Why do we use gravatar for profile pics?

Question

Does gravatar sponsor this site or something?

Comments

does it really matter why? It’s just the one PM chose.

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Just guessing here; Gravatar is completely free. That's probably the main reason.

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"Originally I didn't use uploads because they were stored in a weird way in the software. But that has changed so it's certainly possible to allow uploads now. I'll look into doing that at some point. I agree, it's quite annoying the way you need to do it now. Gravatar used to be a lot simpler.

As for payment, no I don't get paid! Not sure why they would ever pay me for using their service, if anything it would be the other way around. But it's a free service so I don't need to pay them either."

as answered on https://pokemondb.net/pokebase/meta/61116/will-ever-able-upload-profile-picture-without-the-gravatar

We use it simply because it used to be a better alternative to having a separate system, though it's not relevant anymore

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Why didn't you just answer?

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I thought that perhaps PM would be better suited to answer, especially with how it implied he would be changing the system

Answer 1

Gravatar is a common feature on forum and blogging platforms, like the one this site uses (called Q2A). In concept, it is supposed to make avatars transferable across different websites — it has the advantage that you can manage all your forum avatars from one place.

Q2A does have a standard uploading system, which Pokemaster has addressed before. He used Gravatar as it was a better solution years back:

Originally I didn't use uploads because they were stored in a weird way in the software. But that has changed so it's certainly possible to allow uploads now. I’ll look into doing that at some point.

Gravatar is free service, so sponsorships wouldn’t be on its agenda. Gravatar is owned by WordPress though, so sites that use it do give exposure to that platform.