Like many others I guess, I was mystified by the word 'avatar' and decided to look it up in the dictionary. According to my Concise Oxford (admittedly 4th edition 1951) it is (from Hindu mythology)"descent of deity to earth in incarnate form". Perhaps we had better take a more respectful sttitude to the use of avatars for fear of incurring the wrath of those up above.
Anthony
Minister for Education