Bandwidth Available for Avatars? - Page 2

baryonyx · 11-19-2002, 11:49 PM

Well, what I really wanted to convey was my silly little Baryonyx drawing that I worked (not) so hard on. It's all about branding, you see.

But I'm a big boy. I can live without it, cute as it is.

mervTormel · 11-19-2002, 11:59 PM

well, can we see it? can you post it somewhere?

baryonyx · 11-20-2002, 12:27 AM

Okey doke. Your funeral.

Just click on the Preview icon for baryonyx.jpg. I have a better one worked up but not finished--he's at the beach holding a mixed drink. This one looks like he's looking over his back while doing something naughty, which was not exactly what I intended. It's all in the stripes, which I personally believe clash just wonderfully with the background blue of my little beast, but definitely do not indicate a tummy.

Live and learn.

Andy

baryonyx · 11-20-2002, 02:21 AM

Okay, just for kicks, I threw up the unfinished "Beach Boy Baryonyx," at the same address as above.

For those of you who are curious about just what a baryonyx is, it's a late-cretaceous dinosaur that has big teeth, a crocodile-like head on a long neck and very long, impressive claws. It's thought baryonyx ate fish.

Anyway, for a while it was my youngest boy's favorite dinosaur. These days I think he's leaning towards parasaurolophus, possibly only because he's the ony one who can pronounce it correctly.

Andy

Phil St. Romain · 11-20-2002, 09:23 AM

Quote:


	Originally posted by mervTormel Good Vishnu, Phil, you're so literal!

LOL! Well, how DID that term become used for those digital images? It's quite a stretch from the usual sense of the word.

Craig R. Arko · 11-20-2002, 10:35 AM

Back when everybody thought Virtual Reality was the next big thing, they borrowed the usage of the term 'avatar' from SciFi author William Gibson, who used it to refer to the cyberspace counterpart of the user, in parallel to the original meaning of a divine beings' physical counterpart.

Since VR fell down went boom, the term has stuck to mean one's online visual proxy, which is usually just a picture now.

Phil St. Romain · 11-20-2002, 10:42 AM

Ahh, well, that makes sense. Thanks.

bassi · 11-20-2002, 10:58 AM

Avatar = Residual Self Image

That's a nice skew on things from "The Matrix"

nkuvu · 11-20-2002, 12:08 PM

I don't see a problem with avatars, but then again I spend more time at a site which has them.

If you're concerned about the flashing colors and bells and whistles that you don't want, turn off your images. I see a lot worse blinky stuff when browsing random pages on the web.

Honestly, I don't care if they're here or not, but some of the arguments against them seem a little weak.

I'm not familiar with the vBulletin software, but I'd imagine that you could disable the option to load avatars from an URL. This would mean dedicating space on the server to store the images, which may or may not be an acceptable solution. But if this was possible it would prevent the IP harvesting you were speaking of.

Content is totally up to the user, not the bells and whistles enabled. For example, even on this site I could make a message like

Annoying? You betcha. But the reason I don't (aside from the total lack of desire to make such a message) is that the people around me aren't doing the same. What I'm trying to say is that it's not the features that make the content, nor does the lack of features make the content better.

mystique · 11-25-2002, 06:57 PM

Quote:


	Originally posted by Craig R. Arko I don't know what vBulletin does. I don't really want to, either.

I have a lovely avatar of sour grapes just for you.

Yes, tortoise...making my usual points with my first post in true form.

Craig R. Arko · 11-25-2002, 07:09 PM

Hello, CB.

I prefer cranberry-apple.

mystique · 11-25-2002, 07:27 PM

I'll see what I can do for you.

You must the THE MAN around here, eh?

Please forgive my rather sarcastic sense of humor and know that it's meant all in good fun.

Thank you for allowing me to visit your board. I look forward to getting to know it and you and the others better in the very near future.

Cheers.

