Bogleheads Without Avatars

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grayfox
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Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by grayfox »

Some Bogleheads do not have an avatar. I recommend that posters choose a unique avatar.

I was reading the long thread about "if dividends are different" and several of the posters did not have avatars. I had trouble keeping track of which poster had which position and made which point.

I find it easier to sort out what each forum participant has said when I can put a "face" on the poster. Maybe I just remember pictures better. In my view, there are the individual poster with avatars, and then there is a mass of anonymous posters without avatars who I don't remember who they are and are just part of the "peanut gallery".

If you want to be remembered as an individual, and not as a random poster in the crowd, I recommend choosing an avatar.
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VictoriaF
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by VictoriaF »

grayfox wrote:a mass of anonymous posters without avatars who I don't remember who they are and are just part of the "peanut gallery".
How would you classify an avatar like this one?
Image

Victoria
Inventor of the Bogleheads Secret Handshake | Winner of the 2015 Boglehead Contest. | Every joke has a bit of a joke. ... The rest is the truth. (Marat F)
Topic Author
grayfox
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by grayfox »

Image

Yes, that would be a good default avatar for those who do not choose a unique image.
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Rainier
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Rainier »

I tend to agree, adding one tonight.
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SimpleGift
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by SimpleGift »

Agree strongly with Grayfox. The avatar column helps us visual types keep oriented in long threads.

Not to highjack this thread, but what happened to moving the avatars back to the left side of the page? This was the original placement before the forum software upgrade and many of us found it a much more useful location — one could spot the avatar quickly at first glance as one moved left-to-right reading a post.

Alex or Sue, is there still any chance of getting the avatars restored to the left-hand side of the page?
Harold
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Harold »

grayfox wrote:mass of anonymous posters without avatars
Many people on this forum use their real names, yet choose not to have an avatar. There's some irony in calling them anonymous -- particularly while someone called grayfox (presumably not his real name) is considered an individual.

I know it's the internet reality, but it is an interesting inversion of concepts.
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Default User BR »

grayfox wrote:Some Bogleheads do not have an avatar. I recommend that posters choose a unique avatar.
I do not wish to do so.


Brian
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Frengo
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Frengo »

"Avatar" ?
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1210sda
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by 1210sda »

How do you add an avatar ??
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bottomfisher
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by bottomfisher »

Having a difficult time finding likeable avatar that meets the 100 x 100 pixel limitation. Is there a way to convert saved image on my computer from highr pixel to lower pixel resolution?
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cheese_breath
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by cheese_breath »

Frengo wrote:"Avatar" ?
The little picture above your user name on the right side of the screen. A great one might be a little mouse eating cheese, but that's already taken.
The surest way to know the future is when it becomes the past.
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cheese_breath
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by cheese_breath »

bottomfisher wrote:Having a difficult time finding likeable avatar that meets the 100 x 100 pixel limitation. Is there a way to convert saved image on my computer from highr pixel to lower pixel resolution?
Do you have Microsoft Picture Manager?
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Frengo
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Frengo »

cheese_breath wrote:
Frengo wrote:"Avatar" ?
The little picture above your user name on the right side of the screen. A great one might be a little mouse eating cheese, but that's already taken.
Thanks!
I have one at home...
leod
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by leod »

how about putting our name like Taylor, Mel et al..
[edit] I understand there are some privacy issues but i think people will be more responsible posting when a name is attached to it.
Last edited by leod on Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Quidnam
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Quidnam »

New avatar adopted...
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glaucus
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by glaucus »

bottomfisher wrote:
Having a difficult time finding likeable avatar that meets the 100 x 100 pixel limitation. Is there a way to convert saved image on my computer from highr pixel to lower pixel resolution?
Save an image and open it up in the 'paint' program (located in 'accessories' under 'all programs'. Then just click on 'image' and 'stretch/skew'. Reduce the image size (remembering to keep the horizontal and vertical reduction the same). Play around 'til it's as small as you need and save it as jpeg.

Hope that helps. :happy
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Topic Author
grayfox
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by grayfox »

Harold wrote:
grayfox wrote:mass of anonymous posters without avatars
Many people on this forum use their real names, yet choose not to have an avatar. There's some irony in calling them anonymous -- particularly while someone called grayfox (presumably not his real name) is considered an individual.

I know it's the internet reality, but it is an interesting inversion of concepts.
Using real-life names, or not, is a separate topic.

Graphic avatar is helpful to keep track of posters on long threads. On short threads it's not so important. But on long threads with lots of back and forth with detailed responses, it helps in seeing at a glance if it's the same guy or someone else.

For example on the thread I was reading about dividends, I would read a post with detailed example or calculation and I often found myself thinking, wait, is this the guy that's opposed to dividends or the guy in favor of dividends, or is it a new guy? Which line of argument is this post advancing?

