn't get there fast enough to catch them in the act.
If you can't beat them one way, we're firm believers in beating them in a different fashion.
So... we gathered up a few old (and maybe even antique) doll heads, & put them on stakes among the plants.
The effect was *immediate* - The vandalism stopped completely.
I know we completely creeped the little turds out - that's what we intended to do. Thankfully the family has since moved, so there aren't doll heads in the garden anymore.
I do understand snowbank's discomfort with (FM)'s avatar, although I don't share it at all.
In fact I have *much* more creepy/weird things in my house as art/knick-knacks.
So, is the avatar creepy? Kinda/sorta.
Is it over the line somehow? I don't think so at all.
At base, it is a picture of a child's toy with some missing bits.
Judging from some of the stuff that I've seen at the movies and in video games, it is not in any way improper for a PG-13 audience.
It would seem to me that those disturbed/offended should be the ones blocking the image as the most proper solution.
But if (FM) chose to change it because of being asked nicely, that would be very cool too...
And FWIW, I find clowns to be *much* creepier and waaay more disturbing...
I find, Sir, that I quite like the cut of your jib.
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Maybe I'm just weird, but I think if the picture were done at a creative angle in black and white film it could be a very poignant piece of art.
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FM's avatar kinda gives me that whole metaphor loss of innocence kinda thing.
I think as long as an avatar avoids the whole TT thing and keeps it pg 13 then it should be fine
Just my two cents
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If you can't beat them one way, we're firm believers in beating them in a different fashion.
So... we gathered up a few old (and maybe even antique) doll heads, & put them on stakes among the plants.
The effect was *immediate* - The vandalism stopped completely.
I know we completely creeped the little turds out - that's what we intended to do. Thankfully the family has since moved, so there aren't doll heads in the garden anymore.
You Sir are one of the most amazing people I've seen around here. How did you come up with that?!!? That is amazing! This, along with the tractor parts comment, has made you one of my favorite people to lurk behind here on the boards! (Which is a lot like stalking, but in a friendly, waiting for you to say something else funny/interesting/snarky kinda way. Not in a mouth-breather way.)
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You Sir are one of the most amazing people I've seen around here. How did you come up with that?!!? That is amazing! This, along with the tractor parts comment, has made you one of my favorite people to lurk behind here on the boards! (Which is a lot like stalking, but in a friendly, waiting for you to say something else funny/interesting/snarky kinda way. Not in a mouth-breather way.)
Suck up *cough* JK
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Suck up *cough* JK
I give credit where credit it due. *shrug* It isn't like I'm fawning all over everyone here. Piotr is awesome, he makes me laugh. I told him.
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I know I'm joking
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I know! ;D
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What were we talking about again? oh yeah puppies
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Puppies? Really?
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(http://mystuffspace.com/graphic/puppies-2.jpg)
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ZOMGFUZZYPUPPIESTHEYAREFUZZYPUPPIESLOOKATHTEFUZZYPUPPIESIMU STSNUGGLETHEMANDCUDDLETHEMANDSNUGGLETHEMBECAUSETHEYAREFUZZY PUPPIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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*scratches head*
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You Sir are one of the most amazing people I've seen around here. How did you come up with that?!!? That is amazing! This, along with the tractor parts comment, has made you one of my favorite people to lurk behind here on the boards! (Which is a lot like stalking, but in a friendly, waiting for you to say something else funny/interesting/snarky kinda way. Not in a mouth-breather way.)
Thank you - I'm glad to be amusing/interesting to my fellow JB fans. I normally feel like a small fish in a big pond of funny snark, witty remarks, esoteric knowledge, kindness, and people waaay cooler than me. I find the range of skills, interests, and ages present on the board to be quite well, interesting!
There are a number of people I make a point of reading every post they make, because I enjoy their POV a lot... So, I don't feel "stalked" - the word is actually "flattered".
The base idea was mostly inspired by a History channel special on Vlad Dracula that Herself & I saw while noshing thru dinner one evening... In the program, there were woodcuts showing the road lined with stakes, which generated this sort of "Pinky & the Brain" moment, complete with "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Sooo.... After the laughter subsided a bit, we plotted it all out - I supplied stakes of various lengths, that weekend Herself & I went junking/antiquing for suitable heads... Her girlfriends - once *they* stopped laughing - contributed several doll heads to the cause as well.
Suffice it to say that there were easily a good two dozen 4"-6" sized doll-heads-on-stakes...
