Seriously thoughtful Do avatar images influence your impression of personality?

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Ea

I agree with you about animated avatars - some of them are really annoying (and before anyone mentions it, clicking 'esc' everytime you enter a page, is a bit annoying, too )

Kenny, you thought my name wasn't real - how would know if people do or not? I also don't see you discount a lot of posters with what appears quite obvisously not to be real names
Some people may have good reasons not to divulge their real name on the Internet, too.

Right about the names. It's not always clear and certainly someone could use a "normal" made up name like Fred or June and no one would be any the wiser. I just don't "get" pseudonyms -- just me -- I'm one of those people that tend to say what they think and think people should be open and honest in what they say and express. I'm funny that way.

Certainly I don't "discount" anyone just because of a pseudonym or avatar, but I think a pseudonym can provide the opportunity for posters to get nasty thinking that they are hidden and to say and act in ways they would not act if they were posting under their real name.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I was badgered into having one.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Yes avatars and pseudonyms. Some use the avatar to push their agenda -- those bother me. I also hate animated avatars because they are so distracting as I'm trying to read. I prefer people use their real names so automatically discount any postings made under an assumed name.

It's also annoying when avatars change constantly.

Originally Posted by kennyc

Right about the names. It's not always clear and certainly someone could use a "normal" made up name like Fred or June and no one would be any the wiser. I just don't "get" pseudonyms -- just me -- I'm one of those people that tend to say what they think and think people should be open and honest in what they say and express. I'm funny that way.

Certainly I don't "discount" anyone just because of a pseudonym or avatar, but I think a pseudonym can provide the opportunity for posters to get nasty thinking that they are hidden and to say and act in ways they would not act if they were posting under their real name.

ahhhh! when I first used my real name here, that was a first for me. I am normally of the opinion that all online stuff should be approached carefully. there are too many possibilities to manipulate postings and get someone in trouble. however I approached this place as a reading forum... thinking I would periodically come down off the mountain, learn the newest stuff about ereaders, absorb info, and go back into my snowy anonymity. then I discovered the llounge.... abandon all hope all ye who enter here...

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

No...

Only two days til doughnut!

[vivaldirules]

I am a terrifyingly evil SOB. Thus, my avatar. So you'd better watch out.




Please pass the doughnuts.

[Katti's Cat]

Doughnuts are bad for you all - I am confiscating the lot and will destroy it in order to keep you all safe and healthy

[Wetdogeared]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

I am a terrifyingly evil SOB. Thus, my avatar. So you'd better watch out.





Please pass the doughnuts.

And then there are those that steal avatars.

I actually thought your were this member until the mention of doughnuts. Where's raveene, it's time to round up the posse.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by Wetdogeared

And then there are those that steal avatars.

I actually thought your were this member until the mention of doughnuts. Where's raveene, it's time to round up the posse.

But please do it another thread I used the seriousness tag for a reason

[vivaldirules]

Originally Posted by Wetdogeared

I actually thought your were this member until the mention of doughnuts.

No, that's my evil twin brother Skippy.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Right about the names. It's not always clear and certainly someone could use a "normal" made up name like Fred or June and no one would be any the wiser. I just don't "get" pseudonyms -- just me -- I'm one of those people that tend to say what they think and think people should be open and honest in what they say and express. I'm funny that way.

I don't exactly disagree, but you can't control other people's reactions, and for some people it can be nice - perhaps even necessary - to have a 'free space' to express things they don't want to share with everyone. For that reason it can be nice to use a pseudonym. There are some things in my life I like to keep on a need to know basis - not because I have to, but because that's my comfort level that not everyone knows everything about me.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Yes avatars and pseudonyms. Some use the avatar to push their agenda -- those bother me. I also hate animated avatars because they are so distracting as I'm trying to read. I prefer people use their real names so automatically discount any postings made under an assumed name.

It's also annoying when avatars change constantly.

I never liked my given name. It's boring and English speaking people can't even pronounce it correctly. And I've been using my Sweetpea pseudonym for ages now (must be from around the time the first LOTR movie was in production, so probably since 2000)

Originally Posted by kennyc

Right about the names. It's not always clear and certainly someone could use a "normal" made up name like Fred or June and no one would be any the wiser. I just don't "get" pseudonyms -- just me -- I'm one of those people that tend to say what they think and think people should be open and honest in what they say and express. I'm funny that way.

Certainly I don't "discount" anyone just because of a pseudonym or avatar, but I think a pseudonym can provide the opportunity for posters to get nasty thinking that they are hidden and to say and act in ways they would not act if they were posting under their real name.

I could be using my real name and act as if I wasn't posting under my real name. How can you tell it's my real name?

I do think that you can see whether somebody has actually thought about a screen name. So, not just pushed some random keys on the keyboard. I'm a moderator on a gaming forum and if you see some of the names used there...

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Katti's Cat

Doughnuts are bad for you all - I am confiscating the lot and will destroy it in order to keep you all safe and healthy

Better watch out, the Doughnut Army is invencible, just check out MY Avatar!

You've already felt the power of the former doggie...now in his transformed state!

[Katti's Cat]

Reading all your posts make me feel shallow and dizzy blonde - didn't think i was the first, the last only thanks to L'Oreal.

Some of the names amuse me, others make me think and yet others *shrugs shoulder*

Same with the avatars - some I like others I don't.

But I don't judge the person behind them based on name & avatar - unless it is very offensive and rude.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

I tried using a pseudonym at one site, to see how I'd get into it: I chose a name and avatar that was quirky, but fit the subject of the site. It didn't exactly make me ill, or anything... but I never really "got into" using a pseudonym on forums.

Also, at many of the forums I go to I want to represent myself as a merchant, and my site name is MY name. Using a pseudonym would seem (to me) like I'm trying to hide something from my potential customers, or not taking my work (or my words) seriously enough to stand up and reveal myself.

Now, if I still happened to go by a nickname as I had in the past, I could see using that as a pseudonym and avatar. (On the other hand, "!*@!^#&$&@!! Why can't you fix dinner once in a while!?!!" might seem a bit long for a pseudonym...)

[Slite]

Slite is of course not my real name. I have however been using this pseudonym since the dawn of time it seems like. Actually, I started using it back in 1993 while playing MUD's. And it sort of stuck with me throughout.

As for avatars, the one I currently use has been in service since I registered here on MR, and I don't plan to change it. (Unless of course, someone ABBAfies it!)