I thought that I was the only one. I have to block those Avatars that are blinking or flashing. It gives me a huge headache in my eye. PLEASE those of you that have these Avatars that do this, we appreciate your skills and art form but please change them back to a normal Avatar or some of us may have to leave DS for our own health!

Thanks!

Good point Lynne! I too am "photosensitive...big time! I'm Dx with Fibro...which causes me to be overly-sensitive to EVERYTHING!!
~tj

Might I chime in and add that those with siezure activity can be thrown into one from flashing lights or movement.

Good post.

If you are looking for a new avatar, there are some "photo's" associated with MS support that you may want to consider at the following url:

http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/ms-people-dealing-with-ms-pain

Take look - first come, first served!

WOW! So sweet of you to put up the post. I Have MS & Epilepsy I am extremely "Photosensitive". I love D.S. & would hate to have to leave D.S. just because of a few post, but I agree with "Marilyn", what do you do when your health is at risk?

I would hate to have to put people on ignore because of their pictures or avoid post because of their pictures. Then you end up getting less from D.S.

OR WORSE...you end up going to a post not aware that a flashing picture OR a picture with a strange contrasting color pattern is somewhere in the post replies & then you look at that one picture for even a few seconds & BAM you get "photosensitive" OR have a "seizure"(Of whatever type or types you end up being diagnosed with) & it's really a bad situation.

I also agree with "Marilyn" as well (I am a hugely creative person) & I know that being creative & sharing art is a very great thing & can be a very relaxing hobby.

I also understand that whole argument about how everyone in the world can't be accommodated for...we with disabilities hear this on a daily basis, but when it's a health risk issue, it's a different matter...

I know no one would say this, but when it's almost like because those of use who have MS & Epilepsy caused by the MS are in the minority & it's more rare we almost feel like (in some instances...sometimes I might just speak up about stuff, I'm bold at times, like now, HA)...

Those of us in the MS/Epilepsy minority feel like we are remiss to really say much because we aren't really sure how many of us on here are going through the same issues...Like the "Photosensitivity" & then we think it's just a few pictures...

BUT in my case...looking a few flashing or odd colored pictures for a few seconds sends me into a MS seizure spike (I get confusion seizures..."Complex Partials Secondarily Generalized"...which means they spread to other types of seizures)

So especially lately I have been having issues with falling over allot from the MS, which makes me fall over allot from the seizures as well & I have been getting allot of confusion seizures ("Complex Partials") & then all this flares my MS.

I'm not the only one with MS or even Epilepsy & that's really nice to know...even though I don't wish MS OR even Epilepsy on anyone in the world!

Sorry if I seemed like I rambled my friend or I seemed like I vented. It's been a really "Fun" few weeks me & my Fiance have been having. YAY having to take care of someone with MS huh? BUT, I know my Fiance loves me allot, so it's all good. I was just saying that I'm sure my Fiance is having a time praying that I stop falling over every day, that's all. But that's what someone who loves you does, they pray for you. :-)

Take care,
Stay sane!

A great comprimise would be to post the moving/glowing/flashing type of avatars under your photo section in your profile so that others can enjoy them if they choose too.
Just a thought...

Thanks so much for that post Nystagmus is one of my worst symptoms so you can imagine my world moves constantly anyway so they are so distracing to me
(didn't they were called avertars though) :)

I had one of the blinking Avatars and I have Changed it to a Stationary one. I didn't realize that it was disturbing anyone. I have MS and FIBRO but not all that sensitive to visual stimuli.

Sorry for adding to your symptoms.

tripleg,
Thank you very much for being so considerate of others. I like your new avatar - it's funny!

AWWWWW! That was nice of you to do so. I'm sure I speak for all of us who go through the ringer from this issue. I mean, just to be completely honest (& not to complain in the least) but a complication from this issue actually had me going to the E.R. last week (nothing to do with D.S...so it can be quite a serious matter for those who have any of the symptoms & don't have help to monitor the signs & symptoms, you know.

Same goes with ANY MS symptom...you can still be yourself, but you just have to look out for your health or pay the price.

take care,
Stay sane!

P.S...I meant to say that it was nice of you to change your avatar picture (it's nice to know that you understand that each person is different with MS & it's nice to know that you care about others)

I actually like that purple monkey picture...he's silly. :-)

I removed my cat eyes as an avatar. It was an actual photo of my cat that happened to reflect my cat's eyes as bright green. I thought it was interesting. But I realize that it might have bothered people.

Mine wasn't flashing, but it was quite bright (but it was a natural flash on my cat's eyes). So if it bothered you I have gotten rid of it. It was a little bothersome to me even. But I can take it but I guess others can't. If I had ON, it would have probably bothered me. Luckily, I don't have ON.

I am really sorry if it bothered any of you.

I will find another one cat picture that is easy on the eyes (literally) but in the meantime, I have a standard DS picture.

timetraveler, your gesture overwhelmes me! Thank you for being so considerate of others (just in case someone was affected by your kitty's spooky eyes! haha).

bump

bump again. Please reconsider your avatar. Several members are still having troubles with posts that have moving/flashing avatars. This means their health is affected. We wouldn't want to affect our DS friend's health would we???>