And the best part to me was that it worked exceptionally well - without exacerbating the existing strife, without causing the kids any legal troubles, or completely souring the relationship with those neighbors...
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:P You out creeped the creeps!
On another note, AcornArmy's solution of using Adblock Plus and Pop-up Addons works like a champ, you can totally select specific adds or individual sources! Frustration level (not to mention creepy level) went down exponentially. Gotta love firefox.
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Thank you - I'm glad to be amusing/interesting to my fellow JB fans. I normally feel like a small fish in a big pond of funny snark, witty remarks, esoteric knowledge, kindness, and people waaay cooler than me. I find the range of skills, interests, and ages present on the board to be quite well, interesting!
There are a number of people I make a point of reading every post they make, because I enjoy their POV a lot... So, I don't feel "stalked" - the word is actually "flattered".
The base idea was mostly inspired by a History channel special on Vlad Dracula that Herself & I saw while noshing thru dinner one evening... In the program, there were woodcuts showing the road lined with stakes, which generated this sort of "Pinky & the Brain" moment, complete with "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Sooo.... After the laughter subsided a bit, we plotted it all out - I supplied stakes of various lengths, that weekend Herself & I went junking/antiquing for suitable heads... Her girlfriends - once *they* stopped laughing - contributed several doll heads to the cause as well.
Suffice it to say that there were easily a good two dozen 4"-6" sized doll-heads-on-stakes...
And the best part to me was that it worked exceptionally well - without exacerbating the existing strife, without causing the kids any legal troubles, or completely souring the relationship with those neighbors...
Good Story although if i had been the kids i probably would have moved them to your front yard to freak you out.
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Piotr, a far more elegant solutio to the problem than going to the police, or neighborhood watch or whatever! Kudos to you, sir!
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Actually, you're probably lucky they didn't call the police and have them digging up your yard looking for buried corpses. ...that would have been kinda cool too, as long as they didn't find any.
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Actually, you're probably lucky they didn't call the police and have them digging up your yard looking for buried corpses. ...that would have been kinda cool too, as long as they didn't find any.
And then you can bring suit against all those kids' families for false accusation / slander or some such. Let the good times roll. :D
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FM's avatar kinda gives me that whole metaphor loss of innocence kinda thing.
That's what I saw too. I was going to say it, but I felt I should be swirling a wine glass if I did. :P
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Acorn, thanks for coming up with some solutions, Tallgrrl, thanks for field testing them. I'll talk to the Gr'Up Mods about getting a sticky to let people know.
In the meantime, can we get some links to the software you've tried? Just to be sure we don't grab the wrong thing and post a link to something similar named that's infested with adware or somesuch.
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along Piotr idea, but not so creative i fear...get a pair of outdoor 'concelaed rock speakers' , then connect them to your computer sound system.
then browse for some Mp3s (orangatan's mating is an old favorite)
enjoy.
;D
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Whatever our avatars, someone somewhere will be creeped out by it.
I disagree. I wasn't fond of the HP & Draco avatar, but that's because they looked so incredibly young. I quite like Blaze's tapestry, and mourn the passage of THE DUCK. Puppy avatars FTW, but many other avatars are fine.
but we're really not in the business of stomping out everything someone somewhere will find creepy, icky, ookey, or offensive.
I agree. But when I got involved in this, one other (much more) tech savvy computer user had resorted to blocking it, and another poster spoke of nightmares. Just like art and pornography are something Supreme Court Justices know when they see it, so are distressing images. And I've looked at the full doll head, that is actually less creepy, imo. But why are those of us creeped out required to make the extra effort? With all the images in the world and on the web, what greater purpose/ideal is being served by this partial head? Just to creep people out? (I totally reject any Halloween connection.)
Certain verbal speech is not allowed on here. I see no reason the same does not apply to avatars.
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SB, while you are technically "someone, somewhere," he meant that with the proper baggage, any avatar used could theoretically be found creepy by at least one person.
Case in point...my old picture of myself I used here was just as harmless (if younger and thinner) as my current...and apparently looked like someone's ex.
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Short answer? Because creepy is not one of the issues that The Owner and The Author have decided is verbotten. We have certain standards of conduct, we have certain standards regarding acceptable topics. But we prefer to take a minimalist approach on matters that don't cross those lines.
