Text in Avatars

[Nikita]

Why are some users allowed to have text in avatars when others are not?

Is there some sort of exception made if your avatar's text is your username?

[cannotseethe]

There are a couple possible explanations for avatars with text you've seen. In some cases, for instance when the avatar image contains a real-world object with text on it that is not the substance of the image, the text may be OK (not guaranteed, mind you). Photoshopped images do not qualify, and if the text itself is the focus of the avatar it will likely be out of bounds as well.

It could also be that you've found an unacceptable avatar that has not yet been detected and removed. Reporting a post by that user would be helpful.

Generally speaking, users are not given allowance to have their usernames in avatars.

[Nikita]

I did report a post by a user with a text avatar (the text pretty much makes up the avatar). I only made this thread now because that was days ago and the avatar is still there.

[cannotseethe]

Perhaps one of the more experienced moderators can correct me here if I'm misspeaking, but I believe there are a few avatars with text in them that have been grandfathered in, having been used before the text in avatars rule was articulated. It may be you're seeing one of those.

[Synamon]

I did report a post by a user with a text avatar (the text pretty much makes up the avatar). I only made this thread now because that was days ago and the avatar is still there.

That user had been using the avatar for more than 2 years before anyone reported it, so it was given a pass.

[Nikita]

That user had been using the avatar for more than 2 years before anyone reported it, so it was given a pass.

huh, so if you break the rules for an extensive length of time you get to continue to do so...good to know

[Synamon]

8. Use Tasteful Customizations
Offensive, disruptive, or poorly formatted usernames, custom text and avatars will be mollified or removed at the administration's discretion.
Underline added by me for emphasis.

[Nikita]

Avatar Rules
Dimensions must be exactly 115 x 145 pixels.
File size must 20kb or less.
No border.
No transparency.
No animation.
No text.

Underline added by me.

I'm not disputing the discretion, just pointing out a discrepancy. Plus, there have been instances in which mods have warned people about avatars with text in them or taken the avs away. I'm not really sure how that works, but people have protested it only to be told that having text in the avatar violated the rule.

[comamind]

So I signed up 05-08-2009, I know I am not the most active poster and I am quite sure that falls under the "at the administration's discretion."-part of the "rule" but I went from a symbol (http://www.comamind.de/intro/rp.php) to another symbol (http://www.comamind.de/_temp/test1.jpg) - the cross was okay I guess but the C seems to fall under the "text/letter/logo"-rule. :/

I knew the "risk" since I knew the rules before I broke them but I saw it more as a symbol and therefore I went from a symbol to another symbol - both logos ... I know.

What I'd like to know is ... why no logos?

Be sure that I'll spam the shit out of that forum until I found an avatar that you guys accept and I like ... will take a while though. :/

[Jezebel]

No text.
Underline added by me.

I'm not disputing the discretion, just pointing out a discrepancy. Plus, there have been instances in which mods have warned people about avatars with text in them or taken the avs away. I'm not really sure how that works, but people have protested it only to be told that having text in the avatar violated the rule.

The "no text" rule is the one we have been most lenient on; there have been many instances where we have allowed text in avatars if the text was not the focal point of the image. However, I believe stating "We don't allow text in most cases, but there are exceptions. . ." and giving examples would only lead to more members uploading unacceptable text avatars then arguing with us about the technicalities when they disagree with our decision about where to draw the line. When we say "no text", we are giving forewarning that any avatar with text can be removed - not that it will be, or that we aren't willing to make exceptions if we don't see the avatar as problematic in the spirit of our rules.

[Amphorian]

@Jez: So a small signature (barely visible) from an artist on the avatar art would be fine?

[Jezebel]

@Jez: So a small signature (barely visible) from an artist on the avatar art would be fine?
Probably. We've allowed artist signatures to remain on avatars before. If there is any doubt, members could start a thread with a link to the avatar they aren't sure about in this subforum to ask.

[9142010]

Why does this rule exist, particularly on an INTJ forum?

[Mozza314]

Why does this rule exist, particularly on an INTJ forum?

I was wondering this too. It seems a bit obscure to me. I'm not really interested in including text in an avatar, but, is it because of distraction...?