I thought I add my two cents to this thread that has appeared a few times. Personally I would rather leave the icons in....They watch over us and our words....something we are all responcible for ultimately.
It does not hurt to have these around what we do and I find comfort in the thought that the Saints are watching over us. Perhaps even guiding us.
I have to agree with you on this Liudmilla. I'm glad that we have Saints' Icons next to our names/posts...they're there to remind us how we're suppposed to act, even tho most of us fall short of it...we should always strive to be like the Saints, and as God has called us, to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect...though of course we can't do this without God's help. 
MaryCecilia
I wonder if the usual taciturn response to this thread is any gauge as to what people think or not?
I personally think it's a good idea, and that it helps us in a number of ways, including:
It reminds us when we post that we are not in our rooms all alone, but are in actuality surrounded by millions and millions of people, and the Lord himself.
It gives a chance to talk about our saints as someone might have a question about an icon, or even who the icon is of.
It's sometimes hard to get a "handle" on where people are coming from, and what they are "all about". While emoticons being used in posts help immeasurably, there are other tip-offs. I believe that icons are one of these tip-offs. For instance, having Saint Justin Popovich, or having Saint Mark of Ephesus, might say something about my overall outlook, and provide a partial help in how one should understand the posts made.
I don't think it minimizes the importance of Icons, but, properly used, I think it helps maintain and even promotes the importance of icons. I think for most of us, we too often allow our spirituality to become compartmentalised, divorced from the rest of our lives. Icons is a good example of this for many of us. After all, how many of us think about icons when we aren't directly in front of them in our icon corner? Having icons around the house (and in the car, and at work) help combat this tendency, but so do having reminders in other places, IMO (e.g., as avatars on fora).
Justin