Beyond that, we feel that the many should not be required to go through the extra effort to ensure their avatars are not creepy to the few who are unwilling to take the simple steps necessary to avoid seeing them.
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Er, what he said.
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Beyond that, we feel that the many should not be required to go through the extra effort to ensure their avatars are not creepy to the few who are unwilling to take the simple steps necessary to avoid seeing them.
There is a big difference here. You are taking the macro view of 18,000 plus members possibly being creepy. I'm taking the micro view of one poster actually having an offensive avatar.
Since mods do see more, how many other avatars have there been complaints about?
And what was the resolution in those cases?
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Only a handful of complaints that I can think of. Perhaps One or two maybe have been asked to change, others have been left alone as they did not violate policy on the rough PG-13 standard for sexual content and language, or the Touchy Topics ban on sociopolitical commentary.
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Only two in memory, both were sexual in nature. One changed before we said anything to him because he saw it squicked out some people and didn't think it was worth doing that, and the other changed when asked by a mod.
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"There is a big difference here. You are taking the macro view of 18,000 plus members possibly being creepy. I'm taking the micro view of one poster actually having an offensive avatar. "
Offensive to you, because you associate it with child murder and torture. Others don't. Some find it creepy for other reasons. There isn't anything there that states the user is pro-murder/torture of anyone of any age.
You are perfectly welcome to ask the user...politely, as you did...to change it. However, the avatar is not violating any policies.
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In the meantime, can we get some links to the software you've tried? Just to be sure we don't grab the wrong thing and post a link to something similar named that's infested with adware or somesuch.
Sure. I use Mozilla Firefox, with an add-on called Adblock Plus, which lets you block annoying spam images and such, preventing them from being displayed on your screen.
If you use Firefox, you can download the Add-on from the official Mozilla site here (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/83098/?src=api). That link goes directly to the Adblock Plus page at the official Mozilla Corporation website, so there should be no need to worry about adware or other viruses.
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Some context to this post: it was in response to a deleted question from snowbank asking why the mods aren't making him change the avatar since 3 people have stated it creeps them out. -Mickey
They said it was creepy. They're not calling for the mods to tell him to change it. They've come up with alternate ways of dealing with it if it bothers them, like ad-blocking.
If you're going to start using numbers, there are more than 3 who took the time to voice that they don't find it offensive at all. One even said his own avatar is creepier, and you said it was ok because it was cartoonish and couldn't move fast.
It's subjective.
"I personally would be more creeped out by an intact doll."
"I find it creepy; however, whatever thoughts I have about it, is on me.
I do not expect him to take it down "
"FM's avatar kinda gives me that whole metaphor loss of innocence kinda thing."
"On another note, AcornArmy's solution of using Adblock Plus and Pop-up Addons works like a champ, you can totally select specific adds or individual sources! Frustration level (not to mention creepy level) went down exponentially. Gotta love firefox."
"and as was mentioned earlier even Toy Story had a creepier one."
"So, is the avatar creepy? Kinda/sorta.
Is it over the line somehow? I don't think so at all.
At base, it is a picture of a child's toy with some missing bits.
Judging from some of the stuff that I've seen at the movies and in video games, it is not in any way improper for a PG-13 audience.
It would seem to me that those disturbed/offended should be the ones blocking the image as the most proper solution.
But if (FM) chose to change it because of being asked nicely, that would be very cool too...
And FWIW, I find clowns to be *much* creepier and waaay more disturbing.."
"I like the avatar and find it more funny then creepy imo."
"Man.. I totally dig your avatar."
"Eh? My avatar is more disturbing than that."
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I went and got the firefox add-on that AcornArmy speaks of, (you need *Adblock Plus* as well as *Adblock Plus Pop-up Addon* BTW. Neither was a problem at all, anyone who has firefox should be at least a little familiar with their Add-ons. I've gotta say it's GREAT!!!
I personally also use NoScript, which helps protect from 'clickjack' attempts by only allowing active java scripts to run on sites you approve. It does take some active decision making though, I happen to think it's well worth the trouble though. Here's the link to that. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/722/ Especially good if you or someone in your house tends to click on things first then think maybe that wasn't such a good idea.
Both work fine with at least my anti-virus software BTW, I suspect it's ok with most any of it, in case that's worrying you. Both also WAY reduce the adverts.
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Snowbank I find harry a little creepy will you change your avatar? (jk)
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Snowbank I find harry a little creepy will you change your avatar? (jk)
for you, grey, sure!
