[Smileonmyface]

hi, I'm relatively new here, when I set up my account I picked an avatar of a cat from the choice of avatars in the "animals" folder here on psychcentral. It wasn't a custom avatar, and I didn't take it from another user or anything. Thinking about it now it definitely seemed like a picture of someone's cat, but I didn't think they would put it in that folder then. So after some posts and such, I get a message from someone with the same cat avatar saying that it is their cat and they were flattered, yet also kind of peeved that I took it. I was kind of embarrassed, then irritated, wondering if they were messing with me, then I wrote as nice a reply as I could muster and switched my avatar to something else. I mean, if I really took a picture of someone's cat, I can understand them being upset. I'm wondering, can this really happen, where someone's personal pet picture that they use ends up in the site's "animals avatars" folder? If people's personal pictures end up in a public folder, that would definitely make me think twice about ever using something personal. Thanks, this has got me kind of anxious even though it shouldn't.

[Ruftin]

(((Smileonmyface))) Just wanted to pop in and say I read your post and while I don't have an answer for you, please try not to worry about it. I've seen many here with the same avatar, including the one I have chosen. You were very nice to give up the one you chose initially. I like your new one.

[healingme4me]

If you receive PM's, that don't settle well, it's advisable to report to an administrator. They can review the message in question.

Sent from my LGMS323 using Tapatalk

[DocJohn]

Any public avatar available through our avatar list is available for any member to use.

If a member's personal avatar is on that list and they want it removed, they're welcomed to PM me directly.

Otherwise, any avatar you find that is selectable on that list, you're welcomed to use. We don't restrict the use of those avatars.

Sorry for the confusion.

DocJohn

[Smileonmyface]

Thank you all I was worried after posting this last night as I didn't want to upset anyone. You all are so supportive here im so glad I found this site.

[gayleggg]

No worries. Many of us use the same avatar unless we use a custom one. Don't worry about it.

[lizardlady]

Welcome to PC. Sorry this happened to you. As others have said, lots of folks use the same avatar off the public ones.

[possum220]

I love Eyeore and Pooh. Looks good.

[IowaFarmGal]

Welcome to Psych Central! I like Pooh and Eeyore too. Sorry you got stressed about your avatar. I hope they didn't mean anything bad by it and maybe would apologize for the hurt feelings.

[Steiner of Thule]

So wait, a question. Do personal avatars go into the public avatars folder? Or are those just public avatars and the person who said that cat was their cat- it actually isn't their cat? I know the person you talk of but it sort of freaks me out a little to think of this.

[Smileonmyface]

it worked out fine. the person and i are actually friends now. in this case i believe the personal picture did go into the public folder by mistake.