Sometimes I just go down the page and read the posts with the same avatar to see what that guy is saying, skipping all the posts without a graphic. So yeah, I often skip over the faceless, unwashed masses to see what the people I recognize by picture have to say about a subject.
Last edited by grayfox on Mon Jun 24, 2013 10:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Ice-9
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Ice-9 »

Added.
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cheese_breath
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by cheese_breath »

grayfox wrote:
Harold wrote:
grayfox wrote:mass of anonymous posters without avatars
Many people on this forum use their real names, yet choose not to have an avatar. There's some irony in calling them anonymous -- particularly while someone called grayfox (presumably not his real name) is considered an individual.

I know it's the internet reality, but it is an interesting inversion of concepts.
Using real-life names, or not, is a separate topic.

Graphic avatar is helpful to keep track of posters on long threads. On short threads it's not so important. But on long threads with lots of back and forth with detailed responses, it helps in seeing at a glance if it's the same guy or someone else.

For example on the thread I was reading about dividends, I would read a post with detailed example or calculation and I often found myself thinking, wait, is this the guy that's opposed to dividends or the guy in favor of dividends, or is it a new guy? Which line of argument is this post advancing?

Sometimes I just go down the page and read the posts with the same avatar to see what that guy is saying, skipping all the posts without a graphic. So yeah, I often skip over the faceless, unwashed masses to see what the people I recognize by picture have to say about a subject.
Glad you explained this. I was wondering about the original post, but this makes perfect sense.
The surest way to know the future is when it becomes the past.
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Abe
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Abe »

I would like to use a tortoise for my avatar, but I have no idea about how to go about doing this. Would appreciate any help. Thanks Abe
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Munir
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Munir »

1210sda wrote:How do you add an avatar ??

I second the question.
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VictoriaF
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by VictoriaF »

grayfox wrote:Image

Yes, that would be a good default avatar for those who do not choose a unique image.
Assigning a default avatar is the most effective way to make people choose their custom avatar.

Victoria
Inventor of the Bogleheads Secret Handshake | Winner of the 2015 Boglehead Contest. | Every joke has a bit of a joke. ... The rest is the truth. (Marat F)
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Raybo
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Raybo »

It took a while to get a photo down to the right size and then it doesn't look so good.

Oh well, I've now added one, as well.

Incidentally, that is a photo of my bicycle in Carson Pass, elevation 8574. I rode there from sea level. One of the hardest rides I've ever done!
No matter how long the hill, if you keep pedaling you'll eventually get up to the top.
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Kosmo
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Kosmo »

Added. Thanks for the motivation.
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Ice-9
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Ice-9 »

Munir wrote:
1210sda wrote:How do you add an avatar ??

I second the question.
When logged in, View your posts, go to one of your posts, then click on your name in a post to get to your profile page.

On your profile page, click on User Control Panel near the top left.

Click on the Profile tab.

Click on Edit Avatar.

Click Browse and navigate to the image on your PC that you've selected to use as your avatar. *

* Note: A good way to find an image of appropriate avatar size on the web is to do a search at http://images.google.com, then click on Search Tools to narrow your search. Under the Size drop-down, you could try searching under "Icon" or else use the "Exactly" option and enter the pixel dimensions 100 x 100. Otherwise, you could download a larger image and resize to 100 pixels in Paint or other image software.

Edited again to correct in red above. Sorry for the bad directions 1210 - must be off my game today... :(
Last edited by Ice-9 on Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:54 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Harold
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Harold »

grayfox wrote:Using real-life names, or not, is a separate topic.
Given that you used the word anonymous, by definition names are right on topic.

I just found it amusing that an anonymous person was complaining about people with real names being anonymous. I realize you weren't really talking about anonymity, just about your personal preferences.

So just ignore me and carry on. Actually, given my lack of avatar, I would have expected you to ignore me from the start!
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Default User BR »

grayfox wrote:Graphic avatar is helpful to keep track of posters on long threads.
I don't care. I have no trouble following threads where the user IDs are prominently associated with each post.


Brian
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by stingray5688 »

good idea. got mine.
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Harold »

stingray5688 wrote:good idea. got mine.
Nice! I'll be on board if everyone goes with the gray fox.
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ogd
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by ogd »

If it helps, why not. It only took a minute.

I must say though, they're so far to the right that I never really noticed them.
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VictoriaF
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by VictoriaF »

Harold wrote:
stingray5688 wrote:good idea. got mine.
Nice! I'll be on board if everyone goes with the gray fox.
Please do. I am curious what you would choose for your avatar.

Victoria
Inventor of the Bogleheads Secret Handshake | Winner of the 2015 Boglehead Contest. | Every joke has a bit of a joke. ... The rest is the truth. (Marat F)
Harold
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Harold »

VictoriaF wrote:
Harold wrote:
stingray5688 wrote:good idea. got mine.
Nice! I'll be on board if everyone goes with the gray fox.
Please do. I am curious what you would choose for your avatar.

Victoria
Obviously it would be a gray fox.

(You probably misunderstood -- I meant that if everyone chooses a gray fox for their avatar, I would choose one as well.)
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Frengo
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Frengo »

Here's a gray fox for whoever needs one
[OT image removed by admin LadyGeek]
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VictoriaF
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by VictoriaF »

Harold wrote:
VictoriaF wrote:
Harold wrote:
stingray5688 wrote:good idea. got mine.
Nice! I'll be on board if everyone goes with the gray fox.
Please do. I am curious what you would choose for your avatar.