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Well Golly Gee thanks sb
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Most people just complain to the mods, as that is anonymous, and complaining to the person who is disturbing/creeping out/etc you can get a bad reaction depending on things like the persons maturity level, and wither the offense is deliberate or not.
Anonymous is safer, and works just as well, if not better.
Something about that seems backward to me. NOT blaming you; just saying . . . to me the adult thing to do would be a polite PM expressing concern. If folks want to be jerks in response, that's something for the Mods to deal with.
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Look Live and Let Die as sir Paul Mcartney says. Stay PG13 and away from TT and everyone leaves everyone alone. I think that this response to the Picture has caused more disturbance than the actual picture itself. Now I'm not blaming Snowbank, it isn't her fault but this issue needed to be discussed eventually.
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I've found the avatar a little creepy, but if the owner likes it, it is ok. IMO, He or she has a right to have it. In fact, Shecky's new avatar is far more creepy for me. I've found it very disturbing. But I wouldn't ask for removing it. Everybody is intended to have the avatar they like (unless clearly TT or not suitable for under age public)
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I've found the avatar a little creepy, but if the owner likes it, it is ok. IMO, He or she has a right to have it. In fact, Shecky's new avatar is far more creepy for me. I've found it very disturbing. But I wouldn't ask for removing it. Everybody is intended to have the avatar they like (unless clearly TT or not suitable for under age public)
Now, if you had read the Discworld novels, you'd call my avatar a big snuggly Greebo. :D
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Now, if you had read the Discworld novels, you'd call my avatar a big snuggly Greebo. :D
It is just a cute little bundle of fluff... and my favorite avatar from the ones you've been using Shecky!
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It is just a cute little bundle of fluff... and my favorite avatar from the ones you've been using Shecky!
Is how I picture him, now. Funny, that. :D
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I've read some Discworld novels (hint: my signature) but I don't know who is Greebo, Anyway, I don't like your avatar.
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Greebo is Nanny Ogg's cat, from the witch books. Little itty bitty Greebo is known for killing and eating vampires. :)
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I've read some Discworld novels (hint: my signature) but I don't know who is Greebo, Anyway, I don't like your avatar.
Oh, wow, my bad. Then I recommend that you read the ones that have the witches (Esme Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg in particular). Nanny persists in insisting that Greebo is just a big softie, while he chases alligators and eats vampires (as Laura said).
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Thank you Laura. I've never read the witches novels, so I didn't know that cat.
Shecky, I know there are lots of Discworld books and I've only read a few of them :-) . So I am not expert, but I like them a lot (even when they are a little difficult for me). I've decided not to begin reading witches for a while because I don't think I could stop. And I have other things to read. (Sigh) There are many books waiting for me.
Thanks both of you for teaching me something, but...the avatar still disturbs me.
Edited to correct some typos.
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*sadface*
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There, there. Don't look so sad. I'll reserve you a portion of the dinner I am cooking...meat bread (er, I don't know if you call it like that. It is like a roll made from minced meat, with some veggies insiide). It has a topping of parmesano cheese.
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I think I'd call that a meat dumpling Dina, but I bet there's all sorts of names for something like that! ...sounds good no matter what it's called though, and as far as Shecky's avatar goes, I think it looks a lot like a kitteh that's about to sneeze really hard!
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There, there. Don't look so sad. I'll reserve you a portion of the dinner I am cooking...meat bread (er, I don't know if you call it like that. It is like a roll made from minced meat, with some veggies insiide). It has a topping of parmesano cheese.
Is it rolled up in bread/pastry and then sliced, making sort of a round pinwheel thing? Whatever the case, it sounds like something universal and yummy. And parmesan makes EVERYTHING better.
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Dina, when you want to try the Witches, go for Lords and Ladies. That's one of the books I use to get people addicted to Discworld, period.
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Shecky and Tallgrrl: no, it is not a ball (like a dumpling) and it has not bread nor pastry. Let's see if I can describe it.
Take the meat and add some condiments and egg (as if you were planning to do meat balls). Then take a rectangle of aluminium foil. Extend the condimented meat over the aluminium, making a thin layer. Press well, to make the meat compact. Then, put some raw veggies and/or some boiled egg (you can also add cheese) near one of the long laterals (parallel to it). Mine had some bell peppers today. Then began rolling the meat with the aluminium to help you (as if it were a mini carpet that you wanted to transport). Each time you complete a turn you have to press the meat to make it firmer, more compact. (You don't have to make an aluminium roll, just use it to help you working with the meat). It looks like a bread (that is why it is called "meat bread" here). Then, just put it in the pre-heated oven. When it is quite cooked, add some parmesan to melt over the meat!
