Grover
Well-known member
Yes, I know we have the Phrase Manager . And I also state (more or less of that reason alone) that this may be one of the least 'important' suggestions I will ever post , but for discussion alone (and maybe consideration) I am interested how other people look at this:
When I started using some webforums 10 years ago it was unknown to me what an 'Avatar' was and I always felt this term to be a bit out of place really (Some related trivia: Invision Power Board is also dropping this term now, as you can see in the last comment on page 1 overhere).
Obviously, other software's opinions (or that of some users) should not be a reason to do the same or change anything. But... when we look at Xenforo there seems to be a good argument (as there is for the term 'threads', but that's another discussion ) I believe, to reconsider using this 'Avatar' terminology.
The argument is simply this:
An Avatar is (mostly) used/known as the virtual representation of a person. Meaning: not a real picture/photography image of oneself, but an image that re-presents you.
XenForo's vision seems to be (?) to stimulate the use of real pictures of yourself to interact with others. I understand that every site has different wishes/needs and that for one iconic virtual images are more fitting and for the other real-life photos. It can be used in both ways, but if we follow XenForo's social vision, then the Avatar terminology seems to be not that fitting.
User Picture or Profile Picture (as Facebook calls it, where the majority of people IS using a real-life picture indeed) sounds more appropriate for XenForo.
(A reason for me to put this suggestion up, is that a new potential XF business client also want's (no: needs) their platform members to use a real-life picture (as on Facebook) instead of a non-personal 'Avatar' indeed).
Thoughts?
not sure whether an average person understands the meaning of the word "avatar". This is merely modern "internet language".
Maybe "image" or "photo" or "picture" might be more clear.... ?
Facebook names it "Profile Picture".
The majority of people know what email is, but trust me, not everyone knows what an 'avatar' is. I know this from experience. Profile Picture or User Picture or something along those lines is directly understandable for everyone and the term 'Avatar' is mostly known to people who use forums (or some social networks) and yes, you are right, that are a lot of people.
When I started using some webforums 10 years ago it was unknown to me what an 'Avatar' was and I always felt this term to be a bit out of place really (Some related trivia: Invision Power Board is also dropping this term now, as you can see in the last comment on page 1 overhere).
Obviously, other software's opinions (or that of some users) should not be a reason to do the same or change anything. But... when we look at Xenforo there seems to be a good argument (as there is for the term 'threads', but that's another discussion ) I believe, to reconsider using this 'Avatar' terminology.
The argument is simply this:
An Avatar is (mostly) used/known as the virtual representation of a person. Meaning: not a real picture/photography image of oneself, but an image that re-presents you.
XenForo's vision seems to be (?) to stimulate the use of real pictures of yourself to interact with others. I understand that every site has different wishes/needs and that for one iconic virtual images are more fitting and for the other real-life photos. It can be used in both ways, but if we follow XenForo's social vision, then the Avatar terminology seems to be not that fitting.
User Picture or Profile Picture (as Facebook calls it, where the majority of people IS using a real-life picture indeed) sounds more appropriate for XenForo.
(A reason for me to put this suggestion up, is that a new potential XF business client also want's (no: needs) their platform members to use a real-life picture (as on Facebook) instead of a non-personal 'Avatar' indeed).
Thoughts?
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