I will probably come across as somebody totally behind the times and not in the swing of things, but I must admit I find animated emoticons and avatars on websites--or any animation that I can't directly activate or deactivate--really annoying. Even more annoying is when the animation is happening in my peripheral view--such as when I'm trying to read something and there's a bit of activity happening just out of the corner of my eye. It's like nails on a chalkboard to me. So I'm grateful for the static avatars (no offense to those who have chosen animated ones).

I guess this means I'm officially a cranky old man. But it's surprising the things that annoy a body as one ages.