Why do so many post avatars?

[Keith B]

Keith,

Perhaps I wasn't clear.

Avatars and quotes personal or plagiarized don't make up the entirety of the internet.

Right?

Well, no, but it seems like it's about 99.95% of it.

EDIT TO ADD: the other .05% of the Internet is important things like the TexasCHLForum.

[Abraham]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention not caring to see the list of everyone's make and model in their arsenal.

I also visit a lawn mower forum and almost everyone there lists the make and model of everything they own in the way of grass cutting machinery from power mowers, string trimmers, (even chain saws) or whatever strikes their list making fancy.

I scratch my noggin as to what possess's people or what motivates their need to list their inventory.

Honestly, who cares? (them, of course, but I guess I'm the odd man who isn't possessed by the demon need to list my possessions - maybe someone here with a degree in psychology can explain it)

I amended the first sentence to clarify that I was referring to "the listing" of the make and model only...my fault for being unclear.

[nightmare69]

Due to the small size limit on avatars some members selfie would not fit.

I kid I kid.

[The Annoyed Man]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention not caring to see the make and model of everyone's arsenal.

I also visit a lawn mower forum and almost everyone there lists the make and model of everything they own in the way of grass cutting machinery from power mowers, string trimmers, (even chain saws) or whatever strikes their list making fancy.

I scratch my noggin as to what possess's people or what motivates their need to list their inventory.

Honestly, who cares? (them, of course, but I guess I'm the odd man who isn't possessed by the demon need to list my possessions - maybe someone here with a degree in psychology can explain it)

Abe, you make it sound like people here who do that are somehow a bit mental, and that's not a fair characterization. This website is a form of social media. In particular, this website's membership are a collection of people who are enthusiastic about a certain category of products......they are enthusiasts about firearms in general, and about concealed carry and other related issues. But the key words here are "social media", "enthusiasts", and "firearms".

If you don't want to see the pictures of guns (or lawnmowers, or Corvettes, or whatever), then don't look at them!!!

What I don't understand is why anyone at all would come to a social media website populated by enthusiasts for a given category of product, and then opine that they don't want to see anyone's collection of items relevant to that kind of product. If you joined for reasons than most other people, that's fine, but don't criticize the majority for being in-step with the website's raison d'etre..........which for THIS website necessarily includes threads about carry guns (with pictures), holsters (with pictures), rifles and shotguns (with pictures), etc., etc., etc.

Not trying to attack you, but I just don't understand your point in the context of this site.

[Abraham]

TAM,

Once again, I've not been articulate enough to get my point across.

Sigh...

"then opine that they don't want to see anyone's collection of items relevant to that kind of product"

I didn't state/opine that.

It's the listing of things that puzzles me.

I'm a gun enthusiast, but I see no need to itemize what I own. I wouldn't expect people to be interested in what I own. Why would they, at least in general? Listing my arsenal in some cases seems a form of boasting...which I don't particularly find attractive or from a security perspective, not a good idea...

I did state words to the effect that I'm the odd man out when it comes to such perspectives.

I don't get the posting of quotes or posting personal doctrines either.

It comes across as weird, at least to me.

The listing of material possessions, quoting, the various doctrines people adopt and the need to attach all that to every post just seems like some sort of overkill and kind of boring.

The give and take of simply posting is fun, even educational. And enough, at least for me. I feel no need to attach a load of extraneous wording at the end of each post that's been seen over and over...

Plus, it's a slow/rather hot day. I'm stuck in the house waiting for the AC repairmen to get here.

P.S. I rather doubt I'm completely alone with my outlook. There are probably others who think the way I've outlined, but feel they'll be criticized if they're willing to state so.

[Oldgringo]

TAM,

Once again, I've not been articulate enough to get my point across.

Sigh...

"then opine that they don't want to see anyone's collection of items relevant to that kind of product"

I didn't state/opine that.

It's the listing of things that puzzles me.

I'm a gun enthusiast, but I see no need to itemize what I own. I wouldn't expect people to be interested in what I own. Why would they, at least in general? Listing my arsenal in some cases seems a form of boasting...which I don't particularly find attractive or from a security perspective, not a good idea...

I did state words to the effect that I'm the odd man out when it comes to such perspectives.

I don't get the posting of quotes or posting personal doctrines either.

