Do You Allow GIF Avatars?

[Cosmic]

What are your thoughts on allowing or not allowing animated GIF avatars on a forum?

As we all know, FP (and phpBB) allows them. My forum uses IPB, though, and by default will not allow animated GIFs. Sometimes I think this is a good thing, as animated GIF avatars can be distracting, but sometimes it isn't, as there are some good animated GIF avatars as well.

Does your forum allow animated GIF avatars? Do you have any particular rules on what kind of animated GIFs are allowed?

 

[Agent_Zero]

I allow gif avatars. I think they are fun and made a point of enabling them for users.

I don't have any rules about avatars currently. I do not allow porn on my site so members will not be allowed to upload images with nudity but that is my only current restriction to avatars besides not allowing members to use avatars of other members real pictures.

 

[ForumSource]

I allow them as long as they're appropriate.

Some of them can be funny and users like using them.

 

[Gray]

I've always allowed users to use GIF avatars on my forums, simply because I myself love to use GIFs as my avatars, as you may have noticed. 😛

I don't really see an issue with it, tbh.

 

[Chris K]

I will probably not allow GIF avatars, some of them can get very annoying and distracting. I've seen some that blink fast with neon colors and it's very annoying.

 

[John]

I do not mind them. If the users want them, I do not mind. Personally, I think most look pretty cool.

 

[Thomasss]

Mehh, it depends on the gif. If it's flashy or things like that I would not allow it. However if it's a dancing pandaa or something like that I really don't mind. As long as it follows the rules like normal .png/.jpg avatars I really don't care.

 

[Gizmo]

I allow whatever people want to add. Except for porno.

 

[MrDawn]

I think gif avatars are okay. If its porn related, I imagine that would violate most forum rules.

 

[Mikaya]

Gif avatars are allowed to be uploaded. I think as long as they're not too large in filesize to make browsers lag, then it's fine. I think those types of avatars are pretty cool, and I use them myself, from time to time. 😛

 

[Allenafaith]

I allow them but I don't like them that much. They take away from the page a little and I think it also slows down loading times. If there are too many things moving on a page, I usually leave. 😛

 

[May Trainer]

Xenforo for now don't totally allow them (but you can see the animated gifs in the member card and profile page), when I have time I need to search for a mod to totally allow them

 

[JerryEdison]

Animated avatar makes everything more vivid and eye-catching.

 

[Dregran]

I don't mind them, though a file size is always necessary to avoid large gifs. URL avatars can be a work around, though if there's a problem with the site because of the long loading avatar I'll mention something to them.

 

[Izaya]

I don't mind. I like them personally for myself tbh.

 

[Kino]

What are your thoughts on allowing or not allowing animated GIF avatars on a forum?

As we all know, FP (and phpBB) allows them. My forum uses IPB, though, and by default will not allow animated GIFs. Sometimes I think this is a good thing, as animated GIF avatars can be distracting, but sometimes it isn't, as there are some good animated GIF avatars as well.

Does your forum allow animated GIF avatars? Do you have any particular rules on what kind of animated GIFs are allowed?

Forums are for fun right? So when I had sites I did allow GIF avatars because it made users happy and kept them around. That's what the overall goal is, so why not? 🙂

 

[Attie]

- Let me that's doubtful allow GIF prototypes, a number of them might get quite irritating as well as distracting. I've truly witnessed some that will blink rapid together with fluorescents colorings and it's really quite irritating.