Changing your Avatar... For Support

[Casual Shinji]

I don't like to mark my avatar with political doodads.

If I have something to say regarding gay marriage or VFX artists getting treated like shit, I'll say it. And as a matter of fact I made a thread about the latter.

 

[Darks63]

I'd Rather do nothing than support Armchair activism. Besides I like my Nic Cage Avatar and would only change it for a good Jack Nicholson Avatar.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

Not for ideological causes. I think that's arbitrary and doesn't help. If you want to help, put your opinions out. Also, I like my avatar. Although I can understand the Vault avatars. That's showing solidarity, without the intent to impose your views or generate change.

So basically my double standard is it's posing and useless when it's for a political cause, but it's solidarity when it's done without trying to put a political message across.

 

[RyQ_TMC]

*snip*

That cartoon character thing was a campaign? Because seriously, I just thought it was an excuse to change my profile pic to Freakazoid.

Like I really need an excuse.

Anyway, my philosophy is that if you support some cause, you should make a bigger investment than just share a photo that screams "LOOK AT ME!! I CARE!! WILL I GET LAID NOW THAT I'VE SHOWN MY EMPATHY?!" Maybe people associate it with some political actions of the past, which were symbolized by everyone wearing a specific colour, or doing something unrelated as a sign of solidarity... But they forget that the changes those campaigns brought were not because of the symbolic show of strength, but real commitment and real world action.

Plus, as a rule I don't announce my political position publicly. And that's part of it.

I do, however, approve of "intra-community" things, like the "commemorate Vault" thing that's been going on here. Not that I'm gonna take part, but I think it shows that we're like a family here.

Which means that Phasmal and DevilWithaHalo are basically siblings. Chew on that thought.

 

[PBMcNair]

Not for ideological causes. I think that's arbitrary and doesn't help. If you want to help, put your opinions out. Also, I like my avatar. Although I can understand the Vault avatars. That's showing solidarity, without the intent to impose your views or generate change.

So basically my double standard is it's posing and useless when it's for a political cause, but it's solidarity when it's done without trying to put a political message across.

That sums up my attitude quite well, with the added factor that I probably wouldn't bother because few people would see it.
Because lurking. Speaking of which...

 

[Headdrivehardscrew]

I would never do such a thing. It's very silly.

I just misplaced my hardscrew. And I very much prefer a headdrive over a headdesk.

Oh, and I got a sad the other day. Doctor said it will heal all by itself if I don't scratch it.

As for political nonsense - meh, meh, meh. Most politics are smoke and mirrors and lies and opportunism and exploitation and ignorance in full effect. The moment I change my avatar for a political cause will be within 24 hours of a nuclear war or before, indeed, the streets will fill with blood and folks start building piles from the lobbed off heads of people that had ideas contrary to theirs. Avatars do not matter. Names do not matter. They are all random, and if yours isn't, you're probably lying to yourself right now.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Nah. If you want to show your support, fine.

But most people doing this sort of thing are doing it to pretend they are making a difference. They've clicked like, or changed their pic, they can spend the rest of the day patting themselves on the back. They are part of the solution now, they don't have to go do anything remotely useful.

 

[Dragoon]

I'll change my avatar for fun things, on here I usually have have festive versions of mine but I never completely change it. If I do it will never be for some political slacktivisim.

[sub]...and we didn't even have March Mayhem this year...[/sub]

This right here, I change mine for holidays but that's about it.

 

[sky14kemea]

Is that what those avatars mean? It's been annoying me all day. D:

I'll change mine for fun things, like holidays and March Mayhem. But I don't want my avatar to get all politically correct and what not. Spidermod don't swing that way.

*fwip fwip*

 

[Candidus]

a big red = sign in support of gay marriage.
a big green one in support of those who worked on Life of Pi.

I haven't seen any of that. But I'm curious, what's the link between a big green equals sign and Life of Pi? Or rather, why is it that its makers require support? I don't object, I just know nothing about it, even after googling the movie.

On topic, I've occasionally thought about changing my forum avatar to express something, but I usually conclude those urges by donating to the relevant charities instead. I guess I could do both, but I have some illogical hang-ups about fashion-statements... I think altering one's appearance to say something, here or RL or anywhere, is quite... I don't know.

I just know I won't do it.

 

[lord.jeff]

I'm fine with changing profile picks to support a cause as long as that's not the only thing they due about it. Showing off your views to your friends on facebook many of which already are gonna know your personal stance on gay marriage or whatever isn't gonna do jack, instead I'd rather have everyone who did the change to write a short letter to local officials and have their voice heard in a way that makes a difference not just a bunch of friends that you feel like showing off to.

 

[King Aragorn]

Not really, no. I put an avatar that appeals to me the most, and if I want to support something and show it, I do it through words rather than avatars.

 

[Fijiman]

I might change my avatar for a cause if it was in support of something for charity or something.(for example, if the escapist were to donate a certain amount of money for every person who used a certain avatar) Otherwise I have no desire to change my avatar for anything other than that I feel like changing my avatar.

 

[PsychicTaco115]

(for example, if the escapist were to donate a certain amount of money for every person who used a certain avatar)

If that was the case, I'd be rich

Like, swimming in pennies...

You can do that, right?

OT: I prefer to keep my avatars unpolitical, unless I feel like it... which isn't often

 

[Bocaj2000]

For support of a cause? No.

But I changed my profile pic to green to show that If I wasn't 10,000 miles away from Hollywood, then I would have been outside, protesting to show support for the Life of Pie animators.

And I also participate in Pokemon December every year ^-^

 

[DoPo]

As for the whole Vault101 avatar thing, I'm in support of having her avatar changed to the perma-banned one. Just like everyone else who is perma-banned.

Was there a discussion for it not to happen?

Like, swimming in pennies...

...I slightly misread that last word. I missed one of the "n"s and the "e". I wandered what you're on about. Glad we have it cleared out. And I just want to say, I'll support you no matter what your preferences are - money or women or men - we will love you for who you are.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

No. I may do seasonal adjustments or March Mayhem, but I don't do causes.

 

[PsychicTaco115]

...I slightly misread that last word. I missed one of the "n"s and the "e". I wandered what you're on about. Glad we have it cleared out. And I just want to say, I'll support you no matter what your preferences are - money or women or men - we will love you for who you are.

How ironic, considering that the whole thread was started about gay rights...

I love money, though; does that make me a cursexual? The love that one feels towards currency?

And remember, it takes two to get mono... which is odd, since mono means one

 

[Arakasi]

As for the whole Vault101 avatar thing, I'm in support of having her avatar changed to the perma-banned one. Just like everyone else who is perma-banned.

Was there a discussion for it not to happen?

Nope, but the person before me mentioned it, and I think that the avatar should support her perma-banned status. That's probably the one avatar swap I'd accept for myself.

Actually, instead of some lame support avatar like you guys have currently, you should all change your avatar to the perma-banned one. That'd be far cooler and stranger.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

I've never changed my avatar on a site for something. I haven't really noticed too many people doing it here, either. I've seen it mostly on Facebook and the only time I changed my Facebook picture was once for Desert Bus and once (or maybe twice?) for Pokemon Profile Picture Month. I think it is pretty stupid and just starts crap with everyone on Facebook/whatever website you do it on when it is something like this.

Captcha: know your rights
Well, that was oddly on topic, in a way...