Yeah...I would agree with that! But seriously, I think avatars just make forums look cluttered. The animated avatars on iPod Touch Fans are obnoxious and distracting.
Wait, this forum does allow users to have avatars. Check out the second post in the following thread: http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=4
Yeah! Why do only admins get avatars?? No taxation without representation and all that! Power to the people! Seriously though, it'd be no problem as long as we're allowed to have a static image in a small square next to our name. Just so long as there's none of that giant flashy gifs and banners nonsense we'll be fine. I won't stop until every man, woman, and child knows the blessings of freedom and liberty, so that each, regardless of name, color, or creed gets an avatar to call their own!!
No I'm suggesting everyone having the same kind of animated Pikachu or Domo-kun avatars doesn't do anything other than make forums annoying to read.
How about we can apply for avatars? That would probably be even more annoying, to have to approve every single one.
Hey, look! I have an avatar I agree, the site doesn't need avatars. Someone mentioned the tendency to rely on the image to identify someone, then when that avatar is changed you might forget their name. I also agree with mobile device load times. Also it just adds more work for the moderators...sorting through them for inappropriate content.
Basically the answer is... the mods think this place is full of immature kids. Possibly the load time thing too, but I've browed a few forums on my iPod and the difference is negligible. Macrumors has avatars and they get on just fine, but of course they're more grown up than we are and aren't going to destroy the minds of children with animated images of giant anime breasts.
This thread is a no-go from the start. James Cameron has already licenced, registered, trademarked, and copyrighted the word "avatar" as well as any concept or intellectual property which may be referred to by the word "avatar," construed to have the potential to be called or considered an "avatar," or merely conceived of as having such properties. That's all lies, of course; pulled straight out of my ass. But I'm glad I could contribute to the thread... (You're Welcome!)