I'd rather the user use actual pictures of the things they're putting in the pick. It takes the same amount of effort to upload a 'no icon' picture than to upload one of the actual subject. Why not make it prettier by making it relevant?

Well, duh. That'd be the sensible option. =P

When I don't have icons to use I just use stock icons I made, but if I dont want to bother myself with people being "OMG! That's not related to the spot nor the pick at alll!!!!1" I just use the default option.

the poeple who dont put the defults are probly just lazy and dont want to put up an image so they wouldnt put a placeholder but i would rater see the image of what ever the choice is

Somehow that looks much more attractive.

Default because you can see the options you typed in.

I am old and not to computer savvy but even I when adding options to picks I will add pics its not that hard, they may not be the best but at least they are pictures, but if they aren't going to take the time to do it then they wont use the no icon one either...lol

I've seen a ton of picks with the 'no icon' icon. If they're going to take the effort to upload that, I really don't see why they wouldn't just add icons that actually go with the pick.

I hate picks without images...most of the time I just pass them by without answering. It may seem silly and shallow but I like my picks to have pix! It really doesn't take that much effort to find images that relate to the topic at hand [that's what Google is for]. And if you can't find an image that relates- just use something random! It's better than the default option- which is just ugly and boring. So yeah, if it's easier for them to use a placeholder- fine. But of course I'd prefer them to put the extra couple minutes of effort in that it takes to add images.

wait..i dont get it. you mean unrelaTED icons like me adding himym pics to all picks? would that be considered "placeholder"?

Well.. 'no icon' icons start to annoy me.. but I stil hate picks without images more ;p

I meant actual icons that say "no icon", Germs. =P

It doesn't really bother me.

Well,I think this really should be up to the user..it has nothing to with me..although the placeholders are interesting,but I'm not sure if they would be considered good for every occasion..but in the default you can see the choices you put up although I kind of do prefer picks with pictures.

They'd still need to go looking for images for placeholders, they'd still need to upload them, it'd still be stopped by an image-uploading glitch.... I just don't see the point.

I think that in some cases placeholders are used for when there doesn't seem to be a relevant image to convey the topic or (and I've run into this on the debate spot) you're talking about something sensitive. By this I mean that on the debate spot I asked a question about suicide, I think that it would be highly inappropriate (probably even against site terms) to post a pic depicting a suicide. So I'll use a placeholder or maybe a quote about suicide. Or if I'm asking a question like, "what is your stance on public nudity" I'm not gonna post naked pics on fanpop so I'll use a placeholder.

Sooo I haven't seen this happen in years and years, so the confusion is understandable, but people really used to make picks with icons that said "no icon". That's what I meant by "placeholders". =P

@zanhar1 - in that type of scenario I'd just leave the poll without images. Random icons would just feel too random and irrelevant for me, unless they do have some link. For example, if you asked "which of these small scenes is your favourite?" and you couldn't find icons of those scenes because they're so small, so you use generic icons from that fandom. Or there's a poll here which uses GOT icons which vaguely connect to the options in a different context, that sort of thing.