You can cut slices and eat it warm, or cold the following day. You can freeze it, too.
Mine was tasty!
Mickey: Thanks for the tip!
BTW, I want to complain (not to you, I just want to vent aloud, sort of) about international rights politics for books. Some years ago, I bought some discworld novels (an some of Dresden Files books too) for my Palm, at Palm Store. They were not very expensive, and very practical. But then, one day, they decided I can't buy any more of these books because I am in South America (and so is my credit card). It really, really made my life worse and I don't forgive it (snif!)
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Dina - Sounds like a local variant on what I would call a meatloaf. I'll have to try it that way...
Gotta add that Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg are my favorite characters in Diskworld. (Not that I don't really enjoy all of them...)
"Wyrd Sisters" is my fave, followed very closely by "Witches Abroad"! But there are no bad Diskworld books...
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Shecky and Tallgrrl: no, it is not a ball (like a dumpling) and it has not bread nor pastry. Let's see if I can describe it.
Take the meat and add some condiments and egg (as if you were planning to do meat balls). Then take a rectangle of aluminium foil. Extend the condimented meat over the aluminium, making a thin layer. Press well, to make the meat compact. Then, put some raw veggies and/or some boiled egg (you can also add cheese) near one of the long laterals (parallel to it). Mine had some bell peppers today. Then began rolling the meat with the aluminium to help you (as if it were a mini carpet that you wanted to transport). Each time you complete a turn you have to press the meat to make it firmer, more compact. (You don't have to make an aluminium roll, just use it to help you working with the meat). It looks like a bread (that is why it is called "meat bread" here). Then, just put it in the pre-heated oven. When it is quite cooked, add some parmesan to melt over the meat!
You can cut slices and eat it warm, or cold the following day. You can freeze it, too.
Mine was tasty!
That sounds awfully familiar... *racks his memory*... not to mention yummy.
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Ah-Ha! That would be a Roulad! Meat, either a regular cut either cut thin, then sometimes pounded thiner, or why the heck NOT ground beef(?), laid out flat then spread with a 'stuffing' of some kind, can be actual bread stuffing, a rice stuffing, or a vegetable mixture, then rolled up and cooked! I've had pork with a spinach rice mixture in it... very tasty, and seen it on a cooking show with beef with an Italian mixture in it. The ground beef sounds very good too! Verry verrrrry good! Hmmmm!
Thanks Dina!!!
( OH, by the way, how does your avatar breath without a nose or lips? :D )
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Dina, are you in Brasil? I used to be on a support desk, and we constantly had to tell visitors to Brasil that the internet works fine inside the country, but getting to the rest of the world sucks. (This is apropos of nothing. Just curious.)
" But there are no bad Diskworld books..."
They're rare, but they exist. Masquerade, Unseen Academicals, and the first 2-3 novels are not very good (compared to the rest of his work). And while Mort is important and a fun little yarn, never start someone on Pratchett with it.
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Piotr: Yes, meatloaf seemed ok! Thanks.
Tallgrrl: in this case is minced meat, but you are welcome. And how my avatar breaths...it is a big secret (seriously, she is a character from Ctrl-alt-del sillies, by Tim Buckley. He introduced mouths on his characters, but public didn't like them. So mouthless they are :D)
Mickey: I am not in Brasil. I am more to the South, in Argentina. My internet is ok.
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Tallgrrl: in this case is minced meat, but you are welcome.
"Ground beef" is generally interchangeable with "minced meat" in the US; it all depends on how fine the grinding is. Do you use very finely ground meat, or is it coarser?
Mickey: I am not in Brasil. I am more to the South, in Argentina. My internet is ok.
My wife loves your country.
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Dina, are you in Brasil? I used to be on a support desk, and we constantly had to tell visitors to Brasil that the internet works fine inside the country, but getting to the rest of the world sucks. (This is apropos of nothing. Just curious.)
" But there are no bad Diskworld books..."
They're rare, but they exist. Masquerade, Unseen Academicals, and the first 2-3 novels are not very good (compared to the rest of his work). And while Mort is important and a fun little yarn, never start someone on Pratchett with it.
