Based on the research that I was able to do it is essentially a known forum bug. I can't find a way to shut them off or to even assign a generic (very small) image to each of them to kill the void caused by the lack of image. If someone else finds a link that explains how it can be changed/fixed shoot it my way and I'll see what I can do.

I haven’t used this technique in many years, but any chance you can apply CSS tags to them and either position off-screen or display off?

Ex.

.ipsType_richText img {

position: absolute;

left: -9999px;

}

or

.ipsType_richText img {

display: none !important;

}

https://chatgpt.com/share/6acce6f6-9554-83e8-bf4a-f5dc88363f26

I asked my local AI the same question , and suggested the stylus plugin and this script for the home page

@-moz-document url("https://www.head-case.org/forums/"),

url("https://www.head-case.org/forums") {

/*

* HEAD-CASE — COMPACT FORUM HOMEPAGE

*

* Trial stylesheet: selectors are not verified against

* Head-Case's live HTML.

*

* Applies only to the two homepage URLs above.

*/

/* 1. Replace forum grids with a single-column list.

Only target lists containing forum-category links. */

:is(.ipsData, .ipsDataList):has(a[href*="/forums/forum/"]) {

display: flex !important;

flex-direction: column !important;

gap: 6px !important;

}

/* 2. Remove fixed heights and excessive row spacing. */

:is(.ipsData, .ipsDataList):has(a[href*="/forums/forum/"])

> :is(.ipsData__item, .ipsDataItem) {

width: 100% !important;

max-width: none !important;

min-height: 0 !important;

height: auto !important;

margin-block: 0 !important;

padding: 10px 12px !important;

box-sizing: border-box !important;

}

/* 3. Hide decorative forum cover-image containers.

Do not hide all images: avatars and posted pictures

should remain untouched. */

:is(.ipsData__item, .ipsDataItem)

:is(.ipsData__image, .ipsDataItem_image) {

display: none !important;

}

/* 4. Let the text area use the space left by the image. */

:is(.ipsData__item, .ipsDataItem)

:is(.ipsData__main, .ipsDataItem_main) {

flex: 1 1 auto !important;

min-width: 0 !important;

width: auto !important;

min-height: 0 !important;

padding-block: 0 !important;

}

/* 5. Clear any reserved image-column layout.

Keep information arranged in a simple vertical stack. */

.ipsData__item:has(a[href*="/forums/forum/"]) {

display: flex !important;

flex-direction: column !important;

gap: 4px !important;

aspect-ratio: auto !important;

}

/* 6. Keep forum titles readable without oversized headings. */

:is(.ipsData__item, .ipsDataItem)

:is(.ipsData__title, .ipsDataItem_title) {

font-size: 17px !important;

line-height: 1.35 !important;

margin-block: 0 4px !important;

}

/* 7. Tighten descriptions without shrinking their text. */

:is(.ipsData__item, .ipsDataItem)

:is(.ipsData__desc, .ipsDataItem_meta) {

line-height: 1.45 !important;

margin-block: 2px !important;

}

/* 8. Slightly smaller padding on phones. */

@media (max-width: 700px) {

:is(.ipsData, .ipsDataList):has(a[href*="/forums/forum/"])

> :is(.ipsData__item, .ipsDataItem) {

padding: 8px 10px !important;

}

}

}

Before:

After:

HTML Jockeys may be able to do a better job, but the advantage is its client side, so your choice, fairly easy to implement, and reversible

• Add the Stylus plugin / extension to your browser

• Go to the Head Case forum page - or whatever page is annoying you

• Click on the Stylus extension icon in your toolbar

• (click on the + to) Add a Style for the Website / URL in Question

• Paste the above code in

• Save

• re visit / refresh the site

• See the before and after by noting that the Stylus icon has 1 rule applied for the page, and by clicking on it you can toggle it on or off

More design oriented people could have a deeper, better conversation with their AI of choice, but not bad for a first vibe coded attempt?

It does look better without the image placeholders. I've gotten used to looking at them, but there must be a way to get rid of them permanently, particularly for the mobile users.