BITOG has moved to a new forum software, which has the capability to employ personal avatars. For those who do not know what these are, they are a small, 400x400 pixel square image, which optionally replaces the colored square with your initials. Avatars are used to introduce some personalized flair, and better represent you, the user, on the forum. With the software now fully operational and stable, it is the intention of BITOG management to enable this function to users in good status. We believe this will be a fun capability to make available to everyone, assuming that users can adhere to standards set forth related to the creation and use of avatars.
It is recommended that users refresh themselves on agreed to site terms:
https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forum-rules/
And to the standards of conduct for the site:
https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/bitog-standard-of-conduct.319568/
Avatar policy:
- BITOG keeps a “family friendly” site, which is free of religion, sex and politics. Avatars will be held to this same standard, and held to strict scrutiny.
- An avatar shall be at least 400x400 pixels, square, and be a non-animated, still image. The Xenforo software will resize as necessary.
- An avatar will notionally reflect you, the user, and why you’re here. This generally means automotive or other mechanical equipment lubrication and maintenance. Thus avatars may include non-copyrighted images and self-made graphics associated with items including but not limited to the following: cars, trucks, boats, aircraft, and manufacturers and emblems of same; oils, lubricants, and manufacturers and emblems of same; engines, mechanical components, or items similar in nature; personally-taken images that reflect any of the aforementioned elements.
- Other images of a non inflammatory nature, adhering to the existing standards and policies, including non-copyrightted logos of sports teams; Universities; National, State and Local flags displayed in a correct and respectful manner; Military component insignia; personal facial images; personal images of scenery may be used.
- While automotive and oil-associated emblems are permitted, BITOG tries to minimize advertising, and limits the number of site sponsors. Thus other corporate logos and emblems are considered advertising, and will not be permitted.
- In order to ensure that BITOG remains family friendly, free of inflammatory topics, and clear of religion/sex/politics, the following list, including but not limited to the items therein, or elements similar in nature are forbidden from avatars: Anything considered ”Not Safe For Work” (NSFW); anything displaying a graphic intrinsically sexual, religious, or political in nature; political or religious figures or likenesses; likenesses of people not yourself; images of women in bathing suits or other clothing that does not provide full coverage, or is suggestive in nature; images of women or men in compromising positions, including portions thereof (e.g., breast photos); images or symbols of political movements or ideologies; images or symbols of racial movements or ideologies; images or symbols of sexual or sexual orientation movements or ideologies; Avatars that have any sort of coloration or flag overlay indicating support for a country, group, ideology, or other faction; Images of guns, knives or swords, except for those present in an insignia of a Military component or officially recognized jurisdiction’s flag; Images of bullet holes or other indications of shooting; images that display destruction or damage of property or items; Confederate flags; logos associated with activities promoting change or control of the population or advocating legal change; logos associated with political candidates or their campagns; colored looped ribbons of any type.
The management of this site emphasizes the desire to see creative, personal avatars, which can remain clean and family friendly, and better express the users’ personalities.
