How do you deal with avatars that members find offensive? I remember a few years ago on another site I ran (a site about religion and spirituality), someone had the Swastika as their avatar. Only it wasn't the Nazi variation, but the Hindu equilateral cross. Unfortunately, most people aren't aware of the history behind the Swastika and only know the Nazi connotations. Of course, this resulted in a multitude of PM's reporting the image. Because I was aware of the actual reasoning behind the image, I spent time explaining to the people complaining, but also ended up having to talk to the member who had the avatar. He ended up changing it because even though he explained time and again he wasn't a Nazi he received many an abusive message. How would you have dealt with that situation?
Maybe start a thread on religious symbolism throughout the ages and make sure to include the image? After that redirect any reporters to that thread. It would be a learning experience for them. No offence but who doesn't know that the Swaztika was once an innocent Hindu symbol? I would expect people with an active interest in religion to be better informed. Some people just like to be offended. By the way, Dublin used to have a laundry company called the Swaztika Laundry up to the 1960s.
You'd be surprised how many people have no idea about the history of the Swastika But that was just an example really about how some people can see an avatar as offensive while others don't.
Speaking as a former United Methodist pastor, I've found most people with an active interest in religion really have a very limited and narrow view of religion as a whole.
I used to run another admin forum (not to be confused with my current forum xD) and had a member on there with a cartoon avatar of a naked butt... It didn't bother me but it bothered others so I had him remove it LOL... I won't mention names of who it was Barry may know him though haha
Yeah Shawn, there are many many small minded people in this world, I still think you were wrong to remove it, but hey ho, there are more important things to worry about.... If an a avatar is reported as offensive and can be justified then yes, a change should be requested.
That's the truth. A lot of people like to run at the mouth before they know any details. Personally, if I was a member of said site and I saw that avatar, out of curiosity I would have asked the member what it meant to him/her. Maybe I'm biased, as well, since I already knew a little history on the Swastika.
I find it funny also, but it's all in the eye of the beholder. Go to an uptight Christian web site with that avatar and you'll be sure to be banned.
I have the image from this shirt (http://shirt.woot.com/friends.aspx?k=14639) as an avatar on Xenique's demo/development board, and one of the administrators of a client complained about it .
I just got a few things I bought from 1saleaday (New thing form keyboard at a 75% markdown brand new). Woot has a few things, but its rather hit or miss on some deals.
Yeah the Woot Off is always nice and sometimes if you can get a "bag of crap" you may or may not get something really nice out of it
