Tolerance goes both ways. Accepting that others have different tastes and letting them be, as well as not forcing others into something they don't like.

Personally I don't mind, everyone could have pictures with half dead half alive people who's guts are spilled all over if they like to. I could put up a picture of a real life head shot and flag it as a piece of art since placing the bullet so precisely between the eyes equals artistical skill. But fact is more than a couple of people would be offended and rightfully so.

If people discuss stuff, post links to pictures or links to youtube videos about whatever, everyone who doesn't like the description doesn't have to look at it. If they are curious they can look, keep looking or turn it off again and don't have to return. The problem with forum icons is, people have to use the forum to stay up to date on guild matters and no matter what they do, they may very well run into icons they don't like. They can't do anything about it, leaving them with no choice.

Yes there is only a blurred line between "its just a picture, be tolerant and let the person use it" and "thats too much, remove it". If a picture is classed as a piece of art, a product of photoshop or for real doesn't matter though. It is what it looks like that does. I am sure they didn't blow a couple of people up for the move Saving Private Ryan just to get nice guts on wire fence shots, yet minors were officially not allowed to see the uncut movie.

On the bottom line, don't dismiss people's wish to not having to look at certain pictures as intolerance. The problem is, here on the forum they don't have any alternatives.
We can't and shouldn't blame anyone for being a bit "softer" when it comes to the depiction of certain things.

Maybe an additional forum account setting could be introduced. A flag that people can tick if user icons are to be shown or not? Personally I would hate seeing the icons gone per default. Such an option could at least offer an alternative solution for some.

How diplomatic But you're right, an option to disable it might be an option

The relevant difference is that by keeping it, you force people no matter if the like or hate it to look at it. If you removed it, people who liked it wouldn't get to see it anymore, true, but not getting to see it anymore can hardly be seen as an offence, whereas people getting sick when having to look at it, can be (I recall some people stating that the picture indeed made them sick, correct me if i am wrong though, we had more than one case like this).
Those who really like the picture can at any time look at it by clicking on the link and/or saving the picture to their hard drives, there is no harm done. All those people who like it can make it their desktop wallpaper and run WoW in windowed mode so they can look at it any time they want, there are countless options. Those that don't like it have absolutely no choice other than to leave the guild though. Raiding properly without using the forums doesn't work after all.

It may very well just be me, but in my eyes forcing some people to put up with a turning stomach just because some others like a picture is out of line.
This case is about comparing the "losses": not getting to see a user icon vs. feeling sick when reading forums posts.

Let's use another example: imagin going to the movies. The guy checking tickets tells you "I will stick this tiny needle through a part of your left thumb it will only hurt a bit. This is a technique some tribes in xy use to xzy. You don't like it? Tough luck, if you want to watch the movie, you have to accept it. Force me to not do the needle thing? What about those visitors that liked it?"

Maybe I am exaggerating, who knows, since I am not affected myself only those who are can say if it really makes them sick.
And that is where the line is for me. If somebody just doesn't like a user icon, well, ok, tolerance as mentioned, nobody gets hurt after all. But if a pic makes others feel sick, then a removal is in order.

My suggestions of a special forum user setting still stands, although if we think that through, we will sooner or later all be disabling the icons since nobody has to care anymore what they put up as theirs. On top of that, I hate asking others to do more work, and the problem is, I can't code/implement such a website change myself.

Feeling sick because of a picture...if I said I was feeling sick of a picture of a pink bunny hoping along on a road because I had a traumatized child hood where my parents were killed by a man in a pink bunny suit, would you remove it? What about freedom of expression? Newspapers print articles which cause controversy, ads which some people would classify sick are still printed on billboards, and gruesome movie trailers are still shown on the television and in the cinema.
My point is whoever mentioned it made them "sick", that seems to me to be an exaggeration because at this point what doesn't make you make sick?

--> ~"I have the right to make others feel sick under the umbrella of law X" Looking at that, pointless for me try and argue further.
Sorry for all the hassle and trouble.
Now I know why almost everyone stays clear of these discussions.
Enjoy your freedom of speech and the right to express yourself, but be ready to be greeted with the same "courtsey".

-- end of my participation here --

There has been plenty of things on the forum which I don't like. I remember when there was a period on the forums when a lot of "screamers" were posted. Twice have a I clicked on them and they frightened the hell out of me. I'm quite a sissy when it comes down to these things.

Back to topic anyway, I find the picture sick, not really fit for our guild compared to other ones, (this guild has always been described as a more family guild), and as it is, I'm sure not many people would like to have this sort picture in our sort of environment.

I don't get why it's such a big deal to just change it? Are you just trying to "stick to you guns" with your initial answer?

plz remove the pic, therox, it makes me sick ...

The short and long of it is that some of your guildies find the pic offensive / sick and it's something they can't avoid looking at which they would otherwise do if they had the option to do so. It's alright comparing it to age ratings of movies but in such cases people know what they're getting and they make a conscious choice to watch adult rated films.

Personally i think it's a mountain made from a mole hill but we have to respect other people's 'sensitivites'. So in that light I'm changing my icon to show my sausage until therox changes his.

this thread is like your picture, making a big mess while having no interest at all

lets al make love instead

Yeah I would if it was horrible and it made people cringe when they saw it. I said nothing about all your future pics being sick

whilst i do not find the picture particularly upsetting I can see no point behind it.

For me my weight would go behind remove it.

For me they really boil down to two options (although this is my PERSONAL view)
1) A wow related pic, hence my panzer tank picture, get it?
2) something light hearted/fun e.g goldys pic, shys little devil

still a sausage

i don't think he comes from strasbourg

i saw the same xD, looks like elmo with a streched oval body and a white chest

@Shy: OMG ur a devil worshipper, go to hell and BURN!
@Myrah: OMG Jesus on a cross with a Stormtrooper helmet on, BLASPHEMER, follow shy to HELL!
@Ako: OMG a Tank, They kill people, YOU MURDERER!! lock him up!
@Scypher: OMG you made a cat do that!! ANIMAL ABUSER!
@Gold: OMG a picture of yourself!!

@Theroxom: Pierced tongue, fake blood, white makeup, nice.

Go Google "Porn", much more interesting pictures to comment about.

pff i spent 5 days creating that!!! pixel by pixel.

/cheer beat, turn em all off!
*goes off to find a nice big cock picture for his sig*

i can't belive someone actually removed avatars for such a small matter lol

where's maggy?

Wtb my avatar back alredy

As if you need the money

hum, 2 lollipops and a nude pic of gold?