Myst=-

mystique · 11-25-2002, 07:30 PM

WHOA....hold the phone a sec...you called me
CB? CB died a most painful death from a fragmented broken heart.

Who are you and how do you know who I am?

Craig...Craig...I don't recall any Craig...

NKUVU!! HELP!!!!!

yellow · 06-06-2003, 12:27 AM

Call me a thread-necromancer.

Quote:


	Quoth the raven: Back when everybody thought Virtual Reality was the next big thing, they borrowed the usage of the term 'avatar' from SciFi author William Gibson, who used it to refer to the cyberspace counterpart of the user, in parallel to the original meaning of a divine beings' physical counterpart.

Actually, I believe the use of the word 'Avatar' as an image of one's self in cyber-realities was coined by Neal Stephenson in the book Snow Crash. Which if you haven't read, is worth the read. How can you not like a book where the main character is named Hiro Protagonist?

hayne · 06-06-2003, 07:22 AM

Quote:


	Originally posted by yellow Actually, I believe the use of the word 'Avatar' as an image of one's self in cyber-realities was coined by Neal Stephenson in the book Snow Crash. Which if you haven't read, is worth the read.

I also recommend "Snow Crash". But there is some controversy over who first used the term "avatar" in its VR sense.
Here's a page (pilot project for the OED) listing citations for SF terms: http://www.jessesword.com/SF/sf.shtml

Craig R. Arko · 06-06-2003, 12:20 PM

Ah, the thread that wouldn't die.

If you folks get the citation sorted out, I'd be grateful to hear about it.

Can't be too old to relearn things...

mervTormel · 06-06-2003, 12:36 PM

Code:

$ dict avatar

...

From WordNet (r) 1.7 [wn]:

  avatar
       n 1: a new embodiment of a familiar idea; "the incarnation of
            evil"; "the very avatar of cunning" [syn: {embodiment},
            {incarnation}]
       2: the manifestation of a Hindu deity (especially Vishnu) in
          human or superhuman or animal form; "the Buddha is
          considered an avatar of the god Vishnu"

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (09 FEB 02) [foldoc]:

  avatar
  
     1. <chat, virtual reality> An {image} representing a user in a
     multi-user {virtual reality} (or VR-like, in the case of
     {Palace}) space.
  
     2. (CMU, Tektronix) {root}, {superuser}.  There are quite a
     few {Unix} computers on which the name of the superuser
     account is "avatar" rather than "root".  This quirk was
     originated by a {CMU} hacker who disliked the term
     "superuser", and was propagated through an ex-CMU hacker at
     {Tektronix}.
  
     [{Jargon File}]
  
     (1997-09-14)
...

Roy Vincent · 06-16-2003, 10:24 PM

Quote:


	Originally posted by nkuvu I don't see a problem with avatars... but some of the arguments against them seem a little weak.

I agree--though nkuvu's position was more qualified than what I presented.

The avatars are fun. A bit of shape and colour. A little individuality--as also allowed in some of the crazy-nice user names we see. Sometimes an implied message. Sometimes a picture of the person posting (or a movie star fake!). One can change the avatars and make them match one's mood or the times.

Forums such as these can be dull and unimaginative without a bit of good natured permissiveness. They should not look as if they are run by administrators who favour priestly seriousness above all. One can aim at seriously helpful work but also enjoy a context that manifests both some laid back attitudes and some human sparkle.

I'm sorry the higher-ups here seem so opposed to avatars. New administrators, I know, are often more into the "No" mode than the "Yes" mode. But there's always the possibility of a change of heart with the passing of time. I'll hope for that regarding this little business of the avatars.

11-19-2002, 11:59 PM	#22
mervTormel League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 5,536	well, can we see it? can you post it somewhere? __________________ On a clear disk, you can seek forever.

