Lisa HW wrote in the thread that's closed :
Tantrum, I'm not sure I'm really as sensible as I may sometimes come across, but your contributions on here are witty and clever and creative (and often funny); and there are "personalities" on here that - like you - make things fun a lot of times.
I don't think the OP is necessarily correct in assuming that people who may want to sign up here won't if they see (particularly) this recent run of "interesting" pictures. When I signed up here it was because I was sick to death of the rigidity and lack of creativity that was involved in writing professionally for other people. I wasn't looking for yet more of the same. I was looking for a place where I could write what I want to write, how I want to write it, and with whatever picture I do or don't want to post. I wasn't looking at, and sizing up, other people's avatars when I signed up. Other people's work and pictures was, as far as I was concerned, their business. My work and picture were mine. That's what good about being self-employed and/or writing online. You don't have that thing where everyone is watching what everyone else is doing and wearing.
I just think the people who have made this site as successful as it is have done something right. Of the thousands and thousands of writers here, some are professional writers, some are professionals in other fields, and some are hobby writers. If HubPages were to get too rigid (like another site or two I know of) they would likely drive away their most creative and talented people, and end up with just the kind of superficial mentality a lot of people came here to get away from.
This seems to me like a matter of "if something ain't broke don't fix it".