Racy Avatars - your input needed

[lanky522]

I too was unaware of the option to disable avatars and I agree that it ought to be highlighted prominently somewhere on the site - perhaps when one registers their account in the forum or through periodic postings in the ramblings.

I will say, however, that the matter as it relates to "businessmen" should not be one of great concern. Many employers would find the simple fact that their staff are reading fantasy hockey news during business objectionable. The matter of avatars would be an afterthought.

My thoughts exactly Dicks.

I changed my Irish chick in support of this thread.
It's true that it becomes more and more difficult to read this site at the office.
All in all, what's best? Carey Price or a nice Irish butt?
I take Price for my pool!
I will keep the ass for something else...
Good bye little green shorts!

being irish, i loved this one though... and I didn't think it was even borderline...

I wouldn't have a problem with that one coming up on my screen at work... but maybe that's just me...

i don't see a need for avatars at all.

I dunno repent... i kinda miss your godzilla one man...

[sixhands]

I agree with alot of what has already been said, specifically ...

1. I like the racy avatars
2. I respect that they may be inappropriate for some viewers
3. I respect they may be inappropriate for some "locations"
4. I am an office browser
5. I agree that it may not just be the "racy" avatars that "offend"
6. I also agree to have a radio button that can be selected with the following option "please check mark this button if the image you are about to upload may offend another user, or if you agree that the Leafs suck!"

Is anyone offended by my avatar? I finally uploaded it! lol

EDIT: btw that is actually me in my avatar, last years halloween costume

[semenko27]

How can I vote to increase the number of them?

LOL, hear hear!

[winger55]

I know this is in response to that avatar somebody had of Crosby being hugged from behind by some guy. That was extremely racy! It was only a race to the bottom after that I'm sure. :-)

[that is an hysterical avatar btw]

[Enapai]

At the end of the day, this is a business for you Dobbs. Wouldn't want to do anything that results in loss of profit for you. I voted for the shut off (in part because I did not even know the option existed) but I have had to become more choosy on when I went to your site at work. State goverment kind of frowns on that sort of stuff.

Keep up the great work.

[Dobber]

i don't see a need for avatars at all.

You had one of the best ones! What happened to Godzilla?????

[SlobTheGreat]

I am far from a prude, I am a 47 year old drummer and some of those years certainly don't belong on a g-rated site, but I have been getting annoyed by the racy avatars. If I wanted to see soft porn, I know where to find it, but when I want to talk about hockey, I know where to find that too!

I will not disable avatars because I really like some of the hockey ones. The BEST EVER avatar was (I think) Shakedowns, Toews in the Blackhawks white/away uniform. I mean to comment on it at the time and never got around to it. It was simply a great picture and screamed hockey! I love seeing those ones. The boobs and girls I can do without when I am on here.

[lanky522]

I also find it a little interesting to see this poll at all.

I mean... dobber, you sort of claim that you gave us an inch and we're taking a mile, but THIS was posted on the main page of your site less than one calender month ago... So color me confused...

I mean... since the beginning, I never really thought it these girly avatars were that big a deal because of the trend you had set yourself. You always talk about how you report fantasy news like you're talking to us over beer in a bar. I think that's great.

With that said... i wouldn't be drinking with you in a bar talking about fantasy hockey while i should be working, and I certainly wouldn't be doing it with my kid sitting there next to me.

I don't see a reason for the site to change to cater to people. I feel as though people can (and regardless of what is decided, ultimately will) decide whether the flavor of this site is right for them.

Dobber. You've accumulated the following you have because there's a massive amount of people that like the flavor of this site. Why change what's brought you the success? I look at dobberhockey as "the guy's club" where I can talk about hockey and shoot the shit or whatever... now we're suggesting that we change the guys club so that kids and bosses are ok with it?

I dunno... I just don't agree i guess.

EDIT: at the end of the day, i hope you (Dobber) make whatever decision YOU think is best. Regardless of the results of the poll, this is your site man. If you start catering to your viewers, it kinda makes you seem like a politician to me... which is sad... because I remember the guy who started the site... and I'd be lying if i said I don't miss that trash talking, no nonsense guy sometimes haha.

Not to lay you with a guilt trip or anything by any means man... but seriously. Dobberhockey is your baby. You wouldn't let other people vote to determine what schools you should send your daughter Avery to would you? Do what you think is right man. Screw what the rest of us think hahaha.

[Dobber]

You had one of the best ones! What happened to Godzilla?????

I register Avatars in my brain, before I register names. Godzilla was Repent. Zorro's Z was Zorro. The walking red circle was Lanky. Calvin and Hobbes - Shoeless. The sneeze and dress pop open was Shao.
You get to know them, they become part of the community. Like I said in the other thread, turning off Avatars is like going to a party and asking all your friends to wear ski masks so you can't see their faces. That's what Avatars mean to me and I don't want to ask people to go to their User Cp and turn them off. Last resort

[Skin Blues]

I voted #1. Turn them off if you don't like them. I'm not in favour of censorship as far as language, nudity, or anything goes. Obviously this isn't your concern, but rather you're concerned about less traffic. And thus, the decision should be up to you, as what I would do in your situation is moot since I'm not in your situation.

