basic function

app/helpers/application_helper.rb

@@ -260,4 +260,13 @@ module ApplicationHelper
     wrap_mark = options[:wrap_mark] || "<br />"
     str.scan((/.{0,#{line_width}}/)).join(wrap_mark)
   end
+
+  def show_avatar(user)
+    if (user.avatar? rescue false)
+      image_tag(user.avatar.thumb.url)
+    else
+      image_tag "person.png"
+    end
+  end
+
 end