It comes across as weird, at least to me.

The listing of material possessions, quoting, the various doctrines people adopt and the need to attach all that to every post just seems like some sort of overkill and kind of boring.

The give and take of simply posting is fun, even educational. And enough, at least for me. I feel no need to attach a load of extraneous wording at the end of each post that's been seen over and over...

Plus, it's a slow/rather hot day. I'm stuck in the house waiting for the AC repairmen to get here.

P.S. I rather doubt I'm completely alone with my outlook. There are probably others who think the way I've outlined, but feel they'll be criticized if they're willing to state so.

Tell it like it is, Abe!

[rotor]

The reasons are legion for NOT placing your photo on the internet, security being one.

I agree 100%

[sjfcontrol]

That IS me in my avatar.

Me too!

[sjfcontrol]

Keith,

Perhaps I wasn't clear.

Avatars and quotes personal or plagiarized don't make up the entirety of the internet.

Right?

Well, no, but it seems like it's about 99.95% of it.

EDIT TO ADD: the other .05% of the Internet is important things like the TexasCHLForum.

That doesn't leave ANY room for Hitler/Natzi references!

[sjfcontrol]

What is an avatar?

It's that horse head above your name.

It's BELOW his name.

Screen Shot 2014-08-23 at 8.06.00 AM.png

So's your's by the way. Are you reading this while standing on your head?

Avatar is ABOVE the name on mine too. (Depends on the layout you've selected.)

[The Annoyed Man]

TAM,

Once again, I've not been articulate enough to get my point across.

Sigh...

"then opine that they don't want to see anyone's collection of items relevant to that kind of product"

I didn't state/opine that.

Well, let's unpack that. Quoting YOU:

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention not caring to see the make and model of everyone's arsenal.

You can't have it both ways. Moving on.....

It's the listing of things that puzzles me.

I'm a gun enthusiast, but I see no need to itemize what I own. I wouldn't expect people to be interested in what I own. Why would they, at least in general? Listing my arsenal in some cases seems a form of boasting...which I don't particularly find attractive or from a security perspective, not a good idea...

It would be more accurate to say that you keep your enthusiasms to yourself, and you disapprove of it when others discuss their own publicly. What you perceive as boasting doesn't make it boasting. People take reasonable security precautions.....at least I do. You'll never see a serial number in any picture of mine posted here, but again, don't look at it if you don't want to see it. I have cable TV. Some of those channels show stuff I don't want to see........so I don't watch them. Better yet, I am not judgmental about those who do watch those things. You cannot say the same thing. Your posts in this thread have come off as extremely judgmental of others. You imply they are somehow being foolish, and you are somehow above these things. I'm not going to let that go unchallenged.

I did state words to the effect that I'm the odd man out when it comes to such perspectives.

And then you went on to say that maybe a psychiatrist would be able to figure why people do the things that you think are weird........ as if everyone else but you needs that kind of help.

I don't get the posting of quotes or posting personal doctrines either.

It comes across as weird, at least to me.

The listing of material possessions, quoting, the various doctrines people adopt and the need to attach all that to every post just seems like some sort of overkill and kind of boring.

Again, don't waste your time reading it then......but nobody is being harmed by this, and you're one of the few who seems to think this is somehow wrong. Even Oldgringo, who agreed with you above, used to have a quote at the end of his posts. I don't remember what it was, but he had one for a while.

The give and take of simply posting is fun, even educational. And enough, at least for me. I feel no need to attach a load of extraneous wording at the end of each post that's been seen over and over...

But it is no fun for everyone else when a curmudgeon weighs in with pronouncements that put a good many of the members here on the receiving end of his judgment. That's kind of obnoxious. That may not be your intent, but that is how it comes off. I'm just trying to be real here.

Plus, it's a slow/rather hot day. I'm stuck in the house waiting for the AC repairmen to get here.

I can tell. Your posts have a kind of sour note to them.

P.S. I rather doubt I'm completely alone with my outlook. There are probably others who think the way I've outlined, but feel they'll be criticized if they're willing to state so.

Yep, you've got one on the hook already......the same guy who used to have a signature line.

Tell it like it is for you and me, Abe!

I fixed it for you.