Can't say that less booby-oriented avatars would deter me from coming here, but I've been less inclinced to frequent boards that do the internet equivalent of sending you to your room if you swear. That's obviously not what's going on here, but I thought I'd add it in anyway.

[Dobber]

I also find it a little interesting to see this poll at all.

I mean... dobber, you sort of claim that you gave us an inch and we're taking a mile, but THIS was posted on the main page of your site less than one calender month ago... So color me confused...

I mean... since the beginning, I never really thought it these girly avatars were that big a deal because of the trend you had set yourself. You always talk about how you report fantasy news like you're talking to us over beer in a bar. I think that's great.

With that said... i wouldn't be drinking with you in a bar talking about fantasy hockey while i should be working, and I certainly wouldn't be doing it with my kid sitting there next to me.

I don't see a reason for the site to change to cater to people. I feel as though people can (and regardless of what is decided, ultimately will) decide whether the flavor of this site is right for them.

Dobber. You've accumulated the following you have because there's a massive amount of people that like the flavor of this site. Why change what's brought you the success? I look at dobberhockey as "the guy's club" where I can talk about hockey and shoot the shit or whatever... now we're suggesting that we change the guys club so that kids and bosses are ok with it?

I dunno... I just don't agree i guess.

EDIT: at the end of the day, i hope you (Dobber) make whatever decision YOU think is best. Regardless of the results of the poll, this is your site man. If you start catering to your viewers, it kinda makes you seem like a politician to me... which is sad... because I remember the guy who started the site... and I'd be lying if i sad I don't miss that trash talking, no nonsense guy sometimes haha.

Not to lay you with a guilt trip or anything by any means man... but seriously. Dobberhockey is your baby. You wouldn't let other people vote to determine what schools you should send your daughter Avery to would you? Do what you think is right man. Screw what the rest of us think hahaha.

That's why I'm asking, Lanky. That's why I'm asking. Need feedback.

And that picture I edited and expanded the sign BTW, and it was posted on a weekend (non office day - don't think I didn't plan the timing of it, because I did...and hustled it down the page in a hurry...and never did feel right about it). But again, like I said, I am to blame for all of this, not just for letting it go early on, but for contributing to it with that picture. Now, with that in mind Lanky sir, what can I do about it? I am appealing to you for advice and input, not to point out my mistakes.

Edit: didn't see your edit. Thank you

[BlackGold]

My issue with the Avatars is not that it makes it hard to read at the office, since I can just log in and have them disabled.

The problem is that these racy pictures may lead to this website being banned by the IT department under pornography. That's a problem because it means I can't read dobber during lunch. If I can't read it during lunch then it probably means I won't be reading/replying to as many threads as I've tried to do.

There is also nothing I can do about IT banning the website since I work for a multi-national company and I can't find any justification for them to unban the site.

So bottom line, why do I want these pictures removed? So that I can continue to happily browse Dobberhockey during my breaks. I also look at the poll results this way, since most of the votes are asking for something to be done about the pictures, I think they need to be removed.

[smack]

Wow, it's been a while since I've started working for myself that I forgot what it's like working for an office/corporation. Just clarify something for me: It's ok to read fantasy hockey sites at work but not ok to read fantasy sites with racy women on them? I'm not trying to be a smart ass, asking that as a question cause corporations should be more worried about how much man hours they lose while they're employees check out this site.

As for kids - I pray and hope that this site is the worst thing that kids see on the net.

Like Lanky said, it's your site, Dobber, you got to do what's right for you but I like old school Dobber. But again, when it comes to what puts bread on your table, you do what's right for you, not what other people like me want. I think 99.8% of the people would keep coming back no matter your decision here.

[ridinryan44]

I'd be more than happy to change my avatar... with all the traffic this had to become an issue at some point. While I think if people don't like it, they should just shut it off, but sometimes all it takes is that one trip and a bad picture to turn a user off. If it comes down to Dobber losing out on traffic because of a picture that isn't all that big of a deal anyways (to me). I will start the movement (not bowel) and change my avatar back to something hockey related. I, too, have noticed that avatars have moved beyone the typical "hot chick" picture. Pretty racy... and I love it!!! I understand the dilemma though and would hate to see these forums change in a manner that had more of an effect than just avatar pics.

PS I am being paid to say this

[Puckhead]

i say just ask the members to remove their "racy" avatars. it is very hard to be discreet at work reading the forums when you have half naked women in a lot of avatars. no disrespect to anyone who has a "racy" girl as their avatar, i just think the site would be better without them.

i just noticed one of the poll options is to ask the members to tone it down. i'm in favor of that. i'm sure if everyone knows that it is hard for some people to view this site because of the avatars then most people will take off the scandalous avatars. theres nothing wrong with having women in your avatars...just as long as she is wearing something you could bring home to show your mother.

I completely agree! From where I sit, there are 2 ways to handle it. The first as Praba stated, is to simply ask the members with 'racy avatars' to change them, or, you step in and impose your will, because, as you stated in your original thread here, that they could very well be costing you members/traffic, and that is not right!

Puck