Victoria
Obviously it would be a gray fox.

(You probably misunderstood -- I meant that if everyone chooses a gray fox for their avatar, I would choose one as well.)
I did misunderstand it.

I thought you might chose an umbrella.

Victoria
Inventor of the Bogleheads Secret Handshake | Winner of the 2015 Boglehead Contest. | Every joke has a bit of a joke. ... The rest is the truth. (Marat F)
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Harold »

VictoriaF wrote:I thought you might chose an umbrella.
That would just bring back bad memories :(
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by VictoriaF »

Harold wrote:
VictoriaF wrote:I thought you might chose an umbrella.
That would just bring back bad memories :(
If it became your avatar, no one would be able to take it away from you.

Victoria
Inventor of the Bogleheads Secret Handshake | Winner of the 2015 Boglehead Contest. | Every joke has a bit of a joke. ... The rest is the truth. (Marat F)
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G-Money
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by G-Money »

grayfox wrote:Some Bogleheads do not have an avatar. I recommend that posters choose a unique avatar.
Done.
Don't assume I know what I'm talking about.
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by NightOwl »

grayfox wrote:I find it easier to sort out what each forum participant has said when I can put a "face" on the poster. Maybe I just remember pictures better. In my view, there are the individual poster with avatars, and then there is a mass of anonymous posters without avatars who I don't remember who they are and are just part of the "peanut gallery".

If you want to be remembered as an individual, and not as a random poster in the crowd, I recommend choosing an avatar.
Done.

NightOwl
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prudent
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by prudent »

This thread inspired me to get an avatar.
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runner9
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by runner9 »

My 3 year old just looked at all the avatars in this thread:) He best liked the peanut gallery, cheese breath and prudent's coins.
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jjustice
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by jjustice »

Done (I think). I hope no one already uses this one.

John
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Frengo
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Frengo »

prudent wrote:This thread inspired me to get an avatar.
Who are you, 50 Cent's granpa a.k.a. $2.25 ?
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1210sda
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by 1210sda »

Ice-9 wrote:
Munir wrote:
1210sda wrote:How do you add an avatar ??

I second the question.
When logged in, View your posts, go to one of your posts, then click on your name in a post to get to your profile page.

On your profile page, click on User Control Panel near the top left.

Click on the Profile tab.

Click on Edit Avatar.
Thank you Ice-9.....however, I can't seem to get past "Edit Avatar". Argghhh !!
1210
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G-Money
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by G-Money »

1210sda wrote:
Ice-9 wrote:
Munir wrote:
1210sda wrote:How do you add an avatar ??

I second the question.
When logged in, View your posts, go to one of your posts, then click on your name in a post to get to your profile page.

On your profile page, click on User Control Panel near the top left.

Click on the Profile tab.

Click on Edit Avatar.
Thank you Ice-9.....however, I can't seem to get past "Edit Avatar". Argghhh !!
1210
See if this helps: http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Posting_ ... eads_forum
Don't assume I know what I'm talking about.
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Ice-9
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Ice-9 »

1210sda wrote:
Ice-9 wrote:
Munir wrote:
1210sda wrote:How do you add an avatar ??

I second the question.
When logged in, View your posts, go to one of your posts, then click on your name in a post to get to your profile page.

On your profile page, click on User Control Panel near the top left.

Click on the Profile tab.

Click on Edit Avatar.
Thank you Ice-9.....however, I can't seem to get past "Edit Avatar". Argghhh !!
1210
Sorry 1210, I now realize my instructions did leave people hanging on the last step. I edited my post to add this:

Click Browse and navigate to the image on your PC that you've selected to use as your avatar. *

* Note: A good way to find an image of appropriate avatar size on the web is to do a search at http://images.google.com, then click on More to narrow your search. Under the Size drop-down, you could try searching under "Icon" or else use the "Exactly" option and enter the pixel dimensions 100 x 100. Otherwise, you could download a larger image and resize to 100 pixels in Paint or other image software.
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Rob5TCP
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Rob5TCP »

Finally added one.
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Clearly_Irrational
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Clearly_Irrational »

I never really found it a problem but everyone processes information a little differently. I've now added an avatar, I hope that helps you out.
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Default User BR »

stingray5688 wrote:good idea. got mine.
Hilarious! I still don't care.


Brian
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by Christine_NM »

Just for the sake of argument, I don't pay close attention to avatars because they are often changed. I look to see if I recognize, however vaguely, the username. With me it's words first, then pictures.

I too had trouble finding one that small and wasn't willing to fiddle with it, but eventually found this one, which looks almost like the view at sunrise from my patio, but it isn't. I think it's in Arizona or someplace.
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3504PIR
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Re: Bogleheads Without Avatars

Post by 3504PIR »

I'm in, this is pretty cool. I never knew how to make an avatar.
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