Changing your Avatar... For Support

[Bocaj2000]

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.

It's mostly artists showing that they are protesting or wish that they could. I live 10,000 miles away from Hollywood, so I cannot participate in the VFX protest, but as a VFX artist I am showing support and that I wish I could be there. Why are we protesting? Here are the reasons:
-There is no Union to protect the Visual Artist.
-While actors have Screen Actors Guild and writers have The Writers Guild of America, there is nothing to protect visual artist making it much easier for studios to pay less and expect more.
-Many projects are being shipped overseas to India and China.
-There is getting to be a demand for more work, in less time, for less pay.
-The mentality that is being adopted is ?that If you won?t, someone else will.?

http://gnnaz.com/2013/02/26/green-profile-pictures-show-support-for-visual-effects-industry/

 

[DoPo]

...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

No, it makes perfect sense - when you get mono, you have to stay...alone for a while until you don't have mono again.

Also, I want to warn you about these

Working girls machines offering themselves on the street. I know they might look sweet and innocent, but know that they actually work for sometimes cruel pimps known as "banks".

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.

I think it just takes a bit for the old avatar to drop out of the cache - you can see doggie015 several posts up also doesn't have the permabanned one.

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.

Already done - JoJo and several others did it few weeks ago, complete with adding "This user was banned for X" at the bottom of their posts. Also, this avatar is for commemorating Vault specifically.

 

[Poetic Nova]

Mehh, I only change it when I feel like it (and with christmas). I know people do it because they care but it doesn't feel like it will change anything.

 

[Candidus]

snip

Thank you for that.

I had no idea that VFX artists had no union protection, but in light of the fact, it comes as no surprise that the spectre of outsourcing is used to force crunch production schedules for meagre pay. It's sad that big businesses hatched in first world countries still need unions and watchdogs to keep them from treating local employees like livestock, and/or taking advantage of smaller economies overseas. Sad, but no surprise.

 

[Weaver]

These "campaigns" are a huge pile of bullshit to me. I support gay marriage. However, changing your avatar to an equals sign is just a way for lazy people to feel like they're contributing to a cause they think is right, but without actually having to do a goddamn thing. It's just a way for lazy people to feel good about themselves for a day while contributing nothing to the cause they apparently so passionately care about.

A bunch of red equals signs on a forum or on facebook aren't going to pass through legislation. If you actually support it, go out and fucking support it. If not, you're just copping out.

 

[hazabaza1]

I changed it to Fappy's most known one when he changed it the first time.
Other than that, nah. It probably doesn't do much, and like, when do I change it back? Should I be the first to? SO MANY QUESTIONS.

 

[Zen Toombs]

So, Escapistses... Escapi... Escaptions... So, posters on Escapist!

*Ahem* The proper term is "Escapistians", thank you very much.

How do you decide what cause to support this way? Do you think it works?

Eh, I did it for Vault and then when this whole "equality" thing became a deal I changed my avatar for that. I don't think it really amounts to much if anything, but it feels nice to do.

For your reference, the first time I ever changed my avatar was in commemoration of Vault. Tomorrow I'll probably change it back to Vault's commemoration, and then back to my original avatar.

 

[ninjaRiv]

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.

I didn't mean a green = sign. Sorry, mixed up the wording. The green avatar some have is like just a big green block, to symbolise a green screen. It's because the effects people were underpaid and under appreciated.

 

[Frostbite3789]

I just thought everyone really liked math today

Srsly though, it's silly. What does having an equal sign for an avatar really going to change? Nil and zip, really

It shows you care and openly want to argue on the internet, and are pretending to do something for the cause. Without having to actually get up off your ass and...actually do things. Becuase y'know. That'd be a inconvenience.

 

[ninjaRiv]

I just thought everyone really liked math today

Srsly though, it's silly. What does having an equal sign for an avatar really going to change? Nil and zip, really

It shows you care and openly want to argue on the internet, and are pretending to do something for the cause. Without having to actually get up off your ass and...actually do things. Becuase y'know. That'd be a inconvenience.

This is what I was thinking. It'd probably get the cause more attention if you actively did stuff (without violence, or being a dick).

 

[davidsoc]

To me it is a personal choice. If you want to support a cause in a simple way sure go for it. But one's avatar is often a more recognizable feature than a username. Example: I used to post on a forum a long time ago with a specific avatar...i was "known" on those forums, and i was attached to a few user groups because of whatever reputation i had. I changed my avatar one day (after around 3 years if i remember correctly) and a bunch of people began inviting me to the same groups because they didn't recognize me.

Simply put, go for it if you want, but if you are a known quantity to many people, sometimes changing your avatar can create humorous happenings. I think Eleuthera mentioned something like this one the first page of this topic

 

[Souplex]

Souplex never changes his avatar.

 

[ShadowKatt]

Yeah, I've been using the same avatar for...what is it now, 2013? That's...about 9 years now. I haven't changed it yet, and I'm not going to. Not unless I somewhere pick up an awesome custom one at some point.

 

[-Dragmire-]

I use this avatar for everything, I don't change it often if ever. I may photoshop a santa hat on him for the christmas season or a mask in october but, for now, I'd like to keep my polar bear as my profile pic.

Nothing wrong with people showing their support through profile pics but it's not my thing.

 

[Easton Dark]

Souplex never changes his avatar.

And I don't even know what it is exactly.

Harry Potter in jeans souplexing... god? Gandalf?

 

[DTWolfwood]

Didn't bother with it. Great there are support for the movement. But the decision is still with the Supreme Court. They aren't swayed by public opinion as much as we would like to think they do.

The fact i only use facebook to see new posts from pages i've liked doesn't help.

I generally do not change my avatar/profile picture. People get use to it and actually recognize you as that pic.

 

[NearLifeExperience]

So, I get to feel like I'm making the world a better place, while it still requires little to no effort at all from my part? Sign me up!

To answer your question, OP, no it does not work. It's only purpose is for people to have a way to show to the outside world what wonderful and compassionate personalities they have. Sort of like a charity that even the lazy and selfish can join in on.

 

[AnarchistFish]

That reminds me of something else...

[http://i.imgur.com/oGPFd.png]

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.

Two things aren't comparable. This is democratic and shows support for a movement and political idea. Theoretically it could make an impact if it rallies enough support and gets noticed.

 

[TehCookie]

That reminds me of something else...

[http://i.imgur.com/oGPFd.png]

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.

Two things aren't comparable. This is democratic and shows support for a movement and political idea. Theoretically it could make an impact if it rallies enough support and gets noticed.

It helps raise awareness, but who isn't aware of the gay rights issue? If you want to make it aware to your government I think a petition or protesting are more effective than changing your avatar. Lastly you have to go vote on the issue or it will end up like Californias legalizing weed ballot, it seemed like it had plenty of support to pass but when the votes were tallied it lost.

 

[Snotnarok]

You mean everyone changing their avatars to = to support gay rights? No I don't support such a notion because if you REALLY wanted to help them you'd sign a petition instead of changing your FB avatar confusing 90% of your friend list instead of actually helping. I whole heartily support gay equal rights however, and you know signed a petition instead of doing useless avatar changing.

I probably got 4 or 5 messages asking "what's with the stupid avatars on FB?" firstly it doesn't help if your message isn't obvious and secondly your message only goes as far as your friend list and if it doesn't reach anyone in government then it's a waste of time.