11-25-2002, 07:27 PM	#32
mystique Prospect Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Denver Posts: 4	I'll see what I can do for you. You must the THE MAN around here, eh? Please forgive my rather sarcastic sense of humor and know that it's meant all in good fun. Thank you for allowing me to visit your board. I look forward to getting to know it and you and the others better in the very near future. Cheers. Myst=- __________________ "My mom's been s******* a dead guy for 30 years. I call him dad."-Clerks

11-25-2002, 07:30 PM	#33
mystique Prospect Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Denver Posts: 4	WHOA....hold the phone a sec...you called me CB? CB died a most painful death from a fragmented broken heart. Who are you and how do you know who I am? Craig...Craig...I don't recall any Craig... NKUVU!! HELP!!!!! __________________ "My mom's been s******* a dead guy for 30 years. I call him dad."-Clerks

11-19-2002, 11:49 PM	#21
baryonyx Major Leaguer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 300	Well, what I really wanted to convey was my silly little Baryonyx drawing that I worked (not) so hard on. It's all about branding, you see. But I'm a big boy. I can live without it, cute as it is.

11-20-2002, 12:27 AM	#23
baryonyx Major Leaguer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 300	Okey doke. Your funeral. Just click on the Preview icon for baryonyx.jpg. I have a better one worked up but not finished--he's at the beach holding a mixed drink. This one looks like he's looking over his back while doing something naughty, which was not exactly what I intended. It's all in the stripes, which I personally believe clash just wonderfully with the background blue of my little beast, but definitely do not indicate a tummy. Live and learn. Andy

11-20-2002, 02:21 AM	#24
baryonyx Major Leaguer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 300	Okay, just for kicks, I threw up the unfinished "Beach Boy Baryonyx," at the same address as above. For those of you who are curious about just what a baryonyx is, it's a late-cretaceous dinosaur that has big teeth, a crocodile-like head on a long neck and very long, impressive claws. It's thought baryonyx ate fish. Anyway, for a while it was my youngest boy's favorite dinosaur. These days I think he's leaning towards parasaurolophus, possibly only because he's the ony one who can pronounce it correctly. Andy

11-20-2002, 10:35 AM	#26
Craig R. Arko Site Admin Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,988	Back when everybody thought Virtual Reality was the next big thing, they borrowed the usage of the term 'avatar' from SciFi author William Gibson, who used it to refer to the cyberspace counterpart of the user, in parallel to the original meaning of a divine beings' physical counterpart. Since VR fell down went boom, the term has stuck to mean one's online visual proxy, which is usually just a picture now.

11-20-2002, 10:42 AM	#27
Phil St. Romain Site Admin Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 2,350	Ahh, well, that makes sense. Thanks.

11-20-2002, 10:58 AM	#28
bassi Major Leaguer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Paris, France Posts: 498	Avatar = Residual Self Image That's a nice skew on things from "The Matrix"

11-20-2002, 12:08 PM	#29
nkuvu MVP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 1,236	I don't see a problem with avatars, but then again I spend more time at a site which has them. If you're concerned about the flashing colors and bells and whistles that you don't want, turn off your images. I see a lot worse blinky stuff when browsing random pages on the web. Honestly, I don't care if they're here or not, but some of the arguments against them seem a little weak. I'm not familiar with the vBulletin software, but I'd imagine that you could disable the option to load avatars from an URL. This would mean dedicating space on the server to store the images, which may or may not be an acceptable solution. But if this was possible it would prevent the IP harvesting you were speaking of. Content is totally up to the user, not the bells and whistles enabled. For example, even on this site I could make a message like Annoying? You betcha. But the reason I don't (aside from the total lack of desire to make such a message) is that the people around me aren't doing the same. What I'm trying to say is that it's not the features that make the content, nor does the lack of features make the content better.

11-25-2002, 07:09 PM	#31
Craig R. Arko Site Admin Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,988	Hello, CB. I prefer cranberry-apple.

06-06-2003, 12:20 PM	#36
Craig R. Arko Site Admin Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,988	Ah, the thread that wouldn't die. If you folks get the citation sorted out, I'd be grateful to hear about it. Can't be too old to relearn things...