Interesting I actually liked Masquerade better than lords and ladies, and while I didn't think Unseen Academicals was his best work I thought it was better than Making Money. I guess it just goes to show that everyone has their own tastes.
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Tallgrrl: in this case is minced meat, but you are welcome. And how my avatar breaths...it is a big secret (seriously, she is a character from Ctrl-alt-del sillies, by Tim Buckley. He introduced mouths on his characters, but public didn't like them. So mouthless they are :D)
But the arms stayed!
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Exactly, starbeam! And that is just ok or the last silly would never had happen. http://www.cad-comic.com/sillies/
Shecky: Thanks! I didn't know that use of the word "ground", I prefer doing my meat bread with finer meat.
I am glad about your wife liking my country. Has she ever been here?
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Exactly, starbeam! And that is just ok or the last silly would never had happen. http://www.cad-comic.com/sillies/
Shecky: Thanks! I didn't know that use of the word "ground", I prefer doing my meat bread with finer meat.
I am glad about your wife liking my country. Has she ever been here?
That's why she likes it. :D
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I work with 2 men from Argentina and my gf works with another. They're all very quiet. Is that normal? ;)
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Er, I should say no: We are a reputation of being kind of show-off and to speak in loud voice. For example, my boss and two people from my lab were in France and people there asked her if the other two were arguing a lot (as they didn't understand the words they though that the two Argentinians were angry because of the high volume of the conversation). But people from some of our provinces (that are like your states) are quieter. Do you know if your coworkers are from Buenos Aires or where?
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Nope! Eduardo sounds not unlike The Most Interesting Man in The World, although less fluid...he thinks his english is terrible and speaks very slowly (it's VERY good, actually). Jorge just grunts alot. ;)
Meanwhile, my Brasilian "partner" in Belgium is exceedingly flamboyant...it's hard to get a word in when she's speaking ;)
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Well, I don't know who TMIMiTW is, but perhaps they are only shy. Anyway, that it is not usual for Argentinian people, we have quite the opposite reputation.
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Countries getting together
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Well, I don't know who TMIMiTW is, but perhaps they are only shy. Anyway, that it is not usual for Argentinian people, we have quite the opposite reputation.
The guy in the Dos Equis commercials here in the US:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI58wj4b4g0
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Thanks Shecky!
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Thanks Shecky!
If you're familiar with the recent Chuck Norris internet meme (e.g., "Chuck Norris doesn't jump. He pushes the Earth down."), TMIMitW is a LOT like that. :)
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Yes, that was the first thing I thought while watching the ads. ;D
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Yes, that was the first thing I thought while watching the ads. ;D
The Internet is strong in this one...
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I disagree. I wasn't fond of the HP & Draco avatar, but that's because they looked so incredibly young. I quite like Blaze's tapestry, and mourn the passage of THE DUCK. Puppy avatars FTW, but many other avatars are fine.
I agree. But when I got involved in this, one other (much more) tech savvy computer user had resorted to blocking it, and another poster spoke of nightmares. Just like art and pornography are something Supreme Court Justices know when they see it, so are distressing images. And I've looked at the full doll head, that is actually less creepy, imo. But why are those of us creeped out required to make the extra effort? With all the images in the world and on the web, what greater purpose/ideal is being served by this partial head? Just to creep people out? (I totally reject any Halloween connection.)
Certain verbal speech is not allowed on here. I see no reason the same does not apply to avatars.
youa re the sixth person to mention that so..quack.
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Oh snap on the quack! (http://file.walagata.com/w/dbkaz/emotes/duckie.gif)
All I can say is that I'm looking forward to being able to customize my avatar, though I can't bring myself to just post utter nonsense to get there. Perhaps I'm being a little extra verbal as a means to that end, but not to an insane extent... or so I tell myself.
My avatars tend to be more subtle than not, even when I'm attempting to make a statement... that statement may only mean something to me, and since it makes me feel better, that's ok... I doubt that any avatar I ever put up would be sledge hammer-ish enough to offend anyone since they're mostly meaningless to others.
I like ducks! There! (>.>) *shifty eyes* after all, I already have chickens and guinea fowl, (http://file.walagata.com/w/dbkaz/emotes/chickerin.gif) so this spring I think it's time to get some ducklings!