Both of you guys sound a little bit like two curmudgeonly theater goers who decide to attend the show of a famous comedian who is playing in town. They join 2,500 other people at the fancy theater, ALL of whom except the two of you are laughing their butts off because they think this guy is really funny. To them, he's killing it. You two don't get the jokes, and so you say that he isn't funny. But that's not enough, you're so convinced that you're right and the comedian is not funny, that you cannot understand how anybody else would think he's funny....... but maybe someone with a degree in psychology can explain it to you.

But to the 2,500 other people who were vastly entertained, you're just a couple of guys who have no sense of humor.

Come on now.......You don't want to be that guy, do you? I sincerely hope your AC gets fixed in short order.

[sjfcontrol]

Both of you guys sound a little bit like two curmudgeonly theater goers who decide to attend the show of a famous comedian who is playing in town. They join 2,500 other people at the fancy theater, ALL of whom except the two of you are laughing their butts off because they think this guy is really funny. To them, he's killing it. You two don't get the jokes, and so you say that he isn't funny. But that's not enough, you're so convinced that you're right and the comedian is not funny, that you cannot understand how anybody else would think he's funny....... but maybe someone with a degree in psychology can explain it to you.

But to the 2,500 other people who were vastly entertained, you're just a couple of guys who have no sense of humor.

Come on now.......You don't want to be that guy, do you? I sincerely hope your AC gets fixed in short order.

[jmra]

Both of you guys sound a little bit like two curmudgeonly theater goers who decide to attend the show of a famous comedian who is playing in town. They join 2,500 other people at the fancy theater, ALL of whom except the two of you are laughing their butts off because they think this guy is really funny. To them, he's killing it. You two don't get the jokes, and so you say that he isn't funny. But that's not enough, you're so convinced that you're right and the comedian is not funny, that you cannot understand how anybody else would think he's funny....... but maybe someone with a degree in psychology can explain it to you.

But to the 2,500 other people who were vastly entertained, you're just a couple of guys who have no sense of humor.

Come on now.......You don't want to be that guy, do you? I sincerely hope your AC gets fixed in short order.

[ Image ]

This is exactly what I pictured in my mind.

[jimlongley]

Both of you guys sound a little bit like two curmudgeonly theater goers who decide to attend the show of a famous comedian who is playing in town. They join 2,500 other people at the fancy theater, ALL of whom except the two of you are laughing their butts off because they think this guy is really funny. To them, he's killing it. You two don't get the jokes, and so you say that he isn't funny. But that's not enough, you're so convinced that you're right and the comedian is not funny, that you cannot understand how anybody else would think he's funny....... but maybe someone with a degree in psychology can explain it to you.

But to the 2,500 other people who were vastly entertained, you're just a couple of guys who have no sense of humor.

Come on now.......You don't want to be that guy, do you? I sincerely hope your AC gets fixed in short order.

[ Image ]

This is exactly what I pictured in my mind.

And me.

I wear jackets and shirts that announce my politics, affiliations, church I attend, and more, I have hundreds of baseball hats with various of the same (NRA, TSRA, ISRA, NYSR&PA. D&H Railroad, Alaska Railroad . . .) and see posting of an avatar and sig line as just more of the same. If you don't like it, then don't look.

[Dragonfighter]

Both of you guys sound a little bit like two curmudgeonly theater goers who decide to attend the show of a famous comedian who is playing in town. They join 2,500 other people at the fancy theater, ALL of whom except the two of you are laughing their butts off because they think this guy is really funny. To them, he's killing it. You two don't get the jokes, and so you say that he isn't funny. But that's not enough, you're so convinced that you're right and the comedian is not funny, that you cannot understand how anybody else would think he's funny....... but maybe someone with a degree in psychology can explain it to you.

But to the 2,500 other people who were vastly entertained, you're just a couple of guys who have no sense of humor.

Come on now.......You don't want to be that guy, do you? I sincerely hope your AC gets fixed in short order.

[ Image ]

This is exactly what I pictured in my mind.

And me.

+1

Oh yeah, for what it's worth and to be picky, the quote from The Shootist is not from some anonymous screen writer but Glendon Swarthout the author. The movie is word for word the book, practically. The main difference is the character Gillam Rogers has no redeeming qualities in the book. Since TAM and sjfcontrol had all the good material, I thought I'd pick this particular nit.

"The inconvenient thing about liberty is allowing others, theirs." Please note, this is NOT in my signature line.