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Take the meat and add some condiments and egg (as if you were planning to do meat balls). Then take a rectangle of aluminium foil. Extend the condimented meat over the aluminium, making a thin layer. Press well, to make the meat compact. Then, put some raw veggies and/or some boiled egg (you can also add cheese) near one of the long laterals (parallel to it). Mine had some bell peppers today. Then began rolling the meat with the aluminium to help you (as if it were a mini carpet that you wanted to transport). Each time you complete a turn you have to press the meat to make it firmer, more compact. (You don't have to make an aluminium roll, just use it to help you working with the meat). It looks like a bread (that is why it is called "meat bread" here). Then, just put it in the pre-heated oven. When it is quite cooked, add some parmesan to melt over the meat!
Ah-Ha! That would be a Roulad! Meat, either a regular cut either cut thin, then sometimes pounded thiner, or why the heck NOT ground beef(?), laid out flat then spread with a 'stuffing' of some kind, can be actual bread stuffing, a rice stuffing, or a vegetable mixture, then rolled up and cooked! I've had pork with a spinach rice mixture in it... very tasty, and seen it on a cooking show with beef with an Italian mixture in it. The ground beef sounds very good too! Verry verrrrry good! Hmmmm!
Hrm. So, you could maybe take some ground beef, add some garlic and onion to it, maybe basil and oregano, layer on some pasta sauce, then line some mozzarella, ricotta, and parmesan cheese over it, roll it up, and cook it? Kind of like a burrito, only with a meat shell instead of a tortilla shell?
Hrm. That sounds really good now.
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Speaking of Mickey's Ave (and I use that loosely, it was about 4 pages ago) I freaked out when you changed it. You went from being no older than about 30 to probably 40/45 in a matter of months... It took me some hunting to find out that you were, indeed Mickey one of the Gods, and the same Mickey as before.
*sigh* Sometimes my brain can't add one and one... It gets lost in "But... One of what?" :D
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For da Horsey:
(http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc457/Duck_Linsenmayer/th_Belleaveav.jpg?t=1289000443)
http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc457/Duck_Linsenmayer/th_Belleaveav.jpg?t=1289000443
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I COULDN'T RESIZE IT RIGHT!!!! And I have no idea what I was doing wrong! I'm sorry if I jammed anything... I saw it and nearly peed myself! it was HUGE! and then TINY and no in between...
Thank you Ms. Duck!
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the trick is to set the wide to 160 and keep the same ratio :D
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Oh! I tried just resizing with the nice buttons made for that... Nope... Totally failed on me!
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Piotr, loved the way you handled the next door neighbor kids.
You rock.
As for doll head avatar. Ummm, kinda thought it looked like some artist's installation piece.
Loss of innocence thing. Wasn't particularly creeped out by it.
Found the avatar of HP and Draco WAY more creepy than that.
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the trick is to set the wide to 160 and keep the same ratio :D
Actually, we prefer for folks to use the standard 100x100 icon size, with 125x125 being the upper limit.
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Actually, we prefer for folks to use the standard 100x100 icon size, with 125x125 being the upper limit.
This is the only reason the original avatar in question bugs me. It's HUGE.
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Actually, we prefer for folks to use the standard 100x100 icon size, with 125x125 being the upper limit.
Oh darn.... *goes to try to figure out how big her avatar is*
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Oh darn.... *goes to try to figure out how big her avatar is*
You're golden! 74x100.
For future reference, you can right click on the image and choose "Properties." It'll give you the dimensions.
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So thats how you do it!
Thx. :)
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You're golden! 74x100.
For future reference, you can right click on the image and choose "Properties." It'll give you the dimensions.
*Writes everything down*
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For future reference, you can right click on the image and choose "Properties." It'll give you the dimensions.
I know I saw the size when deciding that would be my avatar, but now I can't see that. If I right-click, no "properties" option appears. and if I save the image aside, properties shows it has 3,18 kb, but nothing about pixels. Anyway, I think my avatar is quite kosher.
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I know I saw the size when deciding that would be my avatar, but now I can't see that. If I right-click, no "properties" option appears. and if I save the image aside, properties shows it has 3,18 kb, but nothing about pixels. Anyway, I think my avatar is quite kosher.
Ah! Or it could be "View Image Info." Depends on your browser.
Anyway, you're 100x100. Perfecto, dahling!
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mine was a bit tall but I resized so it's a bit shorter and skinnier. It was 99w by 120h not terrible but I feesed it up!
hoggy avatars really bug me, didn't want